Go Britannia! - October 2024

Huge congratulations to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Ben Ainslie and all the crew of INEOS ‘Britannia’ who have won the Louis Vuitton Challenger Selections Series in Barcelona.  The America\'s Cup yacht race is the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and among the world\'s most prestigious sporting trophies.  This is the 37th America\'s Cup series...
A Unique Late 18th Century English Collector's Cabinet of Satinwood and Painted with Maritime Scenes on Copper Panels, one of Neapolitan Interest c.1790
Provenance Peter Lipitch Ltd Literature Illustrated by Peter Lipitch in the 2009 Grosvenor House Antiques Fair handbook This exceptional cabinet, clearly a bespoke commission, is virtually unparalleled amongst other surviving English pieces in terms of its inventive...
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Wedding Silver - September 2024
As we approach the second Wallrock wedding in as many years, I have been reflecting on how wedding presents have changed.  Gifts can range from scented candles to scuba diving sessions on honeymoon, contributions to the wedding expenses or just plain money.  Silver rarely ...
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A Fascinating Silver Gilt Trophy Bought with Part of the 400 Guineas Presented to Captain George Welstead by the East India Company Directors in 1805
A Fascinating Silver Gilt Trophy Bought with Part of the 400 Guineas Presented to Captain George Welstead by the East India Company Directors in 1805 Provenance Christie\'s 17th  of March 1999, lot 91 The collection of Carl De Santis Sold at Sotheby\'s 4th of...
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Summer Stock - August 2024
As we are now in the holiday season this month’s letter contains a quick round up of a few new pieces being uploaded to our website.  Some were destined for this year’s catalogue but missed it for a variety of reasons.
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A Painting of Maharaja Duleep Singh after Winterhalter, Part of a Suite of Panels Painted in 1988 by Theirry Bruet for Mme Régine's Restaurant Le Doyen in Paris
This work in pastel is of very large scale and that is because it was once one of a number of pieces painted to fill the walls of the fashionable restaurant Le Doyen on the Champs-Élysées in Paris when it was taken over and relaunched by the socialite and singer Régina...
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Treasure House Success - July 2024
Treasure House was a great fair.  This was largely due to the friendly ambience, attractive wide isles, outdoor oyster bar set round the obelisk, steady stream of visitors and multiple views of Sir Christpher Wren’s beautiful Royal Hospital Chelsea.  The visits and...
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2024 Treasure House RNLI Debrief
2024 Treasure House RNLI Debrief John Carbis A presentation model of the Hasborough/Happisburgh Lifeboat, Huddersfield. 1888 John Carbis was so delighted to see our presentation model of the Hasborough/Happisburgh Lifeboat, Huddersfield 1888 (above) that he...
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BRITAIN ON THE HIGH SEAS 'Heroic Endeavour'
Click to view the PDF Page Turner Foreword This book, Heroic Endeavour, is our tribute to all those who work to save lives at sea, especially the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s brave crews, tireless fundraisers and supportive families – in particular...
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Shiver me Timbers!
Timbers ‘shivering’ originally meant the shaking of a wooden ship, sometimes to pieces, when battered by adverse conditions. In the case of famous ships these pieces were often preserved and then sold off as souvenirs. The pounding taken by the redoubtable Trafalgar...
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A Very Fine and Historically Important Plaque from the Duke of Gordon's Gordon House, Castle Hill, Edinburgh, Removed When the House was Demolished in 1887
https://wickantiques.co.uk/product/a-plaster-military-trophy-panel-from-the-duke-of-gordons-house-in-edinburgh/   Provenance Part of the interior decoration at Gordon House, Castle Hill, Edinburgh, seat of the Duke of Gordon and later the birthplace of Sir David...
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Sir Harold Dudley Clayton
One of the central elements of our next catalogue ‘Britain on the High Seas: Heroic Endeavour’ is the substantial and fascinating archive of Sir Harold Dudley Clayton, Bart. This includes the lifeboat model of the ‘City of Glasgow’ (see the historic photograph...
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Half hull ships’ Models
A presentation model of America’s Cup winner America by G. L. Watson Wooden half hull model ships were constructed by shipwrights as a means of planning a ship\'s design and ‘sheer’ and ensuring that the ship would be symmetrical. ‘Sheer’ is a naval...
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Japanese Cloisonné: Boxing Clever
Cloisonné enamel was a major part of the great flowering of the decorative arts in the Meiji period, which lasted from 1868 until 1912. Many pieces were made for export and therefore featured typical Japanese themes; Mount Fuji, koi carp, birds and auspicious plants such...
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200th Birthday Congratulations to the R.N.L.I. March 2024
On March 4th 1824 Sir William Hillary’s vision for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea, entirely funded by donations from the public, became a reality. Originally called The Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck it adopted the...
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An Impressive Silver Gilt Racing Trophy Presented by John Attwood M.P. as Prize for Yachts Not Exceeding 35 Tons at the Lyme Regis and Charmouth Regatta in 1846 and Made by Hunt and Roskell
This fine trophy is of lidded cup form with design inspiration clearly having been derived from the Warwick Vase. The piece combines typical neoclassical form, vine leaf decoration and nautical motifs such as the dolphin finial. The chasing of the ornament is...
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A Very Fine Late 18th Century Satinwood and Snakewood Secretaire cabinet, Almost Certainly by George Simson of London c.1790
In the manner of George Simson*. A fine George III satinwood and snakewood-veneered secretaire cabinet with boxwood and ebony stringing and purpleheart banding, the upper section with three-quarter gallery above two glazed doors with pointed arch astragals, the projecting...
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‘Variety is the spice of life’ - January 2024
When people find out that Charlie is an antiques dealer they often ask what he specializes in.  Well - how to answer that?   If he said, “Georgian and Victorian furniture, globes, maritime works of art and paintings, all things related to Admiral Lord Nelson and...
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Presents to Pique your Interest - December 2023
December is here with Christmas just around the corner. If you are still looking for last minute inspiration – how about a delightful piqué work piece to pique the interest? Piqué work, from the French for pierced (also pronounced pique), is identified by the presence ...
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An Exceptional Straw Work Diorama of an Owl and Kingfisher, Almost Certainly by the Mysterious “Miss Gregg(e)” and Part of the Collection in the Leverian Museum
This remarkable work of art consists of straw-work figures of a kingfisher and an owl clutching a mouse in its claw, sat upon tree stumps and foliage also made of straw. The background has been painted to depict a river gorge with the ruins of a castle or church at the top...
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A Relic From The Family Of One of the Bounty Mutineers: An Exceptionally Rare Documented Piece of Bark Cloth From The Pitcairn Islands
For dealers like ourselves, the perfect object is one that blends historical significance and some other factor, the mysterious “x factor” that the trade, and collectors, all look for when making those special purchases. With Christmas fast approaching, we would like to ...
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Times Tables - November 2023
1+6 drawers. As we set up this month’s new stock photoshoots, I was struck by the variety of tables Charlie had gathered together.  Not only differing sizes and styles but also several combinations of numbers.  Above is an impressive and large partner’s library...
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Campaign, Metamorphic and Multi-Purpose Furniture
In keeping with the theme of this newsletter, I would like to highlight two very fine dining tables from the current collection which fall under the umbrella of “campaign” or travelling furniture and, by extension, examine other interesting pieces amongst the Wick...
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Britain on the High Seas - Wars & Wealth
When I opened this year’s catalogue, which we printed to coincide with the LAPADA Fair last month, I was delighted with the quality of the printing, especially the crispness and colour of the photographs.   So often the bright back-lit image on the computer screen does ...
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A Quite Remarkable Carved Pine Chimneypiece or Fireplace Surround Adorned with Maritime-Themed Decoration Made for the Offices of the Marine Society in Bishopsgate in 1775 by the Great Carver “Mr Touzey”
A George III carved pine chimneypiece from The Marine Society by Tousey, 1775 Provenance This fully documented chimneypiece was ordered by the Marine Society in April of 1775 “the cost not to exceed £36”. The carver “Mr Touzey” was subsequently paid £30 15s...
