A Winter of Content
Friday December 23, 2005 by Paul Martin
Just when we were enjoying the autumn, along comes winter with vengeance and it looks like we are in for a chill! It’s this time of year that we live for a tiny ray of hope that we will have a couple of hours of winter day sunshine to give us a lift and cheer us up!
It’s that “ray of hope” that the antiques trade will be wishing for, as traditionally this is the busiest time of year for them – trading for the Christmas run up. Especially for the furniture trader (glamour what it is, I have been there myself.) All of a sudden everyone wants a larger dinning table – all the in-laws are coming and gosh, they all need chairs to sit on. Or it might be an oil painting or a cut glass decanter they want for a last minute Christmas present.
The trade needs this more than ever now, it’s been the toughest year for them for a decade, this spell could get them through the winter. I know I’m repeating myself here, but there really has never been a better time to buy “Brown Furniture.” I know the “brown” puts so many people off, but look deeper. Don’t think brown, thing lovely figured auburn mahogany, decorative swirling grains of Elm and Oak and variegated hues of Walnut. If you can afford to but it, buy with that in mind, look for pieces that are lovely and warm, have age and texture, the rule is, never buy something with an even colour, it’s boring, lifeless and looks like a reproduction – now that’s “brown!”
But it hasn’t all been doom and gloom for the antiques trade, some areas have thrived and one of the most popular areas has been “Lord Nelson” memorabilia – And why, well it has been the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. We saw related collections come out of the wood work and artefacts of Nelson sell extremely well in the sale rooms; beyond belief in fact. Now, this has got me thinking, what’s going to be hot for the future, well here is my tip, look out for the “Duke of Wellington” memorabilia and the “Napoleonic Wars,” especially dated items of 1815 and the Battle of Waterloo, when Wellington defeated Napoleon just outside Brussels in Belgium and sent him into exile on St Helena, to end the Napoleonic Wars.
Anything related to the Napoleonic Wars or dated 1815, (i.e. paintings, prints, engraved silver items, uniforms, campaign furniture, bronzes, documents, maps and busts to name a few) are a good idea to buy now. Even Napoleon items, with 1821, which remember his death date may also turn into profit as in 2021 it will be his turn. (Although not so popular with us English, you could put it on Ebay and sell internationally.)
Start collecting, learn about the history behind what you buy and as always, most of all enjoy it!
Paul
