JB's BLOG

James Broad

James Broad

Dec 22, 2024  |   7 min read

The Incredible Journey of Pokémon: From Concept to Cultural Phenomenon

In this article, I’m going to dive into the phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm, again – the resurgence of Pokémon cards! Yes, those little bits of cardboard that you may think are just for kid...

In this article, I’m going to dive into the phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm, again – the resurgence of Pokémon cards! Yes, those little bits of cardboard that you may think are just for kids, or sold them at a car boot sale when your child moved out, or you may be lucky enough to still have your sons/daughters collection stored in the loft, well if you do, these little bits of cardboard are selling for prices that will make your eyes water.  The Birth of Pokémon: Humble Beginnings Fi
James Broad

James Broad

Oct 29, 2024  |   11 min read

Vivienne Westwood: The Queen of Punk and The Duchess of Design

Vivienne Westwood! The name alone conjures up images of safety pins, tartan, and a rebellious spirit that could make even the most reserved librarian want to stage dive into a mosh pit. But who is thi...

Vivienne Westwood! The name alone conjures up images of safety pins, tartan, and a rebellious spirit that could make even the most reserved librarian want to stage dive into a mosh pit. But who is this fashion icon, how did she become the queen of punk? well you're about to find out, as we take a in depth journey through her life, her iconic collections, and the reason those original pieces are now more valuable than your grandma’s secret cookie recipe! From the Streets of Derbyshire, to the Ca
James Broad

James Broad

Oct 18, 2024  |   8 min read

The Enigmatic Jane Morris: More Than Just William Morris’s Muse

When we think of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, our minds often conjure images of flowing locks, ethereal beauty, and the kind of longing gazes that could make even a statue blush. At the center of t...

When we think of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, our minds often conjure images of flowing locks, ethereal beauty, and the kind of longing gazes that could make even a statue blush. At the center of this artistic whirlwind was Jane Morris, the wife of the illustrious designer, writer, and socialist William Morris. But Jane was much much more than just the woman behind the man — she was a force of nature, a muse, a model, and an unintentional queen of drama. So, in this article, I dive into the l
James Broad

James Broad

Oct 12, 2024  |   7 min read

William Morris — The Man Who Made the World a More Beautiful Place.

Welcome to this article, where I’ll delve into the life and legacy of the remarkable William Morris. Known for his artistic prowess, Morris was not only a talented designer, but also a passionate soci...

Welcome to this article, where I’ll delve into the life and legacy of the remarkable William Morris. Known for his artistic prowess, Morris was not only a talented designer, but also a passionate social reformer and respected writer. In this article, I will explore his journey, his contributions to the arts and crafts movement, and his enduring impact on society. William Morris was a multifaceted figure whose contributions to art, literature, and social reform have left a significant mark on th
James Broad

James Broad

Aug 17, 2024  |   4 min read

The Arts & Crafts Movement: Where Beauty And Craftsmanship Collide

Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It’s the late 19th/early 20th century, and the industrial revolution is in full swing. But amidst the clanging machinery...

Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It’s the late 19th/early 20th century, and the industrial revolution is in full swing. But amidst the clanging machinery and mass-produced goods, a group of rebellious artists and thinkers emerge, determined to bring back the beauty and integrity of handmade objects. Led by visionaries like William Morris and William de Morgan, the Arts and Crafts Movement revolutionised the art and design scene. Origins of the Arts
James Broad

James Broad

Aug 3, 2024  |   4 min read

A Short History of the Persian Carpet

The Persian carpet has a rich history which dates back over 2,500 years. They have been popular in homes for centuries and are considered by many to be the most exquisite of all rugs, so much so that ...

The Persian carpet has a rich history which dates back over 2,500 years. They have been popular in homes for centuries and are considered by many to be the most exquisite of all rugs, so much so that the absolute stunner of a rug below sold for a whopping £33.75 million at Sotherby’s in 2013. I think we can all appreciate how much work goes into any of these rugs, especially the more intricate patterns but I can think of several other things to spend £33 million on! So who were the daddies of c
James Broad

James Broad

Jul 20, 2024  |   5 min read

The 20th Century History of the Anglepoise Lamp - 1933 - 1985

“The Anglepoise is a minor miracle of balance, a quality in life we do not value as we should” — Sir Kennith Grange A globally recognised lamp, the Anglepoise began its incredible life in a factory a...

