Welcome

If I am perfectly honest, I think the chances I will ever start a collection of pot lids advertising bear’s grease is remote. But, having read the feature on page 36, I can’t entirely rule it out. That’s the thing about antiques, they move us in the most unexpected ways. Take bear’s grease. Back in the 1820s, the biggest debate in men’s grooming was whether lard from a Russian or Canadian bear provided the best remedy for hair loss. In truth, what was advertised rather exotically as ‘bear’s grease’ was mostly

perfumed pig fat – with little benefit to the follicles. How similar, 200 years on, to the endless debates I have with girlfriends on the pros and cons of various (bonkers) diets, benefits of apple cider, turmeric tea, etc. What I mean to say is, in these uncertain times, there is something very comforting about material culture from the past. Namely, it hasn’t changed in centuries. Another example is gagging orders. If you think they originated with overpaid footballers or Harvey Weinstein, take a look on page 40, where Stewart Abbott wonderfully describes how George IV paid off prominent cartoonists of the day to stop them satirising his poor treatment of his wife as she fought to be crowned queen.

There’s no doubt nostalgia is big news these days. On page 13 Christina Trevanion gives her opinion on Netflix’s bodice-ripper Bridgerton, while on page 34 for all those home workerscum-home schoolers hankering for calmer times, Lennox Cato presents a guide for creating the perfect, tranquil Regency library. We’ve also got a collecting guide to the work of French jeweller turned glass maker René Lalique on page 16, while on page 24, on the 50th-anniversary of the death of Jim Morrison, Paul Fraser unearths memorabilia from the wild men of rock. All human life is here. Enjoy the issue.

GeorginaGeorgina Wroe, Editor

PS Take a look at our new section devoted to jewellery and watches on page 49, reflecting their popularity among today’s collectors.

KEEP IN TOUCH Write to us at Antique Collecting, Sandy Lane, Old Martlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4SD, or email magazine@accartbooks. com. Visit the website at www.antique-collecting.co.uk and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AntiqueMag

Antique Collecting

subscription £38 for 10 issues annually, no

refund is available.

ISSN: 0003-584X

We love

We love this set of 12 Persian ceramic tiles, which has an estimate of £8,000-£12,000 at Roseberys’ Islamic

and Indian arts sale

on March 31.

FIRST WORD

IN THIS ISSUE

DAVID HARVEY considers the four ages of

wood, page 14

JOY MCCALL’S guide to the work of René

Lalique, page 16

MEG ANDREWS on collecting antique

footwear, page 26

MARC ALLUM falls in love with a stylish French

model (car), page 66

The Team

Editor: Georgina Wroe, georgina.

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

Design: Philp Design, james@philpdesign.co.uk Advertising: Georgina Wroe,

georgina.wroe @accartbooks.com Subscriptions: Sue Slee

01394 389957, sue.slee@accartbooks.com

ANTIQUE COLLECTING 3