Antique Guides

Antiques expert Judith Miller and LAPADA Members Peter Woodward of 3details and Holly Johnson of Holly Johnson Antiques pass on their insider tips to ensure you find a lasting, and affordable seat.

The hall chair is one of our favourite types of seat furniture. Unlike other types of chairs, these had primarily a decorative purpose: adorning a great entrance hall and displaying a family crest. It seems we are not alone to pursue the passion for hall chairs: there has been a noticeable recent trend for these accessible pieces of furniture, proving that they are still appealing to collectors and decorators alike. Presenting something of a novelty to the contemporary mind, here is our overview of the history of a hall chair.

The vast majority of English, Scottish and Irish silver produced in the last 500 years is stamped with either four or five symbols, known as hallmarks. The prime purpose of these marks is to show that the metal of the item upon which they are stamped is of a certain level of purity. The metal is tested and marked at special offices, regulated by the government, known as assay offices. Only metal of the required standard will be marked. It is a form of consumer protection, whose origin goes back almost 1000 years.

Choosing a suitable frame for a painting is a complicated blend of finding the right period, style, setting, and proper protection, all the while making sure you end up with something you love and that displays your artwork in the best way possible. Simple? We think not.

All the major 20th century artists were committed printmakers, creating stand-alone artworks that were not copies of paintings.