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Lapada 2023 - Complimentary Tickets
We are launching this year’s catalogue Britain on the High Seas: Wars and Wealth to coincide with the opening of LAPADA in Berkeley Square. It is the fourth in our series of catalogues showcasing the advances in both domestic and international trade arising from the...
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Britain on the High Seas - Wars and Wealth
Britain on the High Seas: Wars and Wealth is the fourth in our series of catalogues showcasing the advances in both domestic and international trade arising from the relative world peace afforded by the defeat of Napoleon by Admiral Lord Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805 and...
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An Exceptional Royal Yacht Squadron Schooner Cup Trophy in the Form of a Silver Reduction of the Warwick Vase. Presented to the Owner of Miranda, George C. Lampson, in 1877 and Made by the Fine London Silversmiths Stephen Smith and Son
An Exceptional Royal Yacht Squadron Schooner Cup Trophy in the Form of a Silver Reduction of the Warwick Vase. Presented to the Owner of Miranda, George C. Lampson, in 1877 and Made by the Fine London Silversmiths Stephen Smith and Son Provenance Presented to George...
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Summer Stock - August 2023
Although we are now officially on holiday, we have managed to gather, photograph and upload some really exciting new stock.  Charlie has typically bought the most eclectic selection of new pieces.
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A Variety of Chests of Drawers-Antique Storage Furniture for the Modern Home
A Variety of Chests of Drawers-Antique Storage Furniture for the Modern Home Chests of drawers of all shapes and sizes are perennially popular items. Tastes may change but storage space is always essential in any interior and so we always keep a wide variety of chests of ...
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A Sterling Effort - July 2023
Long-term readers of this newsletter know that Charlie has a passion for silver racing cups.  July and August always mean yacht racing in the Solent and this summer we have already watched a regatta of splendid classic Fife yachts.  As I write powerboats are racing...
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An exceptionally interesting mahogany chest from the Ovenden Female Society, Instituted in 1809
A mahogany strong box made for the Ovenden Female Society, Instituted May 1809 Provenance: The Ovenden Female Benefit Society This fine mahogany chest carries a brass plaque engraved with the name and date of est ablishment of the Ovenden Female...
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New Stock - June 2023
As the end of June draws nearer, so does the deadline for our next catalogue in the series Britain on the High Seas.  While this is very exciting, it does mean that photographing and describing pieces for the internet slows down.  This newsletter will redress that balance ...
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Role Models - May 2023
Following the last two newsletters on preparatory sketches for paintings and furniture, this one looks at shipbuilding. Naturally drawings for ships are immensely technical and have to be totally accurate. Before help from computer programmes, naval architects used...
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Furniture Sketches and Designs - April 2023
Following last month’s newsletter on the preparatory sketches for paintings, this month’s is on drawings for furniture.  One of the reasons the three great cabinetmakers of the 18th century, Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite, had such a profound and lasting impact...
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The Furniture of Gillows And Their Design Records
The Furniture of Gillows And Their Design Records One of the most successful and long-established firms of British cabinetmakers, Gillows were established in 1729 by Robert Gillow in Lancaster. In 1769 a second branch was established in Oxford Street, London, creating a...
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First Impressions - March 2023
Charlie has chosen the content of this newsletter because he is so excited to share with you his latest, and arguably greatest, purchase.  A genuine, original Post-impressionist work of art!  The ink sketch above is a preparatory work by none other than the great Henri...
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"Jeunes Filles et Fleurs"- An Exceptional Ink Drawing by Henri Matisse, c.1947
Provenance Sotheby Parke-Bernet 4th of May 1967 lot 26 Schoneman Galleries New York Private Collection The drawing is accompanied by a letter confirming that the work is recorded in the Matisse archives as item no. M119 and was certified as genuine by the...
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February 2023 - The course of true love never did run smooth.
I am sorry to put a dampener on Valentine’s Day romance but numerous items in our collections seem to chime with Shakespeare’s bleak comment above from ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  Two more of his tragedies featured star-crossed lovers - Anthony and Cleopatra and Troilus...
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A Fine Genre Painting by William Arthur Breakspeare Depicting the Fictional Meeting of Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton in the Studio of the Painter George Romney
Provenance The Samuel Aronoff Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio A private American collection The painting depicts Lady Hamilton sitting to Romney for her portrait, the proceedings interrupted by the arrival of Lord Nelson. The meeting would never have happened but the...
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Settees, Sofas, Daybeds and Window Seats
One of the great pleasures gained from dealing in antiques is that from time to time it is possible to form a collection of stock that allows us as dealers, and you as our clients and customers, to see a truly representative selection of styles of one type of piece or...
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2023 Fair Calendar
This year will be very different for us – a shortage of shows! It all started 32 years ago when Stephen Powell and Megan Mather, Charlie’s great friends on the King’s Road, asked us to share their stand at Olympia and……we made it into the national newspapers!
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Christmas Cheer
Christmas is, of course, the season for parties with the vital ingredients of food, wine and gifts. Above we have a very unusual Georgian novelty decanter stand in the form of a battleship.
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Climate Change
This time last year, with COP 26, taking place in Edinburgh, I wrote about the impeccable green credentials of antique furniture and works of art.  As COP 27 takes place in Egypt, I am reflecting on the impact of global warming on our animal kingdom.  We are bombarded...
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Easton Neston - An Elegant Musical Party in an Interior’ attributed to Gillis van Tilborgh
An Elegant Musical Party in an Interior’ attributed to Gillis van Tilborgh, oil on canvas depicting a Dutch genre scene with figures dressed in rich silk clothing, fine lace ruffs and fichu collars grouped round musicians playing a clavichord, a fiddle and a flute, some...
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A Fine and Intriguing Pair of Giltwood Pier Mirrors, One George I Period (c.1730), The Other Made to Match by Hugh Paton of Edinburgh, Carver and Gilder to Queen Victoria, C. 1850
The George I mirror, made c.1730, is an intriguing design that is based on the popular tabernacle shape that was a favourite of the Palladian designers in England such as William Kent and John Vardy. However the way the slip inside the mirror is shaped recalls means that...
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A Fascinating Early 19th Century Shipwright's Box, Comprising a Collection of Ship's Curves and Templates, Belonging to Wilson Chilton c.1820
  Some idea of the precise uses of some of these ship\'s curves can be gleaned from a later illustration, c.1900, from the catalogue of W. F. Stanley and Co. which illustrates a similar set of curves made for purchase at the time. The Life and Career of Wilson...
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An Exceptional Gold and Agate Snuff Box made for Anne of Buccleuch
Provenance  Presumably made for Anne, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch (1651-1732) This snuff box has a fine engraved armorial on the bottom. The combination of the crest and the cypher has allowed a precise identification of the original owner of the box to be made. The cypher...
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The intricacies of our new stock
In our most recent photoshoot, mentioned in the last newsletter, we did not solely take photographs of pairs.  We had other fabulous single pieces.  By far the most impressive is this monumental exhibition quality rolltop secretaire bookcase/desk.  It has all the...
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An Interesting Regency Period kneehole bureau cabinet with ormolu mounts of exceptional quality
This extremely unusual piece of furniture can be thought of as a kneehole desk with a superstructure, a writing cabinet on a pedestal base or as a bureau cabinet with a kneehole section. Although examples of this kind of furniture were produced from the early 18th century...
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Seeing Double - A chance to win a bottle of bubbly
As the summer holidays draw to a close, and the evenings are sadly drawing in too, we are preparing for the autumn shows and refreshing our website.  We have booked into a house sale in the Midlands, started planning the next catalogue and photographed lots of new stock.
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The Maritime Art of Montague Dawson
In the world of maritime art and antiques there are certain “blue chip” names that every collector and dealer looks for and one of those is that of Montague Dawson. Born in 1890 and the grandson of another marine painter-Henry Dawson-Montague was also influenced by his...
