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The Story of an Exquisite and Rare Antique Secretaire
Sometimes, working in the antiques business can feel more like we’re living in a thrilling detective story! Here at Butchoff Antiques in London’s Kensington Church Street, we are surrounded by beautiful objects which all have individual fascinating tales – some are still mysterious and have yet to be fully discovered! Take, for example, this 19th-century secretaire, or writing cabinet. The decoration features extensive marquetry inlay, illustrating architectural scenes of Classical Roman inspiration, and interlaced with bouquets and garlands of flowers. It embodies the exuberance and prestige of the Louis XVI taste, being dressed in elaborate gilt bronze mounts. Its design thoughtfully interweaves the motifs of the marquetry work and ormolu…
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Decorative Motifs of the English Neoclassical Style
The neoclassical style was a late eighteenth-century European movement in the decorative arts that embraced a revival of ancient principles derived from the classical Roman and Greek architecture. In England neoclassicism is also known as the ‘Adam Style’, named for two brothers, Robert and James Adam, who created ingenious designs and decorative interiors for English houses, some of which remain today, such as Kedleston Hall, Harewood, Kenwood, and Syon houses. Delicacy, Gaiety, Grace and Beauty It was during Robert Adam’s four years of architecture training in Italy that he was greatly influenced by the interior decoration of private Roman interiors, and the ‘delicacy, gaiety, grace and beauty’ of their ornamentation.…
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Antiques | English Furniture of the Georgian Period
This is the first article in a twelve-month series by Butchoff Antiques on discovering English and European eighteenth- and nineteenth-century furniture and decorative objects. We begin with English Georgian furniture: its quintessential charm, major characteristics, and enduring influence. English Georgian Furniture Thinking about English furniture brings to mind pieces that are finely crafted, mostly brown in color, and representing an epoch of comfort and the grand country house. Such pieces are what the Georgian period is best known for. This extensive period witnessed some of the greatest and most influential designers and furniture makers in England’s history, such as William Kent, Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas Sheraton.…
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Why Pick Me? 5 Reasons to Take Home an Antique
In a hyperactive modern world full of endless choices and change, why choose an antique for your personal space, office, or art collection? The team at London-based, Butchoff Antiques, have put together five compelling reasons to take another look at the timeless designs created in the past. 5 Reasons to Take Home an Antique 1 Historical Significance Antiques are enduring symbols of the historical importance of design and high taste. As versatile objects, to be both appreciated visually and used practically, antiques tell stories about the history of fashion, decoration, and utility, connecting the past to present. Pay attention to the details! The form and decoration of a piece can…
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Antiques: Rare Regency Period Mahogany Expanding Table
EXPANDING ROUND TABLE BY ROBERT JUPE This English masterpiece of cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering is a highly important extension dining table designed and patented by the legendary Robert Jupe, and retailed by G. Morant, Interior Decorator and Upholsterer to King William IV and Queen Victoria. One of only a handful known, this mahogany table perfectly illustrates the Regency era’s quest to combine technical innovation with superb and beautiful craftsmanship. The table’s circular top is formed of multiple interconnecting segments. When the top is rotated, an ingenious swivel mechanism causes the sections to diverge, allowing a set of leaves to be inserted to increase the table size. Details: Circa 1835, 61″…
Ode to Luxury and The Art of Life
