Autumn is traditionally the season of the blockbuster period drama; longer evenings and lowering temperatures are conducive to hunkering down in front of the latest releases, from series six of The Crown on Netflix, to Napoleon on Apple TV+. And, while the actors, the stunning locations and the sumptuous costumes will draw most of the plaudits, spare a thought for the set dressers and props buyers. The meticulous work of these unsung heroes of the world of film and television is central to the overall mood, and success, of these shows.
More often than not, their research will lead them to specialist antiques dealers or to dealers, such as Salianne and Andrew Collier, who cater solely to the entertainment industry. Run from a vast granary in Nottinghamshire, the Colliers' props business, Rufus J. Maypole, is a sister operation to Collier Antiques, and was established as a result of regular requests from set decorators and props buyers.
Having provided antique antlers and carvings for the tavern scenes in Disney's 2017 film, Beauty and the Beast, and all the glassware for Murder on the Orient Express, a props buyer visited their stand at Battersea. Decorative Fair and proceeded to gather up assorted pieces of stock. The buyer turned out to be Ellen Freund, a big name in the world of set design - as the Property Master on Mad Men, she was responsible for creating the show's completely immersive and believable 1965 ambience, right down to the ice in the drinks, which was made using vintage mid-century metal ice cube trays.
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Denne historien er fra September 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