MEET THE COLLECTOR POLLY FINLAY

1880s Stevens Dockyard large pond yacht, £2,000-£3,000 1960s 36-inch racing model yacht, £600-£800

What I collect: French oil paintings, mainly dating from 1930-1980. I began collecting about five years ago purely by chance and it has slowly developed into a passion. As a decorative furniture dealer (Instagram @frenchgeneraltrading) my eye is trained to spot furniture, however I started to notice oil paintings on my buying trips to France and couldn’t resist them. I like to buy nudes, or ‘studio portraits’ in their various forms, florals and coastal scenes.

Why I collect: The main joy for me is the treasure hunt and feeling a connection to the piece. I’m drawn to paintings in the Impressionist style; I like the colours and the delightful naivety. French schools encourage pupils of all ages to study art throughout their education, which has led to quantities of interesting works by entirely unknown artists being available.

How I collect: I find the majority of my pieces on buying trips to France; they’re often tucked away in the back of dusty barns, old homes and fleamarkets. My collection is quite transient; some pieces I would never part with, while others I’ll keep for a while and then sell on. I usually have around 200 in my house at any one time, which I mostly display on rows of Ikea picture shelves – these are great because you don’t need to pepper your walls with nail holes.

My collection highlight: A stand-out piece for me is a large oil painting of trees in an Art Nouveau style that I found tucked behind a big armoire while rummaging through a small shop in France. It was covered in black mould and looked very unloved; I had no idea how beautiful it was until I’d cleaned it up.

Gamages and Bassett Lowke offering good examples. With an increase in yachting clubs, the 1930s saw the pastime reach its peak and remained popular until World War II. Interest in pond yachting rose again in the 1950s and reigned in its classic form until the birth of fibre-glass yachts and radio-controlled sailing. At this point a new focus on design for speed caused wooden boats to become redundant. During the 1980s to 1990s pond yachts were viewed as nostalgic and began to be bought as decorative objects. Currently having a resurgence, yachts in good condition can be found at auction houses, on Ebay and through specialist dealers. Names to look for are WJ Daniels, Stevens Model Dockyard, Alexander & Sons, Bassett Lowke, Hamleys and Gamages. Prices vary depending on quality, elegance and rarity, and range from

£50 to the low thousands.

TALKING SHOP

Located in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Weston-onthe-green, The Old Flight House is a one-stop shop for beautiful home and garden wares. Hosting a mix of 75 dealers, interior designers, artists and home accessory sellers, this antiques and interiors centre has everything from decorative pieces and French brocante finds to chalk paint and silk flowers displayed across impressive room-sets. Don’t forget to visit the fabulous café for a freshly prepared lunch and a glass of vino! (theoldflighthouse.co.uk)

Model yachting started as a wealthy man’s pastime in the late 19th century, peaking in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s, and again in the 1950s and 1960s. With King George V being a keen participant, this largely city-based pastime became widespread in London’s Royal Parks, in particular the Round Pond at Kensington Gardens, home to the Model Yacht Sailing Association (est. 1876). Families and spectators would gather in their Sunday best to watch enthusiasts sailing these beautifully crafted wooden vessels, both for pleasure and competitively. From the 1880s through to the 1920s, model yachting ponds appeared more commonly throughout the country and interest grew. The arrival of toy shops in the late 1920s to the early 1930s meant that pond yachts became more accessible, with stores like Hamleys,

Hamleys/ Gamages c.1930-40s commemorative coronation yacht, £200-£300