Madeleine Cater is an Associate Specialist for Bonhams Private & Iconic Collections and House Sales in London. Here, she shares her insights on the evolving antiques market, the enduring appeal of craftsmanship, and collecting with confidence. www.bonhams.com
Are there any antiques or collectible categories that are in demand among high-net-worth collectors right now?
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but anything with strong provenance and that tells a good is always highly sought after. Increasingly we are seeing traditional oak furniture and folk art being paired with modern British and Irish art which can create a great ‘history’ of British visual culture. We have seen interior designers move away from fitted and uniform furnishings and embrace the eccentricities of pieces which have stood the test of time.”
What is the most extraordinary piece you’ve come across?
“It would be impossible to choose just one piece from the collections I’ve worked on, but one of the most exciting discoveries from our forthcoming sale of The Collection of Lady Glenconner is a travelling vanity case previously owned by Nancy Lancaster, with all the accessories and jars mounted in 14 carat gold. A vast sum then, it now has a pre-sale estimate of £20,000-£30,000. The glamour of having such a decadent object for travel is something I wish I could replicate myself, and what made it even more exciting was that we only discovered it was gold once we had it back at the office.”
How should someone start building a collection without making any common mistakes?
“Always ask for a condition report and speak with the specialists involved in a sale – both are there to help you make an informed decision about the pieces you’re interested in, and specialists love talking about the objects they have helped bring to sale. People are a great resource and can point you in the direction of pieces that you didn’t even know you wanted.”
Which piece in your own collection would you never part with?
“The first piece I bought was a set of six 19th century coloured cut-glass martini glasses which are used religiously every time there is a special occasion. Aside from the fact they wouldn’t reach much at auction today, I could never part with them because they remind me of the reason why I started in the auction business to begin with: the excitement of a bid and the thrill when the hammer comes down in your favour is something you can never forget.”
Have you ever uncovered a hidden gem?
“The exciting part about working in Private & Iconic Collections is that we often have completely free access to a collector’s home in order to curate a sale worthy of their objects and their name. This means we often find hidden gems hidden in the attics, under beds, or in the garden shed. One of the first sales I worked on was The Personal Collection of Sir Michael Caine, and we were delighted to discover a collection of his film posters in the attic which went on to find new homes globally amongst his fanbase.”
And where’s the best places, in your opinion, to find antiques?
“Auction! Especially online sales which tend to offer a larger and wider variety of pieces.”
