The first year we all got together, everyone turned up and I could see a couple of them nudging each other as if to say, \u2018What is this stuff? I thought he was supposed to be doing all right!\u2019 One girl suggested I give everything a fresh coat of paint, while another gave my beautiful Georgian chair a good shake before she sat on it. It\u2019s safe to say that not all garden antiques are for everyone but, whatever your taste, some make a good investment.<\/p>\n
You might also like<\/strong> decorating with rustic garden antiques<\/a><\/p>\n As with any antiques<\/a>, there are designers throughout history whose work is the most collectable and desirable. For me, there are three names of note \u2013 Eleanor Coade, who was renowned in the 18th century for casting the most beautiful garden ornaments, statues and architectural decorations from her own-mix artificial stone, which she devised so that it wouldn\u2019t crack during a hard frost.<\/p>\n Secondly, for the most incredible lead statues of figures and characters throughout history, there is John Nost. He was a Flemish sculptor who worked in England in the late 17th and 18th centuries and whose work you can see in important country houses including Chatsworth, Hampton Court Palace and Castle Howard. Then there was Coalbrookdale, whose exquisite 19th-century cast iron benches and garden furniture remain some of the most prized by collectors today. They are loved because they are just so crisp, detailed and beautifully finished.<\/p>\n If you ever find anything by these top names, you really do have the \u2018Rolls-Royce\u2019 of garden antiques. Because of this, they are also among the most copied. Some will be convincing, not least because garden furniture is likely to have been left outside for 25 years, so check out my tips on spotting a fake.<\/p>\n The thing with copies is that good reproductions (and bad ones) have been made throughout history. Some look fantastic and there is nothing wrong with buying or selling a copy, as long as everyone is transparent about it. Quality composite stone works for urns, fountains and statues. Done well, it\u2019s hard to tell a good composite piece from a carved stone example.<\/p>\n If you want a bargain, look for a copy with patina and age that will only get better when you leave it outside. But, remember, there is nothing like an original, and carved stone antique pieces will always be worth 10 times that of a composite piece.<\/p>\n You might also like<\/strong> where to buy rustic garden antiques<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, a note of caution. Garden antiques are the only pieces we leave outdoors, so it\u2019s no surprise there\u2019s a roaring trade in nicked stuff. Whatever you buy, keep the receipt, get the seller to write down as much detail as possible, write your name and address on the bottom in indelible pen, and photograph the piece. Now all you have to do is organise the next garden party!<\/p>\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 antique finds<\/a><\/p>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2016\/08\/2-13e5ad2.jpg?quality=90&resize=801%2C1200"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How to spot a fake Coalbrookdale<\/h2>\n
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