“The Anglepoise is a minor miracle of balance, a quality in life we do not value as we should” — Sir Kennith Grange A globally recognised lamp, the Anglepoise began its incredible life in a factory and soon found its way into millions of homes around the world. A lamp so cool and stylish that Paul Smith did a collaboration. So who was behind this ingenious invention? When was it invented? And how did it become the most recognised lamp the world has ever seen? I wanted to explore the life behind
James Broad

James Broad

Jul 6, 2024  |   6 min read

The World Of Antiques Has Changed, Have You?

Okay, lets admit it, the antique world has changed immensely. But has it changed for the better or is the industry doomed? This is a question which may receive a mixed response. In my opinion, I think...

Okay, lets admit it, the antique world has changed immensely. But has it changed for the better or is the industry doomed? This is a question which may receive a mixed response. In my opinion, I think being an antique dealer today, is better than its ever been. We are lucky enough to be alive in this digital age where we can connect to a dealer across the other side of the world within a matter of seconds, we can sit in the comfort of our own home and bid online for that Danish sideboard, we can
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 29, 2024  |   5 min read

How To Mix Styles Within Your Home Like A True Interior Designer

Flick through your latest interiors magazine, can you see any full bedroom sets? Any interiors that only have one specific style? Maybe, but if so, you’re reading the wrong magazine. For designers to ...

Flick through your latest interiors magazine, can you see any full bedroom sets? Any interiors that only have one specific style? Maybe, but if so, you’re reading the wrong magazine. For designers to get noticed, they have to be daring, clever and to not follow the safe alternative. Why? Because we’ve realised that normal; isn’t interesting, the things that get noticed are the things which are out of the ordinary, create a reaction and get people talking. This is the same for everything, busines
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 22, 2024  |   6 min read

Achieving A Scandinavian Interior On A Shoe String Budget

Scandinavian design is wonderful and is personally one of my favourite interior design concepts. Think minimalism, simplicity, clean lines, pastels and neutrals coming together in a beautiful harmony ...

Scandinavian design is wonderful and is personally one of my favourite interior design concepts. Think minimalism, simplicity, clean lines, pastels and neutrals coming together in a beautiful harmony is making this look so popular and so easy to recreate, even with only a minimal budget. Declutter This is the first and probably one of the most important steps of creating a Scandi feel to your home. It may seem hard to get rid of certain things that you’ve either grown attached to or think you
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 22, 2024  |   5 min read

Investing Your Hard Earned Cash into the Wonderful World of Art

Art is a wonderful thing — it can lift your spirits when you feel low, it can completely change the feel of your room but most of all, if you buy right, you can earn some serious cash in the process. ...

Art is a wonderful thing — it can lift your spirits when you feel low, it can completely change the feel of your room but most of all, if you buy right, you can earn some serious cash in the process. When you think of the word “investment”, art may not be the first thing that springs to mind. Maybe it’s stocks and shares? Maybe you were the one of many who invested into Royal Doulton Toby jugs (oops) or maybe you want to invest your fortunes into bricks and mortar? I’m not here to say you should
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 15, 2024  |   3 min read

Interior decor: how to mix vintage and antique furniture in your home

There are any number of ways of styling and decorating your home; some people prefer one continuous theme throughout but for others, the ideal way to fill a room is with an eclectic mix of furnishings...

There are any number of ways of styling and decorating your home; some people prefer one continuous theme throughout but for others, the ideal way to fill a room is with an eclectic mix of furnishings that fit together to create a space that’s wholly unique. In our opinion, vintage and antique pieces can bring far more personality to a modern home than a certain Scandinavian build-your-own furniture chain ever could — though obviously these products do have their place and should never be snubbe
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 8, 2024  |   2 min read

Furniture Icons: The Barcelona Chair — Ludvig van der Rohe, 1929

Ludwig Meis van der Rohe initially designed this iconic chair to use inside the German Pavilion for King Alfonso XIII and his wife, Ena, as part of the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. The des...

