Furniture

With its exaggerated, curved armrests, ample cushioning and cantilevered frame, the H269 bentwood chair is perhaps the best known of all Czech industrial furniture designs.

Small-scale Mouseman carvings were typically made in Kilburn for promotional purposes – attracting custom at the Yorkshire Show or similar trade events. Rarities continue to bring muscular sums in the salerooms.

The international design fair PAD London is returning to Berkeley Square from October 8-13.

In 1897 Charles Francis Annesley Voysey agreed a contract with Alexander Morton and Co to provide designs for a minimum of 10 textile designs each year for five years.

From October 17-20, the 15th edition of the prestigious fair Munich Highlights is opening its doors in the Residenz, the one-time city palace of the Bavarian royal family.

A recent sale at Claydon Auctioneers (21.5% buyer’s premium) in Buckinghamshire included a suite of aluminium bedroom furniture by the HG Hawker Engineering Company.

The antique furniture world has lost one of its great characters and senior statesmen in David Pettifer who died on 30th August aged 94.

This medieval (probably 14th century) small bronze cauldron or posnet is a recent detecting find, dug late last year in a field in Norfolk.

Much of the market for ‘country house’ antiques is now in the hands of UK’s regional auctioneers. Here we review two recent bellwether sales.

In October Christie’s conducts a timed online sales series titled Collections.

Chairs and sofas by Howard & Sons are a pricey niche market these days, largely immune to the varying fortunes of the wider market for Victorian and Edwardian furniture.

This 18th century mahogany card table was part of a collection of furniture from Earnshill House in Somerset offered by Busby (25% buyer’s premium) in Bridport, Dorset.

When the Romanian-born French designer Maria Pergay (1930-2023) was asked why she chose to make furniture out of steel, she responded that it was because she had a score to settle with Stalin. “You know his name means steel? So the more I hit it, the happier I am.”

Dealer association Salvo promoted its revised Pocket Guide at a ‘Secondhand September’ drinks party on September 5.