{"id":24413,"date":"2023-08-25T11:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T09:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/17479276-720f-4b9b-a216-d1f0aebccb50"},"modified":"2023-08-25T11:36:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T09:36:39","slug":"the-antiques-that-shaped-me-annie-sloan","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/the-antiques-that-shaped-me-annie-sloan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Antiques That Shaped Me: Annie Sloan"},"content":{"rendered":"

The queen of colour Annie Sloan on her love of auction treasure and her magpie approach to collecting <\/p>

By Charlotte Packer\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 25 August 2023 at 09:35 AM<\/p>

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What first sparked your interest in antiques? <\/h2>

I owe my love of antiques<\/a>, the arts, culture and so on, to my very interesting parents \u2013 a Scottish man and a Fijian woman, who met in New Zealand. <\/p>

I was brought up with antiques in my family home, first in Australia where we had lots of beautiful Indonesian pieces, and then in England. <\/p>

A love of antiques is one of the best things I inherited from my parents.<\/p>\n

– Jesse Wild<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What was the first antique you bought?<\/h2>

I used to go to auctions with my father. The auction houses would put together mixed boxes of odds and ends. <\/p>

There could be a bit of glorious jewellery (usually broken); embroidered, painted and pearl buttons<\/a>; an ivory dice; a small figurine carved in wood; a tiny doll; a teddy bear\u2019s eye; marbles; embroidery scissors; a silver thimble; lace collars; a small spoon\u2026 to a child\u2019s eye, treasure! <\/p>

They went cheaply and my father bought one for me when I was aged 11 or so. I was hooked, and thereafter he\u2019d buy them for me when I pleaded. <\/p>

Why did I love them? <\/h2>

It opened up a world of imagination, figuring out what each piece was, who it might have belonged to, who had made it and who had treasured it first. There is a great romance in antiques.<\/p>

Can you share your biggest antiques mistake? <\/h2>

Buying something that was broken and can\u2019t be fixed. I have an annoyingly beautiful clock in my house in France that continually mocks me. <\/p>

Also, buying things that are fashionable, but which I never liked even when I bought them. Some gaudy-looking orange, black, green and purple Clarice Cliff salt-and-pepper shakers spring to mind, as they are very brazen in their bad taste. <\/p>

I always have an argument in my head about why and if people really do like them, and can they ever look good \u2013 but what\u2019s certain is that I don\u2019t like them and I shouldn\u2019t have bought them! <\/p>

As the inventor of Chalk Paint<\/a>, people might expect me to paint them to have them match my taste, but I would never paint a collectable or proper antique that was in good condition.<\/p>

Of the antiques you own, do you have a favourite?<\/h2>

I don\u2019t really have proper antiques. Rather, I have interesting old objects with a history that catch my eye, and many favourites! <\/p>

Each has a personal history and significance to me, as well as the past it brought with it when I found it. I see myself as a magpie more than a collector. If I have them out, it\u2019s because I love them. <\/p>

I love my painted screen, and my old na\u00efve paintings, but if really pushed perhaps my favouritething is my Hilditch ceramics collection<\/a>. I so love the colour and the style of painting. <\/p>

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\"Hilditch<\/figure>\n<\/div>
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\"Hilditch<\/figure>\n<\/div>
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\"Hilditch<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

If money were no object, what would you buy? <\/h2>

A painting by Bellini. His work sends a tingle down my back \u2013 the colour and the arrangement is superb.<\/p>

And, finally, any advice for collectors? <\/h2>

Stay true to yourself. Buy what catches your eye, not what you think you should like. If you aren\u2019t in love with it from the start, you won\u2019t fall in love with it after spending money on it. <\/p>

I\u2019m looking now at a drawing I bought in a French brocante<\/a>, and I just love looking at it. I can\u2019t believe I own it. <\/p>

It\u2019s just very beautiful even though the corner is all eaten away and torn. It might not have much value as a collector\u2019s item, but it brings me great joy. <\/p>

More from Homes & Antiques<\/h2>