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Feeling the Heat
The start of this heatwave, which coincided with the opening of Masterpiece, featured some truly spectacular downpours. The thunderous drumming on the marquee roof and sound of waterfalls gushing down the sides caused some consternation. But, in the event, only a few...
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A Fine Sand Painting by Benjamin Zobel Showing a Deer Being Attacked by a Boa Constrictor. The Source Taken From a Zoological Specimen in William Bullock’s Museum at 22 Piccadilly London
Provenance: Probably one of a pair of “highly finished marble dust paintings” sold by the auctioneer William Seaman of Great Yarmouth on the 8th of October 1823 in successive lots. Lot 62 in the sale was described as “Zobel\'s highly-finished marble dust painting-Boa...
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A Group of Amboyna Tables all attributed to Morel and Seddon and Related to Pieces Supplied by the Firm to George IV at Windsor Castle
We are delighted to be able to offer four pieces of furniture attributed to Morel and Seddon, one of the most important makers of the 19th century. Three of these pieces are library or writing tables and the fourth is a console table and they are all principally veneered...
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Jubilee 2022 – Royal Connections - Masterpiece London
Masterpiece opens this week. We can now unveil our exciting new commissions, and recent discoveries of older pieces, which pay tribute to the Monarchy over the centuries from 1066. Two such discoveries appear in this photograph of the White Drawing Room at Buckingham...
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Jubilee - 2022 - Royal Connections
In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, we have dedicated this catalogue to items with links to royalty through the centuries. The monarch presides over the main structures of the realm; the armed forces, the Church of England, the Court and previously,...
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A Most Exceptional Pair of Sand Pictures by the famous artist Benjamin Zobel after paintings by Philip James de Loutherbourg
Pieces by Zobel are rare but of his surviving compositions, most tend to feature pastoral scenes and farmyard animals as they appear to have been the artist\'s favoured commercial subjects. The present pair of paintings are much more unusual and feature battle scenes taken...
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Book of Kings
Now to balance the books!  After Book of Queens for May, this newsletter will feature items in our Masterpiece catalogue which reference our Kings. Firstly, we have a pair of pictures attributed to the master sand artist Benjamin Zobel.  He was a German confectioner and...
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The 1835 Royal Yacht Squadron's King's Cup
We are fortunate enough to have many items in our current collection with connections to royalty.  We also have a large number of important items of maritime interest.  One piece in our collection combines both of these themes so perfectly that it is of exceptional...
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Book of Queens
This year, in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, our stand at Masterpiece, and accompanying catalogue, will feature pieces with royal connections.  Monarchs though the centuries have influenced our nation through the Church, the Armed...
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Taki Handa and Cowden Castle Gardens
Taki Handa and Cowden Castle Gardens The wonderful Japanese gardens at Cowden Castle in Scotland-frequently referred to as the best Japanese garden in the west-were created by a great partnership between two outstandingly talented and ground-breaking women, both pushing...
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Royal Anniversaries
The first quarter of this year has been full of poignant dates for the Royal Family, including the anniversary of the death of Prince Philip (9th April) and 20 years since the passing of both Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (30thMarch) and Princess Margaret (9 February).  ...
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The Spring Chelsea Antiques Fair - March 2022
After a two year hiatus, Chelsea Antiques Fair has returned to the end of March – a spot it has traditionally held for many of its 70 years - and we open NEXT WEEK. COVID 19 restrictions caused us to move the Fair to September last year and it was so successful that we...
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An Exceptional marble portrait bust of the diarist and traveller Ellen Hall by the sculptor John Adams-Acton, executed in Rome in 1864
Ellen, along with her sisters Louisa and Emily, moved to Ravenswood House in West Wickham, Kent, in 1842. They had previously spent many years in St Helier in Jersey. Ellen and Emily were  extremely keen diarists and have left many records relating to their fascinating...
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Space Invaders - February 2022
Space!  What a boon our new warehouse has proved to be already.  We unloaded our most recent container from overseas in half an hour, as we could trundle the forklift right into the huge central floorspace.  Then we unwrapped at leisure in the dry – no more worries...
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If a Writing Table Could Talk, What Tales Could It Tell?
We have recently purchased an extremely fine and interesting late 19th century French bureau plat or writing table/desk that is exciting on many different levels. Firstly, the piece reproduces a table which was used in 1778 when Benajmin Franklin signed the Treaty of...
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Items of Interest and Intellect - January 2022
Naturally, Charlie and I think all our stock is interesting. However, in our first photoshoot of 2022, we have numerous items which have proved even more fascinating after further investigation. The cabinet above is almost identical to an example we sold over a decade ago...
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James Peake “The Modern Grinling Gibbons” and his masterpiece
An exceptional carved lime and soft wood plaque by the carver James Peake, signed and dated 1895 James Peake “The Modern Grinling Gibbons” and his masterpiece Last year marked 300 years since the death of the great Grinling Gibbons, regarded by many as the finest...
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'Tidings of Comfort and Joy’ - Wick Antiques December 2021
‘Tis the season to be jolly, heedless of the wind and weather’ so we will do just that. We will stop worrying about heavy snowfall in the North and other dismal headlines and focus this newsletter on good news. The very best news is that Charlie has just completed a...
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Net Zero - November 2021
Although any visitor to our Wick Antiques showroom, or the new warehouse, below, could be forgiven for thinking antique furniture is brown, it is in fact GREEN.  While world leaders and business grandees at COP 26 are brain-storming to make their products more sustainable...
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Enigmas and Puzzles - October 2021
A ‘Black Forest’ eagle owl, Swiss, circa 1800. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted one or two pieces in our photos of The Chelsea Antiques Fair which look familiar from our previous newsletters; the Goanese contador,...
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We couldn’t have asked for a better start at 2Covet’s Chelsea Antiques Fair
We are delighted to report that the first London antiques fair for 18 months proved very popular, both with many wonderful customers and our fellow dealers.  Footfall was excellent, sales high and the general euphoria, at being face to face with real people once again,...
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Its Fair time and preparations are well under way! - September 2021
The excitement is building with less than 2 weeks until our show opens in Chelsea. As well as the normal planning for wall colours and carpet choices, selection of pieces to display, cleaning and polishing - we have produced our third catalogue to accompany our...
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Britain On The High Seas - Merchants and Mariners
Click the link below to view the entire PDF book Britain On The High Seas - Merchants and Mariners Foreword The victorious battles of Trafalgar in 1805 and Waterloo in 1815, ushered in an unprecedented period of world stability. Our series ‘Britain on the...
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Picture Perfect - August 2021
Montague Dawson: Racing Six-Metre yachts August in the Solent always begins with Cowes Week, so what could be more appropriate than to start this newsletter with ‘Sixes’ racing?  The International Six Metre class featured...
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Gold, Silver and Bronze in Japan - July 2021
When there is so much world attention focussed on athletes striving to win bronze, silver and gold medals in Japan, we are taking our own look at Japanese use of these metals in works of art.  The hakko bako, above, are Edo period and would have been made for a noble...
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The Peake of Perfection - June 2021
Once again the highlight of our summer – Masterpiece – in Chelsea is not going ahead in its physical form.  We have been asked to send 12 pieces to their online gallery and this outstanding lime wood carving by James Peake (c.1839-1918) is one of our choices.
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On Top of The World - May 2021
In the week when the media is full of green- and red-listed holiday destinations, optimists are booking, or even beginning, holidays abroad and a brand-new cruise liner is embarking passengers in Southampton, we, at Wick Antiques have our own view of ‘this brave new...
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Storage with Style - April 2021
New stock has arrived at last, including some attractive cabinets, so this newsletter is about traditional storage solutions.  Above is a whole office in a single item of furniture.  There are five shelves across four sections to hold books and ledgers in the top, while...
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In the Public Eye – Media and Museums
This week’s Antiques Trade Gazette leads with an article on Charlie, Steve and Zara in their roles as the founders of 2Covet.  They have secured the Chelsea Antiques Fair and are planning to host their first show in September (excerpts from the article appear at the...
