Jerrard Nares of Mytton Antiques tells us what to buy at the moment.
There has recently been an explosion in prices for Chinese ceramics and other works of art due to the flowering of the Chinese economy, and on the back of this we have seen a surge in demand for another type of Oriental Ceramic - Imari.
Imari is a vibrant and well decorated type of pottery made in the west of Japan, typically in the small towns of Imari and Areta, from the mid 16th century to the early 20th century. It was first bought back to Europe at the beginning of the 18th century by the East India Company and the Dutch East India Company. They were trading companies, bringing back spices, herbs, silks and all sorts of items that would have been very exotic to Europeans at this time. Imari porcelain is vivid and colourful, using a colour palette typically of reds and blues, with gold to highlight. It is mainly found in the form of vases and plates and, at its best, quite the equal of the finest Chinese ceramics but can be bought for a fraction of the price.
One of the reasons for the increase in demand now at the beginning of the 21st century is the recent trend towards more formal antique interiors. A large Imari vase on an antique mahogany table looks stunning. We have wide range of decorative antique furniture like antique tables, antique chairs, antique dressers, antique chest of drawers, and antique console tables. We are getting a lot of sales from customers, and particularly the London trade, for more formal antique decorative pieces that can make a statement in a traditional interior and bring gravitas and a sense of history to a modern scheme and Imari fills that brief for them.
Jerrard recommends looking out, particularly, for 18th century Imari rather than the later versions, as they are much sharper and better decorated.
Good small pairs of 18th century or 19th Century Imari vases can still be bought for £200 – £400 and really large statement pairs for £1000 - £1500. Large 18th century chargers, meanwhile, can be up to £2000.
Also popular at the moment is antique silver. This is not only because the base price for gold and silver is at an all time high! There is also a return to giving more traditional gifts and an antique silver gift ticks many boxes. Silver Christening mugs, silver candlesticks, silver menu holders, silver photo frames and silver bowls are the most popular antique silver items at the moment. Price wise, antique silver is very good value compared to new items.
The items to watch though is antique glasses, ranging from 18th Century Glass and 19th Century Glass that is remarkable value at the moment! Glass looks wonderful displayed on antique furniture, such as an 18th or 19th century oak dresser or on a marble topped table or in a contemporary interior.
Mytton Antiques now offer a large range of 18th and 19th century decorative pieces and these can be seen at www.myttonantiques.com .