Ludwig Meis van der Rohe initially designed this iconic chair to use inside the German Pavilion for King Alfonso XIII and his wife, Ena, as part of the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. The design was based on on a Roman magistrates stool called the Sella Curulis, which were often used by the Roman Aristocracy. In 1953 Mies ceded his rights and his name on the design to Knoll, the producer of the chair, knowing that his design rights had expired. This is what made the Barcelona chair one
James Broad

James Broad

Jun 1, 2024  |   4 min read

What made 1950’s homes so special?

For me, the 50’s was the first era which truly nailed style. The trademark small size, clever designs and clean lines is what gives the era that special “edge”. This decade was a turning point in the ...

For me, the 50’s was the first era which truly nailed style. The trademark small size, clever designs and clean lines is what gives the era that special “edge”. This decade was a turning point in the design world with designers being influenced by the innovation seen in the manufacture of new materials. The fashion in the UK was still focused on glossy, repro Georgian furniture, while over the Atlantic in the US a new generation of young, talented architects and designers began to emerge, produc
James Broad

James Broad

Mar 20, 2021  |   3 min read

Why General Auction Houses are SO Important.

I decided to write this article as a local auction house to me, which myself and my family had been visiting for many years sadly went into liquidation a few years ago. Hearing this news upset me — th...

I decided to write this article as a local auction house to me, which myself and my family had been visiting for many years sadly went into liquidation a few years ago. Hearing this news upset me — this was an auction which had a great atmosphere, brilliant staff and some fantastic items going under the hammer every month. It was the first auction I visited and sadly, now wont be able to visit again. I’m an auctioneer at Whittaker and Biggs in the small town of Congleton, Cheshire, an auction h
James Broad

James Broad

Feb 1, 2021  |   4 min read

Replica Paintings are getting better, so arm yourself with knowledge.

Art is a wonderful thing. Something that has been collected for and will continue to be collected for hundreds of years. So you’ve found your dream painting and are happy to pay the price that the dea...

Art is a wonderful thing. Something that has been collected for and will continue to be collected for hundreds of years. So you’ve found your dream painting and are happy to pay the price that the dealer is asking. Sounds good. But what if the painting that is being sold as “original” was actually only made a few years ago? When something is priced cheaply, people tend to doubt its authenticity. They ask reasonable questions like why is this being sold so cheap? Could this be a fake? Should thi
James Broad

James Broad

Jan 30, 2021  |   6 min read

Of Course The World of Antiques has changed, so why haven't you?

“It’s not the same as it once was” — a saying I hear on a daily basis, which honestly, drives me crazy. Obviously in this day and age, the antique world (along with pretty much everything else!) has c...

“It’s not the same as it once was” — a saying I hear on a daily basis, which honestly, drives me crazy. Obviously in this day and age, the antique world (along with pretty much everything else!) has changed, however it is important to realise that it has (in some respects) changed for the better. Gone are the days of standing at a fair at 4:00am in the blistering cold with your gloves, woolly hat, 12 jackets and a cup of coffee. Instead, we are lucky enough to be in a generation where stock can
James Broad

James Broad

Jan 15, 2021  |   4 min read

Etsy: The Pro's and cons

Etsy was started to give the creatives of the world an online marketplace to sell their goods. It was for people who needed a place to sell their handmade creations online, instead of selling them at ...

Etsy was started to give the creatives of the world an online marketplace to sell their goods. It was for people who needed a place to sell their handmade creations online, instead of selling them at small local markets. Although this business idea was novel, it simply couldn't grow quick enough. The owners decided to make a shift away from it’s roots and focused on making the company more financially viable. In 2013, Etsy tweaked its Terms of Service so that sellers were allowed to sell manufac
James Broad

James Broad

Jan 1, 2021  |   7 min read

The Pro’s & Cons of Ebay — The platform we love to hate

I know first hand how difficult it is to run a marketplace. Not only do you need to attract the buyers, you also need to attract your sellers — without the sellers, you have no buyers and without the ...

I know first hand how difficult it is to run a marketplace. Not only do you need to attract the buyers, you also need to attract your sellers — without the sellers, you have no buyers and without the buyers you have no sellers! It’s safe to say, it isn't an easy job, and they certainly earn the 10–20% commissions they charge. But how do you know which marketplaces to choose when there’s so many out there? Which one is going to get you results? Which marketplace will suit your business best? How