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New Year, New Stock and News Coverage
Happy New Year.  Once again Charlie has been in the news with a medical cabinet related to the life and death of Admiral Lord Nelson.  William Beatty was the naval surgeon on board HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar who tended the dying admiral.  It was he who...
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Merry Christmas from Wick Antiques
Rather than writing about this year\'s trials and tribulations I am focusing on the positive things that have happened. We managed to keep our stock refreshed and replenished on the website thanks to the office team, the restorers, the photographers and the fabulous team...
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December 2020 - Tiles of Empire
Iznik tiles from Ottoman Empire Anatolia are one of the glories of Islamic Art.  They were commissioned by Sultans throughout the realm, but especially in Istanbul, to decorate mosques and palaces.  Prized for their clear glaze, dynamic compositions and vibrant colours,...
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November 2020 - Fishing for Compliments
The star of this newsletter is undoubtedly the shodana or open display cabinet above.  It is remarkable in several ways. Firstly, at 8’ 9” inches, it is considerably larger than most shodana.  Secondly it is not decorated with lacquer, gilding or shibayama inlays but...
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October 2020 - Colours of Autumn
October compels us to notice our trees.  We are surrounded by a vibrant blanket of autumn colours.  From parks to plantations the greens of summer have given way to brown, red, orange and yellow leaves.  These are annual reminders of the great variety of trees we can...
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September 2020 - New Arrivals
In September, as people are returning to work and school, so are we.  We had an exciting delivery from overseas followed by a photo shoot.  As we unpacked Charlie was delighted to see pieces he bought so long ago he had almost forgotten them.  He and Mike needed the...
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August 2020 - ‘Summertime, and the living is easy’
Although many of us will not be going on holiday abroad this year the summer months of July and August can still be enjoyed at home.  Sailing on the Solent is back in full swing with the addition of hordes of kite-surfers and paddle-boarders – the latest craze.  Above...
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Britain on the High Seas - Trafalgar, Trophies and Trade
Click the link below to view the entire PDF book Britain on the High Seas - Trafalgar, Trophies and Trade Foreword The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 is the most famous event in British naval history. It represented not only the frustration of...
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June 2020 - Victory in Europe 75 years ago
It may only be ‘baby steps’ but the very small relaxation of lockdown has made this a far more business-like newsletter than the last.  We can bring you new antique stock!  Hurrah! Hurrah!  But first we are acknowledging the sacrifices of previous generations of...
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The World At Your Fingertips
  Click the image below to read the entire article
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Britain on the High Seas - From Nelson to Churchill
  Click to read the Full PDF Britain on the High Seas Foreword -  The history of an island is defined by the sea and for a nation like Britain it has shaped its people, and their art. For centuries, the Royal Navy has been at the heart of that...
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May 2020 - Wallrocks working well at home
Well here we are – five Wallrocks three weeks into staying at home.  Last time I looked to the past for things we could do but now I can report what we actually have done.  Despite my misgivings, we have been busier than I feared would be the case.  We have certainly...
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April 2020 - Present times and past-times!
Dear friends and customers.  Since my last newsletter the shape of all our lives has changed beyond imagination.  We made it to the Open Art Fair and stayed there for all of one day and got home at the end of last week having been warned of imminent lockdown.  As it...
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March - 2020 The Show must go on!
At the time of writing life in the capital seems to be continuing normally in the face of Covid-19 which means that The Open Art Fair will be well – open – for business on Wednesday.  Whether footfall will be down remains to be seen.  Although this is a new fair for...
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February 2020 - The month between two Fairs
As we have taken on two new Fairs with only a month in between (January: The Winter Show, New York – March: The Open Art Fair, Chelsea) - February has been hectic.  To crown it all our next hard back catalogue for Masterpiece 2020, ‘Great Britain on the High Seas:...
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January 2020 - 2020 Vision
Here at Wick Antiques we have lots of vision for 2020.  Firstly, our great internet adventure, 2Covet, is live and fully functioning.  The platform has generated its first sales and new dealers are applying for membership.  We are very proud that all our hard work has...
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December Newsletter 2019 - Review
This is the time of year when estate agents fill pages of advertisements with their successful sales.  So, I thought we would do the same at the end of this rather tricky financial year.  Like many other retailer sectors antiques dealers no longer have a High Street...
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November 2019 Newsletter - Take a Seat
Sofas and chairs reupholstered in distressed leather are some of our best sellers.  We can stain the leather to any colour and over the years we have used traditional browns, greens, burgundies and black (Charlie’s choice).  Lately we have opted for blue and a striking...
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October 2019 Newsletter - Time is money
As the clocks have just gone back this newsletter is all about time.  Not just time pieces and time keepers but also a reminder that our new, super smart website has gone live - please visit wickantiques.co.uk to check it out.  (There is some new stock up there too,...
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September 2019 Newsletter - LAPADA LEGENDS
The LAPADA Fair in Berkeley Square is upon us.  This year there is a new stand, run by LAPADA themselves, for members to showcase exceptional exhibits all in one place.  It has been called ‘Legends’.  We are fortunate enough to have four entries accepted.  These...
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Billiard Room Ltd suppliers of The Finest Billiard/Snooker tables and accessories & Wick Antiques - Masterpiece
For the inaugural Masterpiece Fair, Billiard Room Ltd has combined forces with Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques Ltd, Lymington to showcase the Queen’s Billiard table in a setting appropriate to its status as a true masterpiece. Billiard Brohure Part 1 Billiard...
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Fusion and Fantasy 2011 - Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill
We are delighted that Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill has agreed to design our stand for this year’s Masterpiece Fair. Our theme is the ability of art to transcend cultural and geographical borders. Great craftsmanship can be admired by everyone with an...
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Wick Antiques at Masterpiece
Charles set up Wick Antiques 25 years ago and has been trading in Lymington, Hampshire and London ever since. He specialises in 18th & 19th Century fine furniture and works of art as well as the unusual and unique. In 1990 he married Caroline, who was trained at...
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August 2019 Newsletter - Sails and Sales
August on the Solent is all about boating - particularly yacht racing.  Since 1826 the highlight has been Cowes Week, initially called ‘The Regatta’ and organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron.  Above is a preparatory ‘grisaille’ watercolour for a proposed painting...
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Masterpiece 2019 has been a success - June 2019
Despite the central weekend of Masterpiece reaching soaring temperatures our huge tent was kept wonderfully air conditioned.  That, plus the extraordinary array of works of art and jewellery on offer, prompted a steady flow of buyers and visitors.  From the start our...
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Spring Preparations for the Summer Fair Season - May 2019
April and May have passed by in a blaze of glorious sunshine and we are looking ahead to the beginning of the Fair season in London – which means Masterpiece for us.  This always requires a considerable amount of pre-planning but this year we have a larger stand in order ...
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Never too late for ‘Love’? - March 19
I cannot believe I missed our February newsletter when I had the perfect subject for Valentine’s Day – ‘LOVE’!  We are working so hard to get a 100 page full colour catalogue to the printer in time for a Masterpiece delivery that I quite forgot about newsletters,...
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New Stock for a New Year - January 2019
2019 is off to a flying start with a photoshoot of brand new ‘treasures’ to be posted on our website.  Here is a preview of the most unusual ones.  Above is a ship’s portrait, with a twist, by Thomas Willis of New York.  His unique images were created with velvet...
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The 12 Days of Christmas - December 2018
This Christmas I was looking into our stores to see if we could celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first 9 Lessons and Carols service at King’s College Cambridge. Although oxen and camels are easy to find, stars, magi, sheep and the Holy Family are rather thin on the...
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A Tale of Two Ships - November 2018
Often one of the pleasures of dealing in old things is the human story behind them.  Everything we buy was made for, used by and enjoyed by someone else.  It is therefore very satisfying when we re-unite pieces with their own history.  By chance this has happened...
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Amazing Craftsmanship - October 2018
We have a friend and client who built his fortune on manufacturing. He frequently tells us that the prodigious number of hours and the technical skills required to make so many of our antique pieces – not just furniture but also decorative Japanese works of art – would...
