The Magazine Antiques

08/15/2025

Welcome back to a medieval takeover with artist and curator .

Pierre Sala’s Petit Livre d’Amour is a remarkable and intimate Renaissance manuscript created around 1500 in France. This tiny vellum book, often described as a portable token of devotion, was crafted by Pierre Sala as a love gift for his future wife. The manuscript is composed of heartfelt poetry interwoven with personal symbols and intricate painted miniatures, all designed to express Sala’s affection and commitment.
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Pierre Sala’s Petit Livre d’Amour, vellum manuscript with painted miniatures and decorated leather case, c. 1500, France. 13 x 9.5 cm

08/14/2025

08/14/2025

Welcome to Day 4 of our medieval takeover with artist and curator .

The prestigious Munich Court Workshop were active in the late 16th century and were known for their exceptional craftsmanship, as demonstrated by this exquisite pendant. Executed in gold with enamel detailing, the pendant opens to reveal a miniature painted portrait of Duchess Anna of Bavaria. She was born in 1528 to Emperor Ferdinand I and married Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria in 1546. Together they transformed Munich into a Renaissance cultural hub. Anna was renowned for her fabulous jewellery collection, meticulously documented in a jewelled inventory book (the Kleinodienbuch) by court artist Hans Mielich.

Portrait Pendant of Duchess Anna of Bavaria, gold, enamel, miniature painting, 1579–1590, Munich. 5.2 x 4 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Kunstkammer

08/13/2025

Welcome back to Day 3 of our medieval takeover with .⁠

Despite its traditional association with Charlemagne, this pendant was created around 1350, long after the emperor’s death in 814. Its inscription claims to contain a fragment of the True Cross (but such relics were often symbolic rather than authentic.) Likely made to evoke the sanctity and authority of the imperial past, the pendant combines gold, precious stones, and a repurposed Roman cameo to project a powerful image of Christian rulership.⁠

So-called Pendant of Emperor Charlemagne, gold over wood, rock crystal, sapphires, amethysts, chalcedony, cameo, silk brocade, c. 1350, Holy Roman Empire.⁠
Imperial Treasury, Vienna. 14.5 x 9.3 cm⁠
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Ecclesiastical Treasury⁠

08/12/2025

Welcome back to our medieval takeover with .

This griffon-shaped vessel, known as an aquamanile, was used by priests to pour water for handwashing during Mass. The beak serves as the spout and the tail elegantly curves upward to form a handle. Adorned with intricate niello work, silver inlay, and gilding, this piece stands out as one of the earliest and most exquisite examples of its kind.⁠
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Aquamanile in the form of a Griffon, gilded bronze with damascened silver, niello, and garnet, c. 1120–1130, Helmarshausen, Germany. 17.3 x 8.5 x 14.5 cm⁠
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Kunstkammer⁠
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08/11/2025

Welcome to a very special takeover with medieval history influencer, artist, and curator who will be sharing ten days of all things medieval!⁠
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In the Middle Ages, chess was regarded as a knightly pursuit, closely tied to the ideals of chivalry. The numerous pieces on this board reflect themes from courtly life, including hunting, music, romantic love, and battles with mythical creatures. Few medieval chessboards of this kind have survived. This particular example was first recorded in 1596 as part of Archduke Ferdinand II’s renowned Ambras collection.⁠
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Game Board for Chess and Backgammon, wood with certosina inlay, jasper, bone, agate, chalcedony, painted clay, and rock crystal, 1st half of the 14th century (with later alterations), possibly Venice. 3 x 38 x 38 cm⁠
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Kunstkammer⁠
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08/10/2025

Though largely remembered for her love life, writer and socialite Violet Trefusis was also a shrewd collector who amassed a stunning collection of antique furniture. Her love for classical furnishings even extended into her writing; one of her last works, Memoirs of an Armchair, documents the journey of a 1759 Louis XV chair. This mahogany side chair from Trefusis’s collection displays an elegant interlaced back and unusual “hairy” paw feet.

George II side chair, Mahogany, c. 1740,


Since 1922, The Magazine ANTIQUES has explored the world of collecting, with inspiring profiles, groundbreaking research, unexpected genres, and consequential commentary⁠.

08/09/2025

This frosted glass incense burner is among the stunning household wares produced by the firm of Rene Lalique in the 1920s. This design is known as the Sirènes motif and features a group of alluring mermaids, with tails intertwined around the base of the vessel.

R. Lalique, Incense burner, Frosted glass, c. 1920s,


Since 1922, The Magazine ANTIQUES has explored the world of collecting, with inspiring profiles, groundbreaking research, unexpected genres, and consequential commentary⁠.

08/08/2025

Last year, the appointed a new director, — and for this summer’s Collector’s Edition of The Magazine ANTIQUES, we had the opportunity to speak with him about the role and what comes next for the storied institution.

Today, our comes from one of the British Museum’s most well-known collections, the Sir Percival David Collection of Chinese Ceramics. This Cizhou-type bell features a series of Daoist inscriptions (known as trigrams), translating to "Heaven;" "Wind;" "Water;" "Mountain;” "Earth;" "Thunder;” "Fire;" and "Lake." David was able to acquire items like this while on business travel in China in 1927. Though his company had strong ties to Asia (and he was, in fact, born in Bombay), his true passion was Chinese porcelain. He collected and arranged exhibitions of Chinese imperial ceramics, from the 1920s through the 1940s. His collection, now held at the British Museum, is comprised of over 1,700 works.

Explore the full conversation with Nicholas Cullinan — and discover what lies ahead for the British Museum’s living archive of human history — by tapping the link in our bio.

Guest Editor

08/07/2025

Surrealist icon Salvador Dalí worked with jeweler Henry Kaston to produce this alluring brooch with ruby lips and cultured pearl teeth. Dalí took inspiration from lips in many of his works, from his “Mae West” lip-shaped sofa to many of his illustrations and collages. This iconic brooch will be on view in the upcoming exhibition “Surrealist Jewels 101,” opening September 25 at London’s .

Salvador Dalí and Henry Kaston, Lip brooch, Ruby and cultured pearl, c. 1949, Courtesy of Louisa Guinness Gallery and Leo Bieber.


Since 1922, The Magazine ANTIQUES has explored the world of collecting, with inspiring profiles, groundbreaking research, unexpected genres, and consequential commentary

08/06/2025

Welcome to the final day of . We hope you have enjoyed a week of feathery finds!

The neoclassical pottery of Britain’s Wedgwood firm is legendary, and this black basalt vase is especially unique. The handles take the form of two swans with elongated necks. This design was modeled on a vase from antiquity, depicted in Pierre-François Hugues d’Hancarville’s volume of engravings from the collection of Sir William Hamilton.

Wedgwood, Vase, Black basalt, enamel, c. 1785-1790,


Since 1922, The Magazine ANTIQUES has explored the world of collecting, with inspiring profiles, groundbreaking research, unexpected genres, and consequential commentary⁠.

08/05/2025

Welcome back to at The Magazine ANTIQUES.

Everyone loves a fine classical table with elegant pedestal base or claw-and-ball feet. But, what about flipper feet? This delightful neoclassical table features a tricorn base with a sweet ebonized swan perched on each foot. The table, c. 1815, is solid walnut with its original brass casters.

Italian Empire neoclassical center table, Walnut with ebonized swans, c. 1815, Savage Books and Other Curiosities


Since 1922, The Magazine ANTIQUES has explored the world of collecting, with inspiring profiles, groundbreaking research, unexpected genres, and consequential commentary⁠.