You may have noticed that recently I started to write for Homes & Antiques, one of the prime antiques magazines in Britain. And today I have an offer: you can download a free copy here, and if you want to read my monthly column about the history of British Porcelain, subscribe to this monthly magazine. This special issue of Homes & Antiques is dedicated to collectors and collecting. The issue celebrates this universal compulsion, meeting six collectors whose passions range fr

In the 18th Century the dessert started to become the most decoratively elaborate course of dinner parties. This makes sense, if you think about the fact that once people have filled their stomachs and had a few glasses of wine, conversations become lively. And as the dessert is the last course, it will make the strongest impression on guests, particularly if they are in a jolly state of satisfaction. So for the dessert, a host would pull out all the stops: the porcelain dess

Today we are going blue and white! And we have the best coffee pot, ever. A while ago I showed a Miles Mason tea service in the famous blue on white "Pagoda" pattern, and it was snapped up right away. But I have more... Today I am presenting a similar set of 6 trios by Miles Mason, also in the Pagoda pattern from about 1810, and I've combined it with what I think is the most wonderful coffee pot I've ever held in my hands. It was made by Rathbone in about 1815 and is in perfe

Are you confused about the history of British porcelain? You are not the only one, as it is such a complex field! I have shelves of excellent books on British porcelain, but none of them give me a clear overview of this very confusing and unwieldy topic. Currently, anyone who wants to get an overview of British porcelain will need years of study. So I was thrilled when the magazine Homes & Antiques approached me to write a monthly column, as I realised that this was the perfe

This weekend is Easter, and after and exceptionally long and dark winter the spring has never been so welcome! 🌷 I know many of you are still in lockdown, or are just returning to lockdown... here in England we are just enjoying a slight relaxation after a winter of strict lockdown. But Easter will be special no matter what: we have some time off to admire the new flowers outside, feel the first rays of the sun on our face when we go out, and we can make things wonderful fo