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Exciting new pieces and LAPADA 2018 successes - September 2018
Well we have enjoyed another LAPADA week with glorious weather for our morning commute on foot through Hyde Park.  With 14 invoices written and sales across the board, from furniture to paperweights, we had a very successful time and as usual met many interesting people...
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Early English ‘Japanning’ - August 2018
We enjoyed a very good Masterpiece, selling amongst other things three Gillows wine coolers (two of them shown here being used as jardinières), my lovely Dandy Donkey, the pair of striking Chinese collages on the back wall and the Giroux inkwell from the April...
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Masterpiece 2018 - June 2018
Once more the end of June is promising to be very busy with the opening of Masterpiece in Chelsea. At Wick Antiques our stands are always a similar shape and size the planning does tend to be a bit formulaic so we rely on bringing very differing stock from year to year. ...
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Easter in the Mediterranean - April 2018
We were invited to visit Malta at the end of the Easter holidays.  The Wallrocks have some connections with Malta; Charlie’s nephew is married to a Maltese lady, his cousin has just over-wintered a classic motor yacht there, and, most importantly, his father, Lt. Cmdr....
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New Stock – from Davenport to Foudroyant - March 18
Charlie has been busy buying stock here and in the United States.  Above we have a long set of dining chairs, comprising ten side chairs and two carvers.  These can be attributed to Gillows by comparing them to page 255, plate B28 in Volume II of Susan Stuart’s...
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Go for Gold, Silver and Bronze! - Wick Antiques Newsletter February 2018
As the Winter Olympics has drawn to a close GB has achieved its best medal haul ever.  However if it is bronze, silver and gold you are after then look no further than the Wick Antiques website!
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A new discovery for a new year - Wick Antiques January 2018
After the crazy carousel of Christmas and the New Year, January can be a bit quiet, so I decided to cheer myself up with a good dose of fine art.  I settled on the Russell-Cotes Museum in Bournemouth. As I arrived at the eccentric building on the East Cliff, high above the ...
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Christmas 2017 - Wick Antiques Newsletter
As I write this Charlie and Ed are flying to Palm Beach for a new pre-Christmas event hosted by the Palm Beach Show Group in the Design Centre where we have a large stand in pole position just inside the front doors.  As Edward does more and more travelling with Charlie,...
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Persian Issue - November 2017 - Wick Antiques
Exactly 40 years ago your intrepid newsletter-writer (Caroline) arrived at Isfahan University to teach English for the third year of her degree in Modern Persian (as it was then called, rather than Farsi).  She arrived in a city where every building, office, shop, or even...
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All the Fun of the LAPADA Fair! - October 2017 - Wick Antiques Newsletter
Apologies for not sending out our normal preview of approaching fairs but we are changing our newsletter to Mailchimp and so missed the September issue.  This entails a change of format which is rather narrow on a large screen but better for tablets and iPads (so I am...
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Masterpiece 2017 - June 2017
Once more the highlight of our year is upon us – Masterpiece. Although furniture is seeing a welcome resurgence in popularity and price in the salerooms, we are putting works of art at the heart of our stand. There is particular focus on metalwork, ivory and textiles, ...
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Flowers for Chelsea - May 2017
We are open at 93 Lower Sloane Street! Notwithstanding contractual glitches and the absence of carpet fitters we have managed to open in time for the Chelsea Flower Show, 23rd-27 May. Please do visit us on your way past the door and celebrate with a glass of bubbles....
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Bronze Bonanza - April 2017
Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, is a very versatile material. Over the centuries it has been used for everything from armour to aquamanile, from humble cooking pots to huge civic statues and from technical marvels to artistic masterpieces. This versatility is probably ...
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La La Land-scapes - March 2017
Coming back from Florida, a mere week before the razzmatazz of the Oscars, has focused my attention on the various contenders for best picture -\'La La Land\', \'Lion\', \'Hell or High Water\', \'Hidden Figures\', \'Manchester by the Sea\', \'Hacksaw Ridge\', \'Fences\',...
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February means Florida - February 2017
This is the February newsletter so we must be in Florida for the Miami and Palm Beach fairs. The Miami Show has been relocated 30 miles inland from the beaches but is nearer the airport. Time will tell if the VIPs will make the trek. We bought modestly. There was a...
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Not so Boring Brown! - January 2017
Nowadays, with the latest interior design trends being 50 shades of white, shiny chrome, glass or brushed steel, antique furniture has earned the sad soubriquet \'boring and brown\'. While this may be true of the dusty old heirloom in the corner, stacked with yellowing...
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Looking North - December 2016
As soon as Charlie returned from the Palm Beach Design Centre we drove to the Lake District. As the motorway exit signs for Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Liverpool, Lancaster, and others, flashed past I began to think about the impact of the manufacturing heart...
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The life and times of Emma, Lady Hamilton - November 2016
On Tuesday 2nd November Charlie and I were lucky enough to attend the opening of \'Seduction and Celebrity\' - the life of Emma, Lady Hamilton. It was a fascinating evening from the opening speech by Joan Bakewell, in which she likened Emma to a present day Kate Moss or...
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The World is Small - October 2016
This week we are attempting a Wick Antiques first - loading two containers on the same day. One is going half way around the world to \'Wallrocks\' in Brisbane, Australia and the other in the opposite direction to Miami. The reason for this extravagance is our latest...
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Back To Work at the LAPADA Show - September 2016
We have spent the summer, as we always do, boating in the Solent on our large floating antique \'Beeleigh\', a 36 foot 1913 Fred Shepherd design gaff-rigged yacht, built in Brightlingsea. She has featured as cover girl for various publications including \'Classic Boat\',...
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Masterpiece Success - July 2016
Masterpiece went very well this year, and we sold to many European countries as well as to Asia and Australia. Could this be partly because our currency is low? Pieces from these newsletters which have found new homes included the Komai jubako, the Safavid ewer and a...
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Royal Connections - June 2016
As the country is celebrating Her Majesty the Queen\'s official 90th Birthday this weekend we are dedicating this newsletter to items of royal interest which we have been lucky enough acquire over the years. The piece above (sold) was made for Queen Victoria\'s Golden...
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Masterpiece Preview 2016 - June 2016
This weekend we are building the stand and papering the walls inside the huge and magnificent marquee that is home to Masterpiece for the next 10 days. Several of the pieces we are taking have already featured in newsletters but others we have kept under wraps until the...
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Provenance means History - May 2016
In the previous newsletter we looked at signatures and maker\'s labels. This time we are highlighting something else which adds \'wow\' factor - Provenance. Pieces which, for example, have come from a famous family, furnished a stately home, been in a renowned collection...
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Designed and Signed - May 2016
After a steep learning curve, some satisfying sales across all media (upholstery, carvings, furniture and a painting) and lots of old friendships rekindled and new ones made, at the Battersea Decorative Fair, we are setting our sights on Masterpiece. As a strictly...
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Battersea Decorative Fair 2016 - April 2016
This is the first time we have participated in the Battersea Decorative Fair - do come and see us under our nautical banner of Anderson Wallrock on stand 105 As the title suggests we are taking fun, quirky and decorative items to suit every budget. The warehouse and...
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Best in Show! - March 2016
This year is the 125th anniversary of Cruft\'s Dog Shows so here, at Wick Antiques, we are holding our own version. In the Toy and Utility Classes (for our purposes \'Utility\' means a work of art with an additional use) we have a Victorian iron hound door stop, a...
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Florida Fair! - February 2016
Well actually Florida has not been fair weather wise. Miami was chilly with such torrential rain we had to purchase an umbrella and the roads flooded instantly. However with the excellent drainage and warmth everywhere was dry by the next day, and of course we do not...
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Happy New Year! - January 2016
We have started 2016 with a cold snap and everyone is wrapped up warmly, rather like the elegant allegorical figure of \'Winter\' on this striking burr walnut cabinet attributed to Lamb of Manchester. The pair of Borzois are also well equipped for the cold with their...
