Most pieces of pottery have fairly unremarkable histories. They were made, bought, used and eventually discarded, broken or passed down through generations. Shipwreck ceramics followed a different path. Carried as cargo across oceans, they sank with their vessels and remained on the seabed for centuries before being recovered by archaeologists and divers. A small Chinese blue and white porcelain saucer dish dating to the late Ming period, circa 1590–1630, shown here from the underside with its sandy unglazed foot and substantial marine encrustation, suggesting recovery from a shipwreck after centuries underwater. This piece is currently available for sale in our Etsy shop . More Than Just Pottery Few words in the antiques trade can transform an apparently ordinary object quite as quickly as shipwreck . A chipped blue-and-white bowl sitting in a cabinet may attract only modest attention. Add a documented shipwreck provenance, however, and people tend to lean forw...

For over a thousand years, Chinese porcelain was one of the most admired objects on Earth. Kings collected it, merchants chased it, pirates stole it, and scientists spent centuries trying to discover its secrets. Remarkably, the story begins with mud, rocks and a great deal of heat. Featuring a hand-painted phoenix in underglaze cobalt blue, this Qing Dynasty porcelain dish (1644–1912) is a reminder of why Chinese ceramics captivated the world for centuries. Delicate, durable and beautifully decorated, it represents a tradition that transformed simple clay into one of history's most desirable luxury goods. Currently available in our Etsy shop . The History of Chinese Porcelain The English language contains a rather unusual clue to just how influential Chinese porcelain became. We still call fine porcelain china . Think about that for a moment. We do not call clocks "Germany." We do not call wine "France." Yet one nation became...

Antique terms get used everywhere — in antique shops, auction catalogues, and online listings — and they often sound more important than they are. Words like “patina,” “spelter,” and “vermeil” get thrown around constantly, but unless you already know them, they don’t tell you much. This antique glossary breaks down the most common antique terms, including materials, furniture styles, decorative techniques, and collecting terminology used by dealers and collectors. It’s a straightforward reference to help you understand what you’re looking at, whether you’re browsing antiques, researching a piece, or reading a listing. No over-complication — just clear definitions of antique terms so you can recognise them when you see them. Image courtesy of Unsplash.com A Acanthus – If it’s covered in curling leaves and looks suspiciously Roman, congratulations, you’re looking at an acanthus motif. The Greeks loved it, the Romans stole it, and now, it’s on everything from furniture to plaster molding...

There was a time when you could buy a box of old tat at a village auction, wipe the nicotine off a brass horse, stick it in the window, and some retired policeman from North Yorkshire would appear three days later waving cash and smelling faintly of pipe tobacco and resentment. That world is wobbling now. Not dead. Just changing its coat. And if you spend your days, as I do, knee-deep in house (estate) clearances, boot fairs, auction rooms, and the strange online gladiator pit known as eBay, you start to notice the shift. Slowly at first. Then all at once. The old reliable stock starts sitting longer. The figurines stare at you for months. The Victorian side table you would once sell in a week now develops roots. Meanwhile some rusty industrial lamp that looks like it survived a Soviet submarine fire sells in fourteen minutes to a man in Hackney called Luca who drinks coffee that tastes like burnt roofing felt. The market has changed. And honestly? Some of it was inevitable. M...