Well, time has whizzed past us once again
and trying to cover most social media we often
forget how important it is to blog, but we're hoping
to change that!
At Hampton Antiques we do our very best to
move with the times, sourcing antique boxes & accessories for an ever
changing world with very varied tastes. We love
nothing better than to find objects that are in
their totally original condition, and cherished
throughout the years. It goes without saying that
these objects are a rarity but from time to time we
do have the privilege of finding them. It's sadly
too common to find pieces that (usually with good
intention) have been tampered with in some way.
Unfortunately the owner is often unaware that this
only devalues an item.... but this is where our
expert team of restorers (including myself) come in, to undo bad repairs and make good the object by
working our magic! We bring boxes back to their
former glory in such a way that cannot be noticed: this is the difference between a hobby restorer and
professional restorer. Being an antique dealer as
well as a restorer gives me great insight in to how
things were originally made, right down to the
construction of pieces and details such as the
polish or wax originally used, and therefore I'm
able to spot if a piece is not quite as it should
be.
The fascination of the box and its history
means you can't help but want to peek inside, which
will tell us if it holds secrets and its own unique
story. Boxes are fascinating and come in all
shapes & sizes and are made from all manner of
materials from exotic timbers to horn, ivory &
tortoiseshell. Many were made by highly skilled
cabinet makers, representing the period's fashions
and a specific time in history, others for
practical and everyday uses. Boxes were often
commissioned for Kings & Queens and were made by
cabinet maker firms who held royal warrants for
their highly skilled craftsmanship. Today these
beautiful time capsules are admired and still used
by many of us today. Some have been altered for
modern day uses such as Jewellery Boxes or boxes in
which to keep a Tablet, mobile phone or tissues
(very popular in the US!). The quality of antique
boxes will outlast any modern equivalent, due to
the timbers & materials used back then that are
not available today. So next time you're thinking
of a practical, unique, beautiful gift.... think
boxes!