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Merry Christmas - December 2015
Having just returned from a successful show in New York where we sold, amongst other things, our magnificent (and massive) Golden Eagle and the fire irons featured in the last newsletter, we find Christmas is almost upon us. Help! That is just what we intend to do - help ...
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New York! New York! - November 2015
This year the \'New York Jewelry and Fine Art Show\' falls just before Thanksgiving Weekend. Accordingly we are going to promote all things American from a silver mounted Tiffany carriage clock to a charming watercolour of The White House by Arthur Barbosa; from a rare...
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Wick Antiques joins forces with Mr Fogg's at the LAPADA Fair - September 2015
We all know Charles is a character, but his new friendship with the fictional Mr Fogg, from Around the World in 80 Days fame, has taken things to a whole new level. Both being globetrotters in search of the weird and wonderful they have a lot in common, real or...
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Meiji menagerie at the Masterpiece Fair - June 2015
Masterpiece is just around the corner and never fails to impress. Situated in the south grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the fair opens on Thursday 25th June and runs until Wednesday 1st July. This year we are showcasing a menagerie of Meiji period bronze tigers,...
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Spring is officially here - April 2015
The blossom has burst, the birds are singing and the sun is very much out in Lymington. If you are planning a trip to the glorious Hampshire coastline or to the New Forest do give us a call to arrange an appointment. We have a mass of new stock that will be going on our...
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Marching in to Spring with a hive of activity - March 2015
This month is all a buzz at Wick Antiques. Charles keeps returning from far and wide travels with collections of the weird, wonderful and spectacular, some of which are extremely rare, and are to be exhibited at the Masterpiece Fair this June. With a now refurbished...
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A new year, new events and new stock. - January 2015
We have much planned for 2015. Next month we are whizzing off to America for the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antiques Show. In the Spring we will be launching the much anticipated new nautical website and later in the year will see us at the prestigious Masterpiece London ...
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Happy Christmas from Wick Antiques... - December 2014
We want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our clients and associates and to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year. Charles and Rusty Latest Acquisitions ...and a Happy New Year from Lymington...
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Hark the herald... Christmas is coming! - November 2014
With Christmas only just around the corner we have picked out a small collection of present ideas, all available to see on our website. Please contact us for more information. Celebrating 20 years working with Lymington Restoration Ltd. Lymington Restoration Ltd, set...
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Globe October, have the world at your fingertips - October 2014
This month sees a large expansion in our antiques globe collection. Charles has been globally foraging to find some of the best on the market. Our selection is a diverse one, from an impressive 30\" library globe by Rand MaNally circa 1938, to a very dinky pair of 6 1/2\" ...
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Join us at the Lapada 2014 Fair at Berkeley Square next week - September 2014
Join us at the Lapada 2014 Fair at Berkeley Square next week. We cannot quite believe it\'s that time again, but one our favourite shows of the year is just around the corner. The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair in Berkeley Square is this autumn\'s must-visit event for...
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Looking for 'Mantiques'?... - September 2014
Looking for \'Mantiques\'?... ... then look no further.     Lapada dates for your diaries at Berkerly Square. The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London is this Autumn\'s must-visit event for sourcing and buying fine art...
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Shop this week's new listings - July 2014
  Watch our new film to get the inside scoop   https://vimeo.com/99321848 Cowes Week is here again We are collaborating with K1 Britannica in the heart of Cowes to showcase a collection of rare and exciting nautical antiques during this years...
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The Wick Antiques Menagerie - June 2014
Step aside Noah. Wick Antiques seems to be attracting animals left, right and center and our website is looking positively ‘Ark-like’. We have a wonderful collection of fine quality bronzes, ivories and carvings, and many more characterful creatures to come...
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Berthon International - Wick Antiques & Ship Models
By Charlie Wallrock, Photography © Wick Antiques Ltd, wickantiques.co.uk Just like ships themselves, ship models come in a wide variety of differing forms. Simple half hulls represent one end of this market whilst, at the other, are superb presentation pieces for the...
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Walk around The Treasure House Fair - David Harper
The Treasure House Fair is the amongst the finest fairs in the world showcasing art, antiques, jewellery and even the odd speedboat.
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Record £85k raised at annual yacht club regatta
Record £85k raised at annual yacht club regatta A record £85k has been raised at this year\'s Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta for charities Cure Parkinson’s and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The weekend-long event, which took...
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Why this extravagant Ships Tiller was only used on Sundays? - David Harper
A large ship’s ‘Sunday’ tiller carved with Queen Victoria’s likeness. This long yacht tiller is made from a single, solid piece of mahogany and has a typical shallow S-curve. The terminal is carved with the head of the young Queen Victoria. Below this is a...
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What is this Newfangled Victorian Life Saving Invention?
Charlie Wallrock from Wick Antiques finds the most fantastical objects from around the world. Charlie’s passion is maritime antiques and here’s an example of the most incredible object relating to the high seas…it’s a model of a mid 19th century invention for a life ...
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Rescuing Maritime Heritage: Charles Wallrock's Remarkable Find - All At Sea
Rescuing Maritime Heritage: Charles Wallrock\'s Remarkable Find Renowned antique dealer, Charles Wallrock, recently made a significant discovery: a dramatic painting depicting the 1861 RNLI rescue attempt off Scarborough, initially misidentified as a scene from Torquay or...
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The ‘Billy Ruffian’ of Antique Chairs!
HMS Bellerophon, known to sailors as the \'Billy Ruffian\', was a ship of the line of the Royal Navy. A third-rate of 74 guns, she was launched in 1786. Bellerophon served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, mostly on blockades or convoy escort duties. An...
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Famous Scarborough painting rescued by sharp-eyed dealer - The Scarborough News
Rescuing History: A Renowned Dealer\'s Discovery Charles Wallrock, a prominent antique dealer, recently identified a historic painting depicting a tragic 1861 RNLI rescue attempt off Scarborough. The artwork, previously misidentified as a scene from Italy or Devon, ...
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We are delighted once again to be sponsoring the Lymington Lifeboat 10k event
Congratulations to the RNLI on their be centenary celebrations. We are delighted once again to be sponsoring the Lymington Lifeboat 10k event https://issuu.com/rnli10k/docs/lymington_10k_2024  
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£40,000 to Exhibit at the Lapada Antiques Fair - David Harper
This is one of the biggest dates in the antiques worlds calendar…the Lapada Antiques Fair in central london. This is the opening night of the fair — here’s a glimpse of the night, a sneak preview of the fair and a bit of behind the scenes filming!
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What is an Antique Campaign Chest? - David Harper
A very special Anglo Chinese piece of Campaign Furniture. It’s a chest dated 1868 and it’s just come onto the market, it featured in our new published book ‘Britain On The High Seas, War & Wealth’.
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Prince Philip's Tour of Duty Album, Goes on Sale in Lymington - The Herald
An  astonishing photo album compiled by a member of the Royal Yacht Britannia crew on Prince Philip\'s solo round-the-world cruise in 1959 recently went on sale in Lymington. The album showing pictures of the Duke of Edinburgh visiting various far-flung places,...
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Unearthing a Valuable Surprise: £2800 Found Tucked Away in Brown Paper - David Harper
This opulent gold thread and silk cloth has a repeating design of octagonal and square panels enclosing confronting phoenix and flowerheads on a densely patterned geometric ground.  The bolt is wrapped in brown paper secured with ‘Tate and Lyle Ltd Granulated Sugar’...
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Antique Collecting Magazine - Snap Happy
A photo album which captured Prince Philip\'s solo round-the-world cruise in 1959 has gone on sale in Lymington. Antique dealer Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques spotted the album which shows pictures of the Duke of Edinburgh aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, at a recent...
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Discover the Hidden Value of Antique Royal Sailing Flags - David Harper
Two of King George V’s Sailing Flags from Royal Sailing Yacht Britannia have come onto the market. Each one accompanied by a black edged letter on Buckingham Palace writing paper dated 10th July 1936 (one a copy) saying ‘Dear Sir, I am commanded by the King and Queen...
