Pocket watches were once rich boys' toys, says Penny Andrews, head of watches at Bonhams, London. They were novelty scientific instruments; the kind of thing you'd buy to show off to your friends. Ironically, in the mid-tolate 1600s, when they first became fashionable, the only people who could afford to buy them weren't governed by time - they lived lives of luxury and leisure.'
Pocket watches evolved over the course of 400 years or so. In building a collection, you can really zoom in on something that interests you. There are so many different makers, styles, cases and types of movement,' says Penny. 'Some buyers are interested in pocket watches' changing technology, while others collect them as miniature works of art - the best watchmakers often collaborated with other top craftspeople to produce cases embellished with enamelwork, or incredible engraving, with stunning results.'
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place
Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE
In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance
Bohemian Rhapsody
An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton
The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain
European HERITAGE B&Bs
Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...
STAR SALES
A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots
Textile designs by artists
Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s
Period DRAMA
A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life
An artist's RESIDENCE
Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery
Carefully Curated LIVING
This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques