Maria Bristoll

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026

The magnificent columns built by Amenhotep III

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

A City That Feels Like a Storybook Bern, Switzerland’s understated capital, is a city where medieval elegance meets modern ease. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, wrapped in the turquoise embrace of the Aare River, invites you to wander through cobblestone streets

December 22, 2025January 6, 2026

Nestled on the edge of the Romney Marshes, Rye is one of England’s most enchanting towns—a place where cobbled streets whisper stories of smugglers, artists, and centuries past. If you’re looking for a destination that blends history, charm, and coastal

December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Nestled on Italy’s eastern coast, Rimini is more than just a beach destination—it’s a city where Roman history, vibrant nightlife, and authentic Italian culture blend seamlessly. Whether you’re strolling along its golden sands or exploring ancient ruins, Rimini offers a

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025

Kom Ombo Temple, perched on the eastern bank of the Nile about fifty kilometres north of Aswan, is one of Egypt’s most captivating archaeological sites. What makes it truly unique is its dedication to two gods at once: Sobek, the

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025

Abu Simbel stands as one of the most awe-inspiring legacies of Ancient Egypt, carved into the sandstone cliffs of Nubia over 3,000 years ago. Commissioned by Pharaoh Ramesses II during the 13th century BCE, the twin temples were designed to

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025

If there’s one place in Egypt that truly captures the scale and splendour of ancient civilisation, it’s Karnak Temple. Located just north of Luxor, Karnak isn’t a single temple—it’s a vast complex of sanctuaries, pylons, and halls that evolved over

Located on the west bank of the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, the Temple of Horus at Edfu is one of Egypt’s most remarkable archaeological treasures. Renowned for its exceptional state of preservation, this temple offers visitors an unparalleled glimpse

January 6, 2025

November 15, 2024November 15, 2024

For sale a beautiful antique original railway lamp. Buy it here on my ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226521560249? This lamp probably a Victorian one? It has the original red glass at the rear and also a clear glass at front. The lamp has

October 11, 2024October 11, 2024

Turin is the capital of Piedmont region. One of the region with spectacular wines. Apart from wine, Turin also has archaeological remains. Particularly from the Romans. This is Julius Caesar although this statue is a modern made, the gate behind

When you are in Antalya region in Turkey, you are surrounded by beautiful Roman ruins that makes you wonder, how marvellous and gigantic these ruins are in this remote area of the Roman empire. I’d like to highlight three sites

May 9, 2023May 9, 2023

December 27, 2022December 27, 2022

Aosta is the northern city in Italy. Aosta has two official languages: Italian and French. Valle d’Aosta is also called Vallee d’Aoste. It is an autonomous region in Italy and also the least populous region in Italy. Because of its

August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

Worcester is one of the underrated town in England! Did you know that Worcester is full of English history? Worcester holds a decisive part of the English Civil War at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Did you know that

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022

From my personal collection is this very exquisite plate. It is estimated to be from the Ming Dynasty or earlier. The plate is quite large, the diameter is around 26cm. There are double fish or twin fish embossed decoration inside

January 3, 2021January 3, 2021

I have this large Chinese blue and white bowl or plate. It belongs to my Dad who bought it from someone he knew back then, like 20 years ago, in Palembang, Indonesia. It is very large in diameter, approximately 37cm.

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021

Ravenna is a magnificent city in Italy, full of historical buildings and important work of arts (mosaics) in early Christian period. It’s very easy to reach Ravenna. If you landed in Bologna Airport, you can take bus to Bologna Centrale

December 21, 2020December 21, 2020

We had the pleasure to have a festive lunch at the Stag in December 2020. This one, I believe was on the second week of December, before Tier 3 lockdown was in place in Chorleywood. We were so pleased to

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020

What an absolute gem to find a great pub in Rickmansworth! The pub is so cozy there is a beautiful fireplace inside. It is probably also an old inn to put stable or horses. The pub has plenty of character!

October 17, 2020October 17, 2020

The best lamb chops are served in this pub! Perfect lamb, crunchy on the side, and smooth on the inside. Just as I like on medium grilled style! The pub is located on a quaint village of Commonwood near Kings

September 20, 2020September 20, 2020

We head up to a small village of Chipperfield in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire to have lunch at The Two Brewers pub. The pub is huge, even after social distancing measure during coronavirus pandemic, the pub still has plenty capacity. Saturday

September 19, 2020September 19, 2020

After antiquing in Sarratt Village Hall, we decided to have a lovely lunch at the pub next door. The name of the pub is The Cricketers. Because it was Sunday I was so craving for a Sunday roast! I had

September 13, 2020September 13, 2020

What to do in Windsor for a day out? Well let me tell you to start your journey at Eton College. If you have a chance, please see this prestigious Eton college. During the coronavirus pandemic, unfortunately the college is

September 13, 2020September 13, 2020

This is a lovely spoon with Exeter hallmark. I am so excited to find this spoon in an antique fair in Sarratt. It has a hallmark that I have never seen before: an Exeter hallmark! What a lovely Exeter hallmark

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020

Here is silver pouncer pot or sander. The pouncer pot function is to sprinkle powder which are useful for 1) making the paper smoother for ink writing and 2) drying the ink. There is hallmark for Birmingham silver year 1905-1906

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020

Today we went to a lovely village pub called The Cock Inn. The Cock Inn is located at the village of Sarratt in Rickmansworth. It is a wonderful pub full of real ales. Today we saw four real ale pumps.

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020

As our summer holiday is disturbed by the coronavirus, we plan to have a staycation instead to Deal. One of the reasons we choose Deal, is because the location is on a seaside and it is quite close (about 10

August 10, 2020August 10, 2020

We decided to have a short break to the Kent coast during this coronavirus pandemic. We choose to have a three-nights staycation in Deal, Kent. Deal is a charming sea-side town in the English coast of Kent. It is facing

August 5, 2020August 5, 2020

Last Saturday we went to a village pub in Denham. The name of the pub is The Green Man, in village road, Denham. Denham is a charming small village in Buckinghamshire. The location itself is very close to Uxbridge. There

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

Just last weekend, we went to a wonderful pub called The Old Orchard in Harefield, Uxbridge. As with the precaution of Covid-19, we booked the pub first via its website. It is very smooth, we get in and there is

April 18, 2020April 18, 2020

I know I wrote this when we are all in Coronavirus lockdown. But hey today is 23rd June 2020 and the lockdown in some parts of Europe are lifted! Time to prepare for beach-front holiday again! I would recommend to

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019

These are two very lovely Italian holy water font. The material is pewter and they are from the late 18th century. My husband and I come into these beautiful antiques while we were in Ravenna, Italy. We bought these from

December 16, 2019December 16, 2019

Bologna is an underrated city in Italy! There are many things to see and to explore in Bologna. We were there for there nights this summer and these are our stories: Why Bologna? Well the flight first of all, it

Beautiful and rare map of Bali circa year 1619. The map is probably by Jacob Le Maire, a Dutch mariner. Together with Willem Schouten, Jacob Le Maire sailed Eendracht, a ship built by his father Isaac Le Maire. Jacob Le

September 4, 2019

This is a very lovely Chinese jarlet from the period of the Tang Dynasty. This jarlet was made at circa AD 850-900 ; thus it is a very old one! The kiln is from the Changsha kiln, one of the

July 15, 2019

July 2, 2019July 26, 2019

This is an antique Indian silver circa 1900. It is made in Calcutta, India. It is from the British Raj colonial period. I am very much liking the intricate details of the jug! There are two cows appearance on the

My husband and I had a fabulous holiday in April. We were in India! Here are some of our stories and photos to be shared with you. Please note that if you want to use any of my photos, you

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019

June 28, 2019June 28, 2019

My lovely husband took me to this lovely Italian restaurant in London. It is called Da Paolo. And the nearest tube station is Goodge Street. It is a nice restaurant in a nice street too. Charlotte Place, in fact, is

There is a lovely pub that we visited for the first time in London. It is in a posh neighbourhood area in Highgate, North London. What I really like the most about this pub is its tranquillity: it is not

May 6, 2019June 24, 2019

April 26, 2019April 26, 2019

This is an antique children book “The Prize”, first edition, year 1908. The cover is original and it still has the original gilded colour. The contents I believe are poetries and children stories. There is a small stamp “Sheila Bird”

April 13, 2019April 13, 2019

Following my recent trip to India, I bought this small fabric when I was in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The seller said this embroidery was made around 120 years ago. So this is an example of 19th century Rajasthan hand crafting on

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019

This is a beautiful Song Dynasty ewer. It is currently on sale on ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Chinese-Ewer-Song-Dynasty-Original-Antique-Pottery-/223420143126 On the body of the ewer, there are perfect embossed lotus flowers. They are very intricate and detailed. Even the handle has lines on it.

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

If you happen to be in Buckinghamshire for antiquing, please do stop over at Wendover. There is a fascinating antique centre called ‘Antiques at.. Wendover’ where you can have a wonder around a large antique centre for a buy or

January 13, 2019January 13, 2019

Barcelona is our destination for winter holiday in 2018. We went there for three nights in December. It is quite pleasant to go to Barcelona in winter. The weather is cold, but it is not freezing. We stayed at Hotel

January 12, 2019January 13, 2019

This is an antique prayer book that I bought from a shop at the top floor of Encants Barcelona. It has a beautiful mother of pearl cover. It is written in Spanish. The book title is “Ramilette de Flores Divinas”.

January 5, 2019January 5, 2019

This is an antique devotional book that I bought at Encants Barcelona flea market. What I love the most is the cover, which the seller says that it is ivory. If it is ivory, it is very pretty as it

December 21, 2018January 3, 2019

This lunch time, we went to Baket Street area and try the Italian restaurant: Anacapri Ristorante. It is my Christmas present for my husband. We decided to choose the ala carte menu, not the set menu. Here are Anacapri menu:

September 20, 2018February 6, 2019

These are my experiences of antiquing in Barcelona. There are two antique fairs that I visited on our holiday just last week in Barcelona: The first antiques fair is: Encants Barcelona. The nearest metro station is Glories. We were there

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018

UPDATE: I have decided to put this fantastic ewer on sale on ebay, click here or open this link https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223349339186 It is for sale at a reasonable price! It would be a great addition to a collector out there! I have

Lion bronze of Venice, the Campanile, and the Doge's Palace

August 23, 2018August 23, 2018

What to do in Venice for three days? Well this is the right article to read as we were exactly in Venice for only three days! So what have we done? Check this out! Day 1 We fly from Stansted

August 23, 2018August 23, 2018

This is an antique water pipe that I acquire from an antique shop in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is made from bone. Not sure which bone that is. It has Chinese writings on the bone. Can anyone tell me what the

I would like to share our itinerary when we were in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this summer. We stayed for four nights in Yogyakarta and the main highlight is to visit Candi Borobudur and Candi Prambanan. Here we go: Day 1 We

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018

July 4, 2018August 12, 2022

This is the place for our anniversary lunch where the lunch is a present from my husband (Thanks Hubby!) It takes place at Salieri restaurant at the Strand in London. The restaurant is beautifully decorated inside. With Italian theatre theme,

La Ville de Palimbang dans l 'ile de Sumatra

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018

This is my latest collection of antique map. The title of the map is La Ville de Palimbang dans l’Ile de Sumatra. It is made by the Dutch cartographer Pieter Vander Aa. It describes vividly the naval battle of the

