Ask an Expert
This month, our team of antiques specialists pore over a vintage textile, a curious container and a charming toy, among other unusual items...
Keeping watch
I’d be very grateful for help identifying this wall shelf. It’s about 7in high and acts as a house guardian in my hall. I think it’s majolica, but I’m not sure. It would be great to know where he comes from and how old he might be. He may be very common, but I haven’t seen another one.
Maxine Melling, Lancashire
I love how you call this your ‘ House Guardian’. He’s certainly in the tradition of gargoyles used to ward o# evil spirits, but he’s not medieval. He (if he is a he!) is cra $ed in the Grotesque tradition: the Ancient Roman style that was rediscovered in the gro"os of Rome during the Renaissance. Though he’s not Renaissance, he’s certainly Italian, and dates to the la"er part of the 19th century, c1870– 80, when there was a massive revival in Renaissance-style ceramics to fuel the passions of well- o# tourists.
Your piece could be by Cantagalli, although their wares are usually marked with a painted cockerel, so it’s possible it was made by a rival maker. I love him and can see him making £200–£300 at auction, especially if he is by Cantagalli. SM
London calling
I found this fabric named ‘Streets of London’ in a charity shop two years ago. It was only a few pounds for a couple of metres. I love the iconic print,
but I have been unable to "nd any information about the designer, Fiona Niven. I tried the V&A textiles department but alas that was unfruitful. Can anyone throw any light on the designer, the age of the fabric and the manufacturer: Gayonnes Ltd London?
Susan Barrell, Buckinghamshire
The second Elizabethan age that saw bomb- damaged terraces exchanged for postwar New Towns ushered in a %urry of contemporary textile designs, which encapsulated modern-style living. Gayonnes Ltd, 22 Gra $on Street, London W1, was one of the many British textile manufacturers who responded to the thirst for new screenprinted pa"erns. Following a successful exhibition at the British Industries Fair in 1947, the company gained public presence, largely through its bedroom furnishings, speci !cally printed on rayon – the cheaper alternative to linen. With its vibrant vigne"es set against an abstracted London street map, you can appreciate British textile designer Fiona Niven’s creativity. She worked on other furnishing fabrics for Gayonnes and these designs do appear from time to time at auction. The value of your piece really rests with how much you have. If it is more than a few metres, perhaps a bolt, then collectors would buy it, most likely to make up and use today. Prices vary but, at auction, a box ! lled with !ve or six examples like this would sell for around £100–£130. KH
Dish of the day
Could you please give me any information about this plate? I believe it’s Chinese, but I’m puzzled by the mark on the back, which includes the le!er ‘N’. Was this plate made in Europe? Barbara Weaving, Sta ordshire
I can see why you are intrigued by this dish! It is Chinese and it was made during the 1960s–70s, possibly during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The stamped mark reads as Zhongguo Jingdezhen zhi (China Jingdezhen made) and the le"er refers to a speci !c factory in Jiangxi. In 1953–4, local factories were merged into larger production centres, and each was given a number or a le"er. The pieces produced were largely made for export. It is very charming – I like the auspicious symbols of bats and
‘shòu’ characters – but it only has a low commercial value as it was mass-produced; probably under £50. AA
It’s a mystery
I’ve had this curious object for many years and I would dearly love to know what it is – nobody else seems to know. It’s made from brass or bronze and is quite heavy. Closed, it is approximately 2in high. Someone suggested that it might be a travelling candle holder from the Far East, used when visiting roadside altars.
Ruth King, via email
This is an intriguing and mysterious object, with no obvious purpose. It is small, heavy and well made. I don’t think candles are the answer as the hole is square rather than round, so the candle wouldn’t be very stable. The interior space is secure and probably weather and ! reproof, so how about matches? Small, pre-safety matches could have been packed inside for travel, and then placed in the upper part when in use. There doesn’t seem to be a striking area, but those matches could be struck on any rough surface, and maybe even on the metal sides of the box. The item couldn’t be carried in a pocket, but could be transported in a bag, picnic box or similar. If that is correct, then it has to be 19th- century: a period famous for producing bizarre and hard-to- de! ne objects, to which that famous phrase, ‘It seemed a good idea at the time’ can be applied! If anyone knows be"er, please let me know. I think this item is a curiosity rather than an object of value. PA
Bear in mind
I found this teddy bear in a charity shop and bought him because he reminded me of my childhood. Could one of your experts tell me a li! le bit about him and the company that made him? The label on his chest says Alpha Farnell. He is not a growler but he has a hard body and "ve joints (head, arms and legs). He has a li! le wear to his feet and paws. I’d be interested to know what he might be worth, although I’m not going to part with him – he’s so reminiscent of my childhood! Deborah Wills, Lancashire
What a lovely teddy bear you have found, in such good condition! The J. K. (John Kirby) Farnell Company was founded c1840 in Acton, west London. The ‘Alpha’ trademark was established as a private company in 1921 by his children a #er John’s death, and, despite a ! re that destroyed the factory in 1934, it reopened with showrooms in London, Paris and New York. Your bear probably dates to the late 1950s when the ! rm relocated to Hastings. You don’t mention his size, so, assuming he is around 12in, his value, sadly, is not very high: maybe an auction value of £50–£70. BC