Warwick

A 20-minute drive from NAEC Stoneleigh takes you to the town of Warwick, dominated by its castle originally built by William the Conqueror. Hunters and gatherers at IACF’s antiques event at Stoneleigh may well take in what the city has to offer antiques-wise. Here are two businesses to visit.

With one hall full and the other getting very close, IACF counts down to its new Midlands two-day fair

Specialist Bleasdale says his sewing antiques and Tunbridgeware timed online sales are working out well

Comprehensive sewing kit, playing cards, mirror and pocketknife are among the attractions at Warwick sale

“Analogous to the Tunbridge ware but of a superior character” was Robert Russell’s description of his work at the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Set of tools was designed specifically to take apart rather than create fine textiles

A rare Charles II commemorative silver thimble sold for £980 at Bleasdales (20% buyer’s premium).

This enamel copy of Hans Holbein’s Whitehall mural portrait is by William Bone Senior (1792-1846) – second-generation member of the Bone dynasty of miniaturists and enamellists.

Called shuttles, but a world away from Blake’s dark satanic mills, the two sewing tools illustrated here were hand tools used by elegant ladies doing polite tatting work. The use of luxury materials was designed to reflect their status.