I have always championed antiques as being a very sustainable way to shop and buying antique, vintage or second-hand is truly the ultimate way to recycle. However these paperweights really take recycling to the next level and are a true champion of a ‘waste not, want not’ attitude. They are called Stourbridge Dumps after the famous glassmaking region of Stourbridge where they were made in the 19th Century. Unlike the more refined and decorative French paperweights of the time made by Baccarat or Clichy, Stourbridge dump paperweights are a unique type of glass paperweight created using leftover molten glass at the end of the day. Literally ‘dumps’ of leftover glass were roughly shaped into paperweight form rather than be wasted. They are more rustic and substantial in appearance with some natural flaws but there is beauty in this and often flower designs can be found inside.

I’ve always had a fondness for antique Samplers and the story they can tell. For those who aren’t familiar with them, a Sampler is the name given to a needlework or embroidery that was traditionally created as a way for young girls to practice their needlework skills. In times gone by it was an essential skill for a young woman to be able to sew and this was often taught at home in the form of Samplers. Traditionally girls would be given a square of cloth or canvas on which to embroider a design to practise their skills and it was not unusual for girls as young as 4 or 5 to do this. They would most commonly sew the letters of the alphabet, practicing both upper case and lower case and rows of numbers. They would also embroider small pictures of trees, animals or personal things such as their home. Nearly all samplers were finished with the name and age of the child who made them and the date when they were made so they give a real insight into the past. This one was sewn over 200 years ago by Mary Brown in 1811. Some of the earliest samplers date back to the 1400s but they are most commonly found to date from the 18th and 19th century. As well as age, condition is key when it comes to collecting and valuing samplers. We always look for vibrant colours and make sure there are no holes or tears. I wonder what the children would have thought if they knew hundreds of years later their work would be collected and displayed in homes and museums all over the world?!

The Antiques Trade is always evolving and some fashions change just as quick as laws and regulations do. Just like with any trade there are rules and regulations that we must abide by, whether that is in terms of insurance or VAT or the actual legalities around what we are selling. In June 2022 the Ivory ban came into force in the UK which fundamentally changed how we sell ivory pieces and we’ve had to learn to adapt to the new rules since then. Prior to the ban, it was legal to sell worked ivory pieces that predated 1947 but now there is a blanket ban on ivory sales, regardless of their age. There are a few minor exceptions including portrait miniatures and items which have an ivory content of less than 10%; for example an item with handles or inlay may be exempt but a licence from DEFRA is still needed in order to sell it. Now, from the 28th of January 2025, the Government have further extended this ban to include the sale of Marine Ivory such as Scrimshaw and Narwhal tusks. Scrimshaw is the art of engraving or carving intricate designs into materials such as whale teeth or walrus tusks or bone from other marine animals. This craft is traditionally associated with sailors who began practising it during the 18th and 19th centuries and there has always been a strong collectors market for such items. Ivory is a difficult topic and always evokes strong feelings on both sides of the argument. It is hard to get the balance right between preserving and respecting these historical items whilst also being able to protect the wild animals at risk as a result of the trade. If you are concerned that you might own a piece of ivory or scrimshaw there is no need to worry, it is not illegal to own the items it is only the sale and purchase that has been restricted.

I am usually drawn to good quality English antiques, particularly simple country furniture. I love antiques that are tactile and made from beautiful wood. I’d say that usually my taste is quite understated but I have to admit that I have somewhat broken the mould recently and absolutely fallen in love with this opulent Murano glass chandelier. It is big, bold, glitzy and very pink! I wish the low ceilings in my cottage would allow for such extravagance but alas they will not! It was made by Murano Glass and dates from the mid 20th Century. The island of Murano is near Venice in Italy and is world famous for its glassmaking. With a history dating back to the 8th century it still makes glass to this day. Murano became a hub for glassmaking in 1291 when Venice, fearing fires in its wooden buildings, ordered glass furnaces to be moved to the island and the industry really took off. Every piece is individually hand blown and the craftsmanship is renowned for its vibrant colours and innovative techniques. This chandelier comprises over 20 individually made parts that come together to make this one spectacular chandelier.

After more than 10 years of buying and selling antiques it fascinates me that I can still come across things that I’ve never seen before and this happened recently when I bought a small silver brush. It measures just over 3 inches long and is hallmarked sterling silver. From the hallmark I can tell that it was made in Birmingham in 1904 by the makers Adie & Lovekin. On first inspection I thought it was a dolls house accessory. Dolls Houses were big business in the Victorian era and early 20th century and I see lots of miniature items from that period that are in fact Dolls House replicas. They came in various scales from the very small to really quite large and no expense was spared in furnishing them. However, whilst the age of my miniature brush was correct, the size was slightly too big and the shape resembled more that of a toothbrush than a miniature hair brush so further research was needed. A little bit of exploration and digging into miniature brushes led me to discover that it is in fact a moustache and eyebrow grooming brush! A distinguished Edwardian gentleman would have used this brush every morning to ensure his moustache and eyebrows were in tip-top condition - who’d have thought it?

