Grays Antique Market

Serhat Ahmet joined us in Grays Mews just two months ago with his stock of fine European porcelain, adding this prestigious location along to his established Saturday residency in Portobello Road Antiques Market. Serhat - who was the winner of an Antiques Young Guns Mentoring Award in July 2014 - has been actively involved in the world of fine European porcelain for over 20 years. A second generation specialist dealer, he has been surrounded by ceramics – in particular Meissen, KPM Berlin, Sèvres and Vienna – from an early age. This has meant that Serhat has developed an extensive knowledge of the subject and an excellent eye for objects of quality. Competitively priced for both trade customers and private collectors worldwide, Serhat Ahmet is a destination for buyers of fine European porcelain when visiting London.  Serhat says, "The majority of our stock dates from the 19th century, but with demand from the next generation of collectors turning to objects that compl

September is the month when the international fashion crowd land upon our capital for London Fashion Week . During one week in September and the weeks leading up to LFW, we are made aware of the current and upcoming style trends. It is rather apt that Sapphire is the birthstone of September, the colour blue featured prominently on the Autumn/Winter 2014 catwalk. An elegant way to add hints of blue to your attire is to accessorise with sapphire jewellery. Below is a selection of stunning sapphire jewellery available at Grays. Art Deco Sapphire & Diamond Engagement Ring, offered by Alexandra Engagement Rings Sapphire & Diamond 18ct Gold Edwardian Curb Bracelet, offered by The Antique Jewellery Company 1920s Cornflower Blue Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring, offered by Robin Haydock 1920s Sapphire and Diamond Bow Brooch, offered by Nigel Norman Sapphire and Pearl 1950s Necklace, offered by Horton London   Victorian Sapphir

We had such tremendous fun researching the intricacies of blown glass for our previous blog that we ended up expanding and outgrowing our blog post space and ended up leaving out Murano glass.  Here we are picking up the thread of the unique story of Murano glass.  Murano is an island which consists of a series of seven smaller islands in the Venetian Lagoon. The islands which are linked by bridges are famous for blown glass production of a particular type with an international reputation for durability and high aesthetic quality. Crafting everything from art glass and glass jewellery, Murano’s glass makers held the monopoly of high quality glass making in Europe for centuries.  Byzantine craftmen arrived in Venice after the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. In 1291, the Venetian Republic, fearing fire of its mostly wooden buildings, ordered glass makers to move their foundries to Murano. Murano glass makers subdivided into niches and developed a very tight