Welcome

I am no tea purist but couldn’t help looking askance when visiting my nephew in Madrid recently and watching him make it “the Spanish way”.

Forget the teapot and even kettle – a mug of water, milk and bag went in the microwave for 30 seconds en alto.

What it did do, as I reached for the coffee, was allow some reflection on how making the world’s favourite drink (after water) has evolved over the years.

In its earliest days in China, tea was drunk straight from

the spout of a small teapot before evolving into a far more intricate affair. Years later it was the paraphernalia and etiquette surrounding the cermony that so delighted its first English drinkers in the 17th century. In fact, so great became their obsession, it drove a number of technological advancements in British ceramics as makers tried to match imported Chinese porcelain. On page 26, to coincide with a focus on teapots at this month’s Treasure House Fair in London, we look at the history of that most-beloved globular vessel and how they have enchanted collectors over the years.

Elsewhere in magazine, on page 36, the sadly neglected work of Gilbert Spencer – brother of the much better-known Stanley – is put in the spotlight. His fame is likely to improve with a new exhibition in Cumbria (Gilbert was evacuated to Ambleside with the rest of the Royal College of Art in WWII) and the publication of a new biography. Prices – now in their hundreds – are sure to soar, making the artist one to watch in 2024.

On page 48, the author and historian Tony McMahon reveals how his collection of 19th-century newspapers helped inform his new book on Jack the Ripper. He is convinced the killer was, indisputably, Francis Tumblety – the Irish-born American also once charged with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. For any Ripper fans it is a must read.

As ever, our columnists are on fine form. On page 22, Catherine Southon highlights a work by the South African artist Vladimir Tretchikoff (best known for his Chinese Girl portrait that launched a thousand posters); on page 43, Eric Knowles discovers a peer’s coronation robe in Derbyshire and, on page 34, Irita Marriott reveals the booming market for Kutch silver. Enjoy the issue.

FIRST WORD

IN THIS ISSUE

THOMAS WOODHAM-SMITH Behind the scenes with co-founder of the Treasure House Fair, page 6

CATHERINE SOUTHON Unveils a painting by the soughtafter South African artist Vladimir

Tretchikoff, page 22

PAUL GOUGH Author of a new book shining

a light on the artist Gilbert

Spencer, page 36

Georgina Wroe, Editor

KEEP IN TOUCH Write to us at Antique Collecting, Riverside House, Dock Lane, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1PE, or email magazine@accartbooks.com. Visit the website at www.antique-collecting. co.uk and follow us on X and Instagram @AntiqueMag

We love!

this 5th-century Visigothic bronze belt buckle, with gold and garnet inlays, which has an estimate of £8,000- £10,000 at Timeline Auction’s online sale

ending on June 8.

ONLY £38 for 10 issues

SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO ANTIQUE COLLECTING Call 01394 389969 or email charlotte.kettell@accartbooks.com

TONY MCMAHON On how his newspaper collection helped reveal the identity of Jack

the Ripper, page 48

THE TEAM Editor: Georgina Wroe, georgina.

wroe@accartbooks.com Online Editor: Richard Ginger, richard.ginger@accartbooks.com

Design: Philp Design,

philpdesign.co.uk Advertising and subscriptions:

Charlotte Kettell 01394 389969, charlotte.kettell

@accartbooks.com

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