Those of you who have popped in to the shop might have met Ginny my cocker spaniel. She is not often in the shop because, as all spaniel owners will know, she’d rather be out running around than sat quietly in the shop! She is a working dog and during the shoot season I enjoy taking her beating and picking up. As we enter October, that signals the start of the Pheasant season and shoots will begin taking place up and down the country so it was quite exciting to be able to buy two very fitting shooting related antiques recently. The first is a leather cartridge case with its original fitted interior and a retailer’s label for “Ebrall Bros Gun Manufacturers Shrewsbury”. The second item is a ‘Leg O Mutton’ leather gun case - so called because of its distinctive shape. Both of these items date from around the late 1800s to early 1900s but are still perfectly functional and usable items as well as being very decorative. The leather has worn beautifully and has that perfect patina that we look for on antiques with a depth of colour that just can’t be reproduced!

On a visit to a property in the South Hams to appraise a collection of antique furniture I admired a Morris Minor Traveller parked on the driveway, only to be informed that it too had to be sold. I couldn’t resist it so I made an offer and it was accepted! Just like anything else I buy it had to spend some time in the workshop. It needed some repairs to the iconic wooden frame, a new exhaust and a good clean and now it’s looking great and driving great! However this particular purchase won’t be sold just yet. I’m really enjoying using it and it’s a nice change from driving those narrow Dartmoor lanes in our van! I plan to use it for some of the smaller local deliveries so if you see us out and about do say hello! The car was made in 1971, so it is not quite an antique by definition, but one thing the Morris does have in spades is character and personality! It always draws a crowd when it's parked up and I’ve heard stories of people growing up with one or even learning to drive in one! It’s reminded me that ‘antiques’ don’t have to be over 100 years old to be special, it’s this connection they give us with the past that we all love Automobilia in itself is a popular area of collecting and refers to anything relating to motor vehicles or the car industry and can date from the early 20th century right up to the 1970s. Automobilia can include a wide range of items, such as classic hood ornaments, vintage advertisements, enamel signs, car parts, badges, promotional materials, gas pumps, old petrol cans and ephemera. It’s an area of antiques that is growing in popularity and can appeal to a wide range of collectors of all ages from those restoring priceless classic cars searching for that perfect part to complete their restoration down to enthusiasts just decorating their garage. Automobilia is quite easy to find and doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve bought lots of examples over the years but one of my favourite pieces was this brass car lamp dating from the early 1900s. It was so well made with a copper name plate for “Howes & Burley” and a hinged front lens to give access to the paraffin burner inside. Cars in the early 20th Century and, prior to this, carriages would have had paraffin lamps just like this one mounted to the front to light the way. I often think some of the technology on the Morris is old fashioned but at least I can be thankful that it has electric headlights! .

I recently bought this beautiful Georgian table which is a good reminder of how different life was in the 18th Century. This table has an unusual feature in its pull out candle stand which is a small pull out shelf at the front of the table which would have supported a candle. We can often forget that candle light would have once been the main source of light in a home. Candles were valuable commodities and were often kept in their own candle boxes. In some households they would have even been kept under lock and key. Have you ever noticed the small box within a larger blanket chest, usually to the one side? These sections were specifically for candles and the chest would have been locked to keep them safe.

There’s a phrase that we use in the antiques trade “new old stock” to refer to something that is old but has never been used. We don’t just mean something that has been looked after, this is used when an item is completely original and untouched in its original packaging, hence the term “new old stock”. It could be something that was bought and never used or often stock that has been discontinued and left in the store room of a shop, warehouse or even shed. Whatever it is, we don’t come across it very often, so I was thrilled to pick up this remarkable old lock in its original box, complete with fitting instructions, templates and its original screws - having never been out of the box. The instructions are dated 1939 so presumably it was issued just as WW2 began and the door it was to be fitted to no longer needed a lock or perhaps the man who was to fit it went off to war and maybe never returned. Whatever happened to change its course, it has sat in its box for 85 years until the day that I took it out - quite amazing when you think about it. It’s not just any lock either, it’s a toilet door lock and comes with its handle, bolt and original signs which read ‘Please bolt the door’ and ‘Pennies only. To gain admission drop a penny in the lock and slide the knob’. This is of course where the phrase ‘to spend a penny’ comes from. This lock and ones just like it would have been fitted to a public toilet and those wanting to use it would have had to pay a penny to enter. Even after 85 years it could still be fitted to a door and only needs an old penny to be fully functioning - what an amazing time capsule after all these years. I’d love to have it fitted to my toilet door at home!