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The Lure of Priests - The Field
The Lure of Priests How anglers deliver the coup de grace need not be via a prosaic blunt instrument but a thing of beauty - Read the article in The Field about our Watson Collection of Fishing Priests - Written by Roger Field  
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Exploring the Enigmatic World of Nautical Curiosities - David Harper
Exceptionally rare nautical related antiques in a cabinet of curiosities at the LAPADA Antiques Fair!
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Why BANKSY loves this antique Bronze? - David Harper
This bronze statuette shows Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington riding his warhorse Copenhagen.  He is dressed in civilian clothes with the reins in one hand and his top hat in the other.  The engraving on the bottom of the horse’s underbelly reads: ‘Published as the ...
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The Pacific Prince - Daily Mail - Mailonline
The Pacific Prince: Remarkable unseen images of the late Duke of Edinburgh visiting island communities during his solo 1959 round-the-world voyage come up for auction The pictures were taken by an official photographer on Royal Yacht Britannia Many of the images...
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What does a £500,000 Indian Mughal Empire Cannon look like? - David Harper
A highly important Mughal Indian Cannon captured at Copal Droog, 1858 This remarkable cannon is cast overall with a zig-zag design, often representative of ripples in water.  The central cannon shown on the top left of the illuminated manuscript on page 50 show a cannon...
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Prince’s tour of duty album for sale
Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques with the Britannia photo album An astonishing photo album compiled by a member of the Royal Yacht Britannia crew on Prince Philip’s solo round-the-world cruise in 1959 has come to light. It shows pictures of the Duke of Edinburgh...
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This is what £48,000 worth of Black Forest Longcase Clock looks like! - David Harper
Black Forest Longcase Clocks are pretty rare things. This one is about as rare and special as they get! Signed & Dated 1923.
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New Milton Advertiser - Wick Antiques in Lymington puts anglers’ priests, including one owned by Queen Victoria, on market
We have been featured in the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times. \'A collection of fishing ‘priests’ hailed as “the world’s finest” and including one owned by Queen Victoria is now on the market after being acquired by a New Forest antiques...
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What is an Antique Octant or Sextant? - David Harper
Here’s an antique 200 hundred year old Octant…but it looks like a Sextant! What’s the difference between the two?
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Fishing priests make a splash
The Watson Collection of 97 Fishing Priests The finest collection of fishing priests ever assembled that includes Queen Victoria’s has emerged onto the open market for the first time. There are 97 examples in the collection including the oldest known one in the...
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Sir Winston Churchill’s Fire Surround up for sale - David Harper
A carved fire surround from Sir Winston Churchill’s drawing room. This carved pine fire surround combines elements of both Rococo and Palladian designs. It has a shaped cornice above a frieze of foliate arabesques and floral garlands centred on a raised panel of...
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Lord Nelson Fire Surround - Made for the Marine Society in 1775 - David Harper
A George III carved pine chimneypiece from The Marine Society by Tousey, 1775 This pine chimneypiece has a swan-neck pediment supporting three pedestals, with dentil and leaf borders. There is a central limewood oval portrait of Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney carved...
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Grainy images revealed to be rare originals
Charles Wallrock with one of the Benjamin Zobel sand paintings he identified An antique dealer who bought two nicotine-covered artworks has had them cleaned and now they can be revealed as original ‘sand paintings’ by Benjamin Zobel. Charles Wallrock had...
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Top Antiques Dealer Charlie Wallrock visits Regen Bespoke to examine Indian Artworks - David Harper
David Harper and I took a trip to meet the owners of Regen Bespoke to explore exceptional top-end antiques and artworks.
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Wick Antiques - Jubilee 2022
This year, in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, our stand at Masterpiece, and accompanying catalogue, will feature pieces with royal connections.  Monarchs though the centuries have influenced our nation through the Church, the Armed...
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Never Seen Before! Behind the scenes setting up at the LAPADA Antiques Fair in London - David Harper
This is our stand for the LAPADA Antiques Fair in Berkeley Square, London. Never Seen Before Footage of the setting up before the opening of the fair.
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Why was this Black American Sailor Sculptured by Fredda Brilliant (1903 - 1999)? - David Harper
This is Wade King, a black American Navy sailor who went AWOL during the Second World War in London. He was spotted by the Polish born artist Fredda Brilliant who thought he was beautiful and so asked if she could sculpt him - Ward agreed and turned up to Freda’s studio...
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How to restore £34,500 worth of antique upholstery? - David Harper
In this video you get a behind the scenes look at how we restore antique upholstery before the pieces go live for sale on our website.
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Queen Mother sculpture finished days after her death emerges for sale - Telegraph
A sculpture of the Queen Mother that was completed just days after her death has emerged for sale. The bronze bust that depicts the centenarian with her well-known smile has been put up for sale for £35,000 to mark the 20th anniversary of her death. It...
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How do you design a stand for the LAPADA Antiques Fair? Behind the scenes with Charlie Wallrock - David Harper
In this video we get a behind the scenes look at how Charlie designs his stand for the 2023 LAPADA Antiques Fair in London.
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Queen Mother sculpture emerges for sale - Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques who is selling this sculpture of the Queen Mother
Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques who is selling this sculpture of the Queen Mother A sculpture made following the Queen Mother’s final sitting and completed after her death has emerged for sale. The breath-taking bronze that depicts the centenarian with her...
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Have you ever seen a Chinese Antique Mirror like this? Will it go back to China? - David Harper
Our latest video with David Harper covers our exceptional 19th century Chinese lacquer mirror.
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Looking for stylish interiors? Check out these items offered by dealers - ATG Feature
Wick Antiques This pair of swivel Time Life Chairs or lounge chairs, pictured above, were designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller in 1960. These are an adaptation of the seating originally specially commissioned to go in the Time Life building in New York...
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Meet the owner of the famous ‘Wick Antiques’ One of Britain’s best known top end dealers - David harper
I am delighted to express my gratitude to David Harper, whose exceptional film-making skills have brought our history and collection to life. For over 40 years, our family-owned business has been a trusted source for fine and rare antiques, offering a wide range of...
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Victorian carving by James Peake on sale - Daily Echo
THIS is the moment the great granddaughter of a \"genius\" carver saw one of his greatest works for the first time. Nicki Holt is a descendant of James Peake, who spent four months creating an incredibly detailed spray of flowers and fruit from a single piece of...
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Masterpiece 2022 - Jubilee Collection
Our Masterpiece stand this year featured pieces with royal connections to coincide with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. We are delighted to share a short video created while at Masterpiece which showcases our stand and the historical importance of the...
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The Telegraph - Trophy’s Long Voyage
A Silver gilt bowl that was given by William IV as a prize for the Cowes Regatta in the 1830’s has been returned to Britain after being found in the United States. It will be sold at The Chelsea Antiques Fair in London next week, the dealer who tracked it down and brought ...
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Jubilee Collection - June 2022
This year, in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, our stand at Masterpiece, and accompanying catalogue, will feature pieces with royal connections. We have created a short video as a sneak peak of our collection which will be available to ...
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AFLOAT - Missing King's Cup Won in 1835 By Cove's John Barry-Smith of Cork Harbour is Discovered
A magnificent silver-gilt bowl presented by King William IV to the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is back in England thanks to a maritime antique dealer. The bowl\'s history is an appropriate reminder of the depth of the sailing history of Cork Harbour with the 2021...
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Daily Express - Lord Nelson’s sword is a steel at £50,000
THE fighting sword used by Admiral Lord Nelson is for sale at £50,000. The British naval hero is believed to have used the steel weapon in battle against the French during the Napoleonic Wars. He gave the blade to his nephew William Maurice Suckling, who served on...
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Masterpiece Online 2021
Once again this year we are getting ready for Masterpiece in a different way...... Many of our pieces will not be leaving our showroom this year but will be showcased on Masterpiece Online from June 2021. Here is a sneak peak of much of the collection - Originally this...
