Detail from the George I scarlet japanned mule chest, Mackinnon Fine Furniture Collection We are continuing our tradition of Friday Finds with a look back at the archives - today, we are exploring the history of the George I scarlet japanned mule chest in our collection. Antique furniture is not only defined by its age--it is also reflective of … Continue reading Friday Finds: A Look Back at the Archives
archives
Friday Finds: A Look Back at the Archives
A few weeks ago we started a new series called Friday Finds where we take a look back at the archives to learn more about the pieces in our collection. It is a great way to put a piece in context by showing how it has been represented historically in other print sources. Today we … Continue reading Friday Finds: A Look Back at the Archives
A Peek at the Past: Japanning as Craft
In the course of doing research on pieces in our collection, we came across this wonderful record of a letter that Edmund Verney wrote to his daughter Molly in 1689. Molly was at school at 'Great Chelsey' when she received the following encouragement from her father: I find you have a desire to learn to … Continue reading A Peek at the Past: Japanning as Craft
The ABCs of the Decorative Arts: Hotspur Antiques
Our adventure through the ABCs of the decorative arts continues today with a name familiar to anyone in antiques: Hotspur Antiques. Hotspur was established in 1924 by Frederick Kern. A history lover, Kern named the business after the character in Shakespeare's play Henry IV. The family run business saw three generations of highly esteemed directors, … Continue reading The ABCs of the Decorative Arts: Hotspur Antiques
Make a Good First Impression: Georgian Hall Chairs
The antique hall chair is the epitome of the first impression. These chairs were often one of the first pieces one would see when entering the house. These chairs were placed in the main hall or entryway and served as a seat for guests who were waiting to enter the rest of the house. Hall chairs … Continue reading Make a Good First Impression: Georgian Hall Chairs
Flashback Friday: A Piece from the Archives
We are no strangers to the social media trend to use 'throwback Thursday' and 'flashback Friday' - and we are happy to jump on the bandwagon to discuss a piece from our collection archive. We acquired a rare and very fine pair of George III mahogany side chairs, which featured exceptional quality carving of great depth … Continue reading Flashback Friday: A Piece from the Archives
