{"id":5476,"date":"2022-03-20T13:00:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-20T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=4433"},"modified":"2022-03-20T13:17:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-20T12:17:17","slug":"antique-christmas-presents-drew-pritchards-top-tips","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/antique-christmas-presents-drew-pritchards-top-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Christmas presents: Drew Pritchard\u2019s top tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Drew Pritchard\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 20 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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When I was young, one of the highlights of Christmas in Conwy \u2013 the small Welsh town I grew up in \u2013 was going to the local pub on Christmas Day wearing the clothes you\u2019d received as gifts, all at once.<\/p>\n

Some of us would be standing at the bar in bath robes, eight pairs of socks, pyjamas or full football strips, and I remember once wearing a brown jumper my nan had knitted with one sleeve much longer than the other. It never failed to be hilariously funny and often highlighted some quite poor Christmas gift choices!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re stuck for ideas, an antique<\/a> makes a brilliant Christmas gift. Generally, you\u2019re buying something of which there\u2019s only one in the world and what could be better than something that is truly original? I always make sure that I buy everyone in my family one antique among their presents each year, and that goes for the children too.<\/p>\n

The older ones might get a lovely piece of Scandinavian jewellery<\/a> along with an iPad. I\u2019ve bought both of my daughters vintage Rolex watches<\/a> \u2013 not hugely expensive, but simple ones \u2013 that are special. They\u2019ll keep them forever, and they\u2019re presents that will appreciate in value.<\/p>\n

One thing that I do as an antiques dealer<\/a> is shop for Christmas all year round. We don\u2019t just get to November and think, \u2018Quick! Better start shopping!\u2019 We accumulate pieces that you can wrap up as presents throughout the year \u2013 wonderful Welsh blankets<\/a>, mirrors, small stools, watches and jewellery, old signs<\/a> and letters (buying people their initials makes a thoughtful choice).<\/p>\n

\""antique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
An Orange & Black Derw Mill Tapestry Blanket for sale on Drew\u2019s website<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Pedal cars, cast-iron fire engines and tin-plate toys always go down well too. Classic toys appeal as much to adults who often think \u2018I\u2019ve always wanted one of those\u2019 and are magical to children. Small fairground rides, such as miniature gallopers, are among some of my favourites.<\/p>\n

I love to buy old tin-plate cast-iron toys that have been beaten up by kids in the process of letting their imaginations run wild. Try to buy late 19th-century German or French tin-plate toys \u2013 they are so much fun. You\u2019ll pay around \u00a340 to \u00a370 for a beaten-up tin truck and they look great. I have a tin-plate tow truck in my living room \u2013 it looks brilliant, really enigmatic.<\/p>\n

If, however, you\u2019re looking to spend a lot of money, you\u2019ll want to hunt for early to mid 19th-century German, French or Italian puppets or cast-iron automata, which are truly fairy tale. If you\u2019re going for the best, buy through specialist dealers. For simpler antique purchases this Christmas, below are my top tips.<\/p>\n

\""antique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Tips for buying antique Christmas gifts<\/h2>\n
  1. A common mistake I see people doing is buying with their heart. In other words, they buy what they like rather than considering what the recipient might like. Think carefully whether that person will love it.<\/li>\n
  2. Always make sure you get a detailed receipt so the item can be returned if it\u2019s not right.<\/li>\n
  3. Look for antique Christmas presents all year round. If you see something and it seems perfect for someone, buy it. Don\u2019t wait. It might be the only one\u2026<\/li>\n
  4. If you\u2019re buying for someone who loves a particular style or period that you know nothing about, take pictures in their house of the things they love and show them to a dealer who specialises in the objects or era that they collect.<\/li>\n
  5. Unless someone is a fanatical collector of pristine toys like Matchbox cars, I\u2019d advise not to buy toys in a box. I know they\u2019re collectable and at their most valuable boxed, but it doesn\u2019t make your heart race to see them like this \u2013 unless you\u2019re a serious collector.<\/li>\n
  6. It sounds obvious, but make sure you\u2019ve bought everything in plenty of time for Christmas. Two to three weeks is the standard time it takes for delivery generally, and it\u2019s wise to add on a little extra time for Christmas packing and specialist delivery.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    More from Drew Pritchard:<\/h2>\n

    How I got into the antiques trade<\/a><\/p>\n

    Drew Pritchard\u2019s sofa collection with Barker and Stonehouse<\/a><\/p>\n

    Why patina is king<\/a><\/p>\n

    How to create country house style<\/a><\/p>\n

    How to be a successful antiques dealer<\/a><\/p>\n

    Why I love industrial design<\/a><\/p>\n

    The antique that got away<\/a><\/p>\n

    The thrill of an unexpected find<\/a><\/p>\n

    Drew Pritchard\u2019s best antiques finds<\/a><\/div>\n

    Must-find garden antiques<\/a><\/p>\n

    Behind the scenes at an antiques fair<\/a><\/p>\n

    How I became an antiques dealer<\/a><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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