Arguably the prettiest street in Luxembourg Chemin de la Corniche

June 20, 2018June 21, 2018

I am so excited to write about Luxembourg. This small European country is not as big as its neighbouring countries such as France or Germany, but Luxembourg surely has its own charm. This post is the continuation of me and

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018

The trip to Mainz and Trier was our holiday trip to Germany in the end of November last year. The whole trip is for Mainz-Trier-Luxembourg. In this post I will write about Mainz and Trier first. The second post about

Some exhibitors are from outside the UK such as Germany, Italy

June 12, 2018June 12, 2018

Last Saturday was for the first time I attended the London Map Fairs. Located at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, this two days fair is arguably the largest antique map fair (in the world or in the UK? not

Antique map of Surat and Batavia by Henri Abraham Chatelain

This is an 18th century antique map by Henri Abraham Chatelain. The title of the map is Vue et Description de Surate et de Batavia. The map illustrates beautifully the town of Surat in the northwest coast India. It shows a

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018

This is a piece of antique that I bought from The Hertfordshire Militaria and Medal Fair. See here for more information about the Fair. It is an antique swagger stick with silver on top. Look how long the stick is!

May 14, 2018May 21, 2018

This was my first time going to a Militaria fair. I was quite pleased. My husband was very pleased too. The fair is called The Hertfordshire Militaria & Medal Fair. And the location is at the Rickmansworth School at the Scots

May 14, 2018May 14, 2018

April 27, 2018May 10, 2018

My friends and I went to the Greyhound Cafe to have a lunch. The Cafe is modern and stylish and we were given a lovely seat at the corner over-looking the street. It is so cozy and comfy. We have

This Easter holiday, we decided to go to Hexham to visit Roman Fort of Housesteads, Chesters and Vindolanda. It is very easy to visit these Forts using bus AD122. We use Hexham as our base. And might as well because bus

Victorian antique plaited hair gold brooch

April 5, 2018

April 4, 2018April 5, 2018

This is my latest antique collection which I found when I was visiting Hexham. This is a small antique gold brooch. I found it when going antiquing at the Ashbourne House Antiques in Hexham. The seller told me that it is

March 29, 2018April 3, 2018

This Easter weekend, we went to Hexham for a three nights holiday. It is approximately four hours from London. We took a train journey from London King’s Cross to Newcastle using Virgin train then continue from Newcastle to Hexham using

Today at lunch time, I went for a lunch out with my colleague to The One Tun pub in Farringdon. The address is 125 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8QS. I like the Thai food that is served here. My choice is

March 28, 2018

March 1, 2018March 1, 2018

Rasa Sayang is a Malaysian Restaurant in Chinatown, London. It is located at 5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY. We went there last Saturday because I crave for Indonesian/similar food. Yes this is my order: Nasi Goreng Istimewa! I love the Satay

February 13, 2018February 13, 2018

This is our favourite restaurant in St Albans! If you happen to be in St Albans, this restaurant won’t disappoint! The address of Thai Rack is 13 George St, St Albans AL3 4ER. It is so close to the St Albans

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

This is a very beautiful early Victorian silver pot holder. This is my gift for my husband birthday. It is a very ornate pot holder. It has a full London silver hallmark year 1847. The markers mark is by Charles

Blue Sapphire Brillian Cut Diamonds Ring

January 15, 2018June 20, 2018

This is a lovely vintage sapphire and diamonds yellow gold ring. There are 8 diamonds with single cut each. According to the seller the total diamond carat is 0.1. Diamond clarity is in VS group and the diamond colour is

January 12, 2018June 20, 2018

This is one of the most beautiful antiques I have collected. It is a pair of hand painted wood carved cherubs. I bought it from Antiquitäten Kottmeier, an antique shop in Trier-Germany. I think the seller says that they are

A. Lucchesi Faro Madonna Cherubs antique

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018

This is an impressive holy water font of Madonna and Cherubs. It is signed by ‘A. Lucchesi Faro’. I bought it from an antique shop in Mainz, Germany. After doing some research, according to this database from the University of

January 4, 2018January 10, 2018

Hi guys, if you want to know what was the first antique item I collected? Here it is! Finally I post the item here. It is a silver powder compact which I bought from an antique shop in Cologne, Germany.

