Pair French Bronze Gregoire Torcheres www.canonburyantiques.com
Originally uploaded by canonburyantiques
Georgeous pair of French bronze torchere lamps by Gregoire – signed on the base. They remind us of the the Statue of LIberty
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Pair French Bronze Gregoire Torcheres www.canonburyantiques.com
Originally uploaded by canonburyantiques
Back in the 70s, amongst my wares over at Bermondsey Antique Market in London a gentleman picked up a violin and an oil painting depicting a country scene with a hay wagon in the foreground. He asked me for any provenance or information on both articles.
I promptly replied that the violin was by John Constable and the painting was by Stradivarius. He looked puzzled and replied: “Have you not got this information the wrong way round?”
” Certainly Not Sir” I replied.
” How Come? ” He asked.
I said: “It’s simple. Stradivarius was a lousy painter and John Constable was useless at making violins”
07
Oct
09
Art Deco Cocktail Drinks Cabinet
Gorgeous art deco cocktail cabinet in rosewood. What a find!
Stunning blonde art deco console table in blonde walnut with chrome stretchers – the height of modernist style…
Gorgeous pair English William IV games tables in pollard oak with George Bullock style bases.. add a bit of style to your poker night!
06
Oct
09
Original Boulle Chest
An original Boulle commode…today worth £150,000…..
During 1982 a dealer friend of mine in the Belgium town of Ghent invited me into his mothers flat who had passed away. Amongst other things, I purchased a small chest/commode by Andre Boulle which dated circa.1690. It was a real gem of a piece .
At the time I sold it for £20,000 – today its value would be £150,000. If only it had of been kept as an investment! Alas the business needed to be supported and reap the benefit of the £20,000 back in 1982.
Just got this gorgeous American Resolute Presidents partners desk in. It’s an exact replica of the desk as found in the Oval Office. It even has a secret compartment. This is hand carved from mahogany and has a commemorative plaque on the front.
The details are exquisite – hurry as this won’t be hanging around.
http://www.canonburyantiques.com/pages/product.php?titlecat=DESKS&idpd=1244289427
01
Oct
09
Inferior Desecrator
A conversation over heard in a posh antique shop…
An Interior Decorator said to the Inferior Desecrator…. ‘Bad taste is excusable, no taste is inexcusable’.
Originally uploaded by canonburyantiques
Art Deco Bronze Flying Lady Rolls Royce Mascot by Charles Sykes – Spirit Ecstacy http://www.canonburyantiques.com
Perhaps our favourite art deco statue in bronze – as seen on the bonnet (or hood) or Rolls Royce cars since the 1920s..
30
Sep
09
MARGARET THATCHER
U turn if you want to, this lady’s not for turning. In the immortal words of Maggie: ‘age increases value’..
In the middle part of 1984 I organised an Antiques Roadshow for the Conservative Association of Finchley, North London in the presence of the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. With my fellow Antique Experts we valued over 300 individual items.
Amongst them were several treasures – much to the enjoyment and interest of Margaret Thatcher.
I was in the process of valuing one particular object which was a Swiss Enamel Singing Bird Box. I informed the elderly lady that this item was worth between £3000 and £4000. Maggie was standing to my left intently listening to my valuation. She looked at me with those Marilyn Monroe eyes and said: ” Mr Worster this would cost more than £3000 to £4000 in Phillips Bond Street Auction”.
I must confess at that moment I had to capitulate and agree with her statement – after all who would of dared to argue? U turn if you want to. This lady was definitely not for turning.
At the close of the proceedings the Prime Minister gave a vote of thanks to myself and my colleagues and off the cuff she made a wonderful remark by stating:
“Isn’t it wonderful and comforting to know that as we grow older we increase in value”