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Lord Nelson's fighting sword is set to fetch £50,000: Blade 'once owned by Bonnie Prince Charlie' and later used in battle by British naval hero during Napoleonic Wars heads to auction
Lord Nelson\'s fighting sword is set to fetch £50,000: Blade \'once owned by Bonnie Prince Charlie\' and later used in battle by British naval hero during Napoleonic Wars heads to auction Admiral Nelson is believed to have used weapon in battles against the French ...
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Maritime & Nautical showroom reveal from Wick Antiques - Lymington
Originally this space at Wick Antiques was used as a store, during Lockdown it has seen a transformation. Having time to re-purpose this space, Charlie and the team have created a Nautical and Maritime themed area to showcase some of Wick Antiques rarest...
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2Covet Radio Interview - BBC Radio Solent
2Covet Radio Interview - BBC Radio Solent
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Nelson’s sword and Cromwell’s pocket watch
We have been featured in the Telegraph - Read the full article here
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Masterpiece 2020 - Charles Wallrock for Wick Antiques
Masterpiece Online showcases from Charles Wallrock. Knowledge and passion, conveying a sense of discovery! View the collection discussed in the video here - https://wickantiques.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Wick-Antiques-catalogue-2020.pdf
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Alan Russett in Memoriam
Alan Russett in Memoriam Viewing a house sale with us – Cowdray Park It is with great sadness that we write this newsletter in memory of my father, Alan Russett, who passed away on Tuesday 10th August. He was a great friend and supporter of Wick Antiques. With...
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Martyn Downer Masterpiece Talk
An in depth talk from Marytn Downyer (author of Nelson’s lost jewel and curator of the Wick Antiques stand ‘Traversing Britain’s Oceanic History through Antiques’. Click here to view the exhibition.
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BBC Feature - Sir Stanley Matthews’ silver tea set up for sale
A silver tea service presented to one of England\'s most famous footballers has been put up for sale. It was given to Stoke City hero Sir Stanley Matthews in 1946 to mark his then-record 44th England appearance. He played almost 700 games for...
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Charles Wallrock shows off his wares
Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques shows off his wares
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Wick Antiques Masterpiece 2019 Cannon focus
Traversing Britain’s Oceanic History through Antiques, our stand at Masterpiece 2019.
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Sir Stanley Matthews's historic silver tea service for sale
A SILVER tea service presented to football legend Sir Stanley Matthews to mark his record cap for England is up for sale online. Nicknamed ‘the wizard of the dribble’, Sir Stanley made his 44th international appearance in the 2-0 win against Belgium in January...
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Wick Antiques Masterpiece 2019
A Short film from of our Masterpiece stand 2019 - Traversing Britain’s Oceanic History through Antiques. Our curated collection of works of art and artefacts on a single naval theme caught the imagination. Numerous visitors congratulated us on the scope and interest of...
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What's new at Wick Antiques?
  Furniture     Globes     Lighting     Mirrors     Bronzes     Chinese & Japanese     Maritime    ...
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Wick Antiques Social Media Giveaway - Ended
This competition has now ended. Entries made now will not be entered or counted. Wick Antiques are running a giveaway on Instagram, to win an Original gelatin print of a gentleman’s steam yacht on passage, Circa 1890. To enter the competition, follow the link here...
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'Forces News' features the crowd funding effort to buy William Beatty's Medicine Cabinet.
Forces News features the crowd funding effort to buy William Beatty\'s Medicine Cabinet. Surgeon William Beatty attended to Lord Nelson as he died at the Battle of Trafalgar, upon the HMS Victory. Royal Navy Medics have bought the cabinet through a crowd funding effort,...
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The Sun Newspaper - A feature about Sir William Beatty's Chest
A snippet from a feature in The Sun Newspaper about the Crowdfunder effort raising money to purchase Sir William Beatty’s Medicine Chest. February 2020  
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CrowdFunder Campaign a success! The medicine cabinet that belonged to Sir William Beatty who tended Nelson as he died has been secured for a museum
We are delighted to announce that the medicine cabinet that belonged to Sir William Beatty who tended Nelson as he died has been secured for a museum after a crowdfunding effort. Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Jo Laird of the Royal Navy Medical Service launched the campaign...
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The Independent - Gold Mine - Homes & Antiques - Bid to Save Nelson Relic
Further Press from The Independent - Gold Mine - Homes & Antiques edition -A Bid to Save Nelson Relic from the Royal Navy
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The Mariners Mirror Podcast from The Society for Nautical Research
We have been featured on The world’s No.1 podcast dedicated to all of maritime and naval history! Below is a snippet but you can listen to the full podcast here -...
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The News - Portsmouth - Nelson relic fundraiser nears target
Royal Navy medics are close to saving a key piece of medical history that was used to treat Admiral Nelson. Join the Crowdfunder effort here - Croundfunder  and read more about the incredible people behind the fundraising effort...
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The Race is on to save historic medicine cabinet for the nation - 2Covet & The Royal Navy
A crowdfunding effort has been launched by Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Jo Laird to try and buy the medicine cabinet that belonged to Lord Nelson’s surgeon Sir William Beatty. The wooden apothecary case caused quite a splash when it emerged for sale here on Wick...
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Star Power - Why a celebrity connection boosts the price - from a football legend’s tea set to presidential pottery
Daisy Dunn is a classicist and the author of, most recently, Homer: A Ladybird Expert Book, and an anthology entitled Of Gods and Men: 100 Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome. Last month, a small lock of hair cut from Elvis Presley’s head in the 1950s sold at...
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Medicine cabinet used to treat Lord Nelson for sale in New Forest - Daily Echo
The medicine cabinet that belonged to Lord Nelson’s surgeon Sir William Beatty who attended him as he died has emerged for sale in the New Forest. It is dated 1803, just two years before the Battle of Trafalgar during which Nelson was fatally shot on board his flagship...
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Introducing, The London Collection at The Talisman Building - Coach House Piano
After 14 years of occupying the Talisman Building, a good friend of mine Ken Bolan was understandably attached to its lovely modernist design. When he purchased it back in 2006, it was due for demolition, so it was a proud moment when he managed to have restored, and saved...
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The Conscious Consumer: Art, Antiques and Sustainable Shopping - 2Covet
Art & Antiques in the fight against mass consumerism This month at 2Covet, we are celebrating the ‘Anti Black Friday’ generation, a nod to the conscious consumer and a reflection on how art and antiques provide a captivating and sustainable alternative to the fast...
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Gentleman’s Journal - The sporting antiques fit for a gentleman
Because it\'s never too late to start your collection.... Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques: Classic racing yacht paintings “The British have a very close affinity with all things nautical. For centuries we have been racing each other and pushing the...
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Emma Hamilton: Provocative lost oil painting of Nelson’s mistress is uncovered
A lost portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson’s mistress, Lady Hamilton, has been discovered at a seaside antiques shop. The painting by Richard Westall shows Emma Hamilton gazing over her left shoulder, with her right breast exposed under a loose gown. It is thought to have...
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Antique Collecting Magazine
A highlight feature of our Pair of George III J & W Cary’s 12 inch Floor Gobes 1800 Featured in September 2019\'s edition of Antique Collecting Magazine
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Traversing Britain’s Oceanic History through Antiques
The prestigious Masterpiece fair is returning this summer, and one stand in particular – that which traverses Britain on the high seas – has managed to catch our eye. From 27 June to 3 July 2019, the unmissable Masterpiece art fair is...
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COUNTRY LIFE - JUNE 2018
COUNTRY LIFE - JUNE 2018
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CALIBRE - APRIL 2018
Calibre - April 2018
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PALM BEACH SHOW - AUGUST 2017
PALM BEACH SHOW - AUGUST 2017
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CALIBRE LUXURY - JANUARY 2017
CALIBRE LUXURY - JANUARY 2017 - Click to download
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ANTIQUE COLLECTING - AUGUST 2016
Antique Collecting - August 2016
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HOMES & ANTIQUES - JULY 2016
Home & Antiques - July 2016
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LAPADA - May 2016
LAPADA - May 2016 - Click here to view
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ALLABOUTSHIPPING.CO.UK - APRIL 2016
All About Shipping - Click to download
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