Antique Guides

An Introduction to Public Art Commissions
Public art commissions have been around for millennia. Their implementation is a lengthy process that requires project management, careful planning and flexibility. Here, member Renée Pfister discusses the process of bringing a public work of art to fruition.

LAPADA Guide to Orkney Chairs
The Orkney Chair is probably one of the most iconic pieces of Scottish vernacular furniture. Now highly collectable (with examples at the Victoria & Albert Museum), Orkney chairs were originally made with a very practical design. The chair style that we know today was standardised in the mid-19th century by David Kirkness of Kirkwall. It is assumed…
orkney chairs

LAPADA Guide to Antique Tea Caddies
Exquisite design and craftsmanship give antique tea caddies an enduring appeal. Here, member Mark Goodger discusses their history and his advice for collecting.
antique tea caddies

A Short History of Chests of Drawers
Though they are found in nearly every bedroom today, the history of chests of drawers began only a few hundred years ago. Whilst the coffer chest was in use from the 13th century onwards, it was not until the late 17th century that the use of drawers in chests emerged. This coincided with an increasing…
18th Century chest of drawers

Toys for the Boys (& Girls)
One of my favourite categories of the rich and varied objets d’arts proffered by our members are the gadgets and gizmos that for want of a better word are often referred to as ‘toys for the boys’. Outdated and sexist? Possibly, as they are certainly as appealing to me as to anyone of the opposite…

Watch LAPADA x Political Tours Webinar – ‘Confined Design’
Lockdown has undoubtedly changed the way we live, and many of us are now devoting more time to our own immediate surroundings. to take a look at how people are changing their homes. LAPADA CEO Freya Simms, alongside longtime member Helen Linfield of Wakelin & Linfield recently took part in a webinar hosted by travel…
interior design webinar

LAPADA Guide to Pietra Dura
Though it’s today one of the lesser-known ‘decorative arts’, the technique of pietra dura is highly prized and widely used, and can be found in settings ranging from antique jewellery boxes to the walls of the Taj Mahal.
Mr Mati Sinai
Mr Mati Sinai
Mayfair Gallery Ltd.

LAPADA Guide to Selecting the Right Chimneypiece for your Home
A chimneypiece is essentially a decorative surround that frames the opening of a fireplace. It has been seen for centuries as the focal point of a room. Furniture is organised around it, and prized artworks or beautiful mirrors above it. Without one, a room for entertaining or relaxing can often feel without a centrepiece.
Anthony Bridgman
Anthony Bridgman
Westland London