Hello and welcome to Check the Base Antiques.

I’ve always been curious to explore interesting objects from different eras. As a child, I often visited my Scottish granny, whose china cabinets were full of interesting and unusual glass and ceramic objects. Some pieces she sourced herself, and others were brought back by the seafarers in our family.

I loved nothing more than being entrusted with the duster and rearranging her displays; she would watch me eagle-eyed over her teacup and saucer, ‘minding’ me to be ‘canny wi the stoor’. Every visit, Granny would have a new treasure for us to explore- and she would patiently and thoroughly teach me to read the object and the base, instructing me to always ‘turn it ower, check the base’, cause if ye dinnae, ye’ll no find oot if they’re telling the same story’.

This curiosity for history and historical objects has never left me, and I went on to study the Classics, specialising in the design, form, and production of household ceramics, glass and jewellery. I still enjoy this, but now I mainly focus on objects from the Victorian period through to mid-century, so you can expect decorative Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and MCM pieces, and the occasional quirky piece I couldn’t resist.

I’ll also be sharing clear, informative blogs to help you look a little more closely at the objects you find and understand what their marks, materials and construction can tell you – or as my Granny would say – ‘to read the piece’ and ‘read the base’.

As so much of the antique business has now moved online, providing clear, all-round photographs and carefully researched descriptions is essential. I will always aim to provide both, and am more than happy to answer any queries you may have.

Just don’t forget to check the base; no story is complete without it!