life
ANTIQUES
By Philip Hoare
I
Priced Less
Antiques!
have been in the world of
antiques and fine arts for
45 years and during this
period have seen many changes
in the Art market. The 60’s,
70’s and 80’s were decades
that marked the era of the
purist and serious collector
of antiques due to our rich
heritage of art, and artefacts,
which had been sourced
throughout the world during
the great days of our empire
and were in abundance during
this period.
Things then changed
dramatically; the late 20th
Century saw a period of
dreary minimalism where every
makeover programme on the
television seemed to create a
clinical space daubed in paints
of various florescent colours
reminiscent of an American
Motel Room devoid of any
quality period pieces!
The 21st Century has seen a
vast acceleration in the value
of contemporary art. Even the
old masters trail behind the
pre-eminent modern painters
in value.
I regularly advise clients and
source fine arts and antiques
for interior design projects.
Minimalism is becoming less
desirable and I have noticed a
resurgence in clients wanting
to create period and quality
ambience. However to qualify
this there is no doubt that the
old and the new can work very
well together the emphasis of
course being on quality. Don’t
forget that today’s pieces can
be tomorrow’s antiques!
The Island has a very rich
heritage of grand and quality
60
period houses, many of which
have been neglected or, sadly,
demolished to make way for
buildings with the emphasis
on space rather than beauty.
There are, fortunately, those
who appreciate the heritage of
the Island and are restoring
period houses and returning
them to their former glory.
Many, of course, have
lost their period features,
particularly the marble and
cast iron chimneypieces, which
became very unfashionable
for many years and were
removed in favour ‘modern’
replacements.
Fortunately you can now
acquire superb copies of
period fireplaces in white and
coloured marble, which can
be equal in quality to any that
were made in the 19th century.
Quality is the by word and at
the moment it is possible to
find high quality copies of
period lighting and decorative
arts, which, when blended
with original antiques create a
perfect balance and ambience.
Indeed, this is a perfect time
to purchase antiques and
decorative arts as they can
be priced less in the present
market but provide a priceless
embellishment to your home.
For further information
please contact pahvaluations@
aol.com
Or visit his website www.
philiphoare.com
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net