CATEGORIES

The HARD SELL

Like many of us post Christmas, Hattie Bell felt in need of a good clear out, but wasn't sure where to turn for items that were too special for the charity shop. Here, she tries and tests several methods - from selling ceramics at a vintage market to auctioning books...

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME - Matt Dixon

The owner of TallBoy Interiors tells us about selling his first antique, and how to handle the pressure at French fairs.

48 hours in ASOLO

The medieval hilltop town of Asolo has captivated the imagination of visitors for centuries. Amanda Robinson finds out more about this beautiful- and romantic - Venetian gem...

Pride of place - STAFFORDSHIRE SLIPWARE

Distinguished by its bold, earthy colours and the use of liquid clay applied in decorative patterns, this rustic English pottery has a long and fascinating history, finds Janet Gleeson

ONE EYE ON THE PAST

Artist Sophie Glover explains how she creates her contemporary lover's eyes

Rainbow revelations

When Amy Eld bought her Pimlico home, its plain white walls sparked a desire to drench it in colour, before carefully furnishing it with vintage and antique treasures

Sustainable STYLE

When Nichola and Adam Burns moved from Bristol to France, they took their love of vintage and antique pieces with them, decorating their home with a multitude of stylish finds

Curated collections

Step into Marc Kitchen-Smith's atmospheric Cornish home, where antiques, history and passion intertwine to create a timeless, well-curated sanctuary.

Relaxed LIVING

John and Katy Maskell Bell have filled their Victorian home with inherited treasures and antique finds to create a stylish yet warm and welcoming interior.

Lisa Coppin

The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her

TRAVEL

Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories

OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE

Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today

Merrily on high

Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny

Let it snow

Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy

Velvet Crush

Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process

Celebrating in the Stable

Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers

NICHOLAS LEES

The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects

Candy CHRISTMAS

Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...

48 hours in FUNCHAL

Jenny Oldaker discovers Madeira's capital to be an elegant, artistic place with wide open spaces, verdant beauty spots and a picture-perfect sea-facing location...

LUKE HONEY'S Enthusiasms

On an autumn day in 1783, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster became the first living creatures to fly in a hot air balloon.

Collecting NUTCRACKERS

Not just for Christmas, these nostalgic keepsakes come in an abundance of novelty shapes and styles, offering character and affordability for budding collectors

WHY I COLLECT Medals

Oliver Miller, managing director of Bishop & Miller Auctioneers and Valuers, is fascinated by medals - for him it's all about the preservation of stories for future generations...

Fashionably CURATED

Roni Lang's home in Deal, situated above her clothing store, is every bit as creative and stylish as you'd expect from a fashion designer

Work life balance

Lucy and Guy Rutter - a ceramicist and artist respectively - have found the ideal place to live and work: a Victorian property in Faversham attached to a once-neglected studio...

Farm FUSION

A farmhouse near Cape Town has been given a rustic-meets-industrial makeover, using found materials and objects, as well as treasures brought back from afar

SAVVY Sophistication

Affordable and intriguing charity shop and eBay finds are teamed with statement pieces in this impressive Victorian home in West Yorkshire

DARREN APPIAGYEI

The wood artist talks to Dominique Corlett about seed pods, creative reinvention and the life-enhancing feeling of turning a lathe

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