December 19, 2017June 20, 2018

I have now the pleasure to introduce you to a lovely enamel pocket watch. The dial has ‘Vulcain’ brand on it. And the dial is lovely enamelled with breguet numerals. It has blue hands. This watch is probably French and it

December 18, 2017June 20, 2018

Here it is an antique bell with Evangelist names. I bought it from Mainzer Antikladen, an antique shop in Mainz Germany. The seller told me that the bell is dated around 1930s. And it is German. What attracted me the

November 21, 2017July 25, 2019

This is my first antique book and I am so excited. I got it from an antique bookshop in Mainz, Germany. Well, it is probably a vintage book rather than an antique book, since it is published in year 1938.

Castle St Angelo with Angel holding cross

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017

Rome and the Glory of the Roman Empire This is Rome and this is the centre of the Roman Empire. Walking around Rome is like walking in history, depending on when you want it to be: 2000 years ago or

October 3, 2017October 3, 2017

Hi Guys, this post is about an Indonesian restaurant in London that I recently visited. It is called Nusa Dua and is located at Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown/Leicester Square area. My husband and I ordered a Set Lunch Menu. It

September 12, 2017October 3, 2017

Cairns is a lovely city in the north of Queensland. I would like to share to you my travel story in Cairns. This is a second part of my Australian story. Please also visit here to read about my travel

September 11, 2017September 11, 2017

This summer 2017, my husband and I went to Australia for holiday. Yes we are so happy that another continent is checked now ✓ and as my husband said, the only continent we have not visited is America. So here

September 8, 2017September 22, 2017

Here is the new Oriental food hall in Colindale. It is called Bang Bang Oriental. I went there last Saturday with my husband. I love it as I think I can get variety of Asian food there. If I want spicy

August 14, 2017August 14, 2017

When travelling to Australia this summer, I am very pleased to visit an antique shop in Queensland. I said to the shopkeeper that I wanted an early piece of antique jewellery, something like Victorian or Edwardian. I am so happy

July 26, 2017July 26, 2017

There are two very pretty Roman towns in the south of France: Nimes and Arles. With Ryanair flies direct from London, Nimes Airport is very easy to reach. Nimes is a historic city with very impressive Roman remains such as

Yuhuuu.. the post today is about our trip to Ancona in Spring. Yes, you can have a budget travel to this beautiful city in Le Marche region. There is a direct flight from London to Ancona using Ryanair. The old

July 7, 2017July 7, 2017

I was travelling to Prague in February and I wanted to share my experience of this wonderful fairy tale city. We were staying at the Old Town area. It is very recommended to stay in the old town area as

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Welcome to an elegant, modern, and stylish Italian restaurant in London! It’s Bernardi’s in Seymour Street, W1, London. My husband nicely treated me to this Italian restaurant for our anniversary <3<3<3 The location is conveniently located near Marble Arch tube

June 2, 2017June 2, 2017

Yes this post is about my travel to Alghero in March! Exactly it was March last year! That is very true, who can resist the beauty of Alghero, a beautiful place in Sardinia, Italy? So even though it was winter,

May 19, 2017May 19, 2017

This is a large vintage cameo circa 1960s. It is made by Ward Brothers. There is WB marker marks. The marks I think are read as “GOLD PLTD WB”. The cameo is made from shell and the plate is gold plated. The size

May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

April 21, 2017April 21, 2017

Last weekend I went to Bedford and visited the Bedfordshire’s Antiques & Collectors Fair at the St Paul’s Church. I would say that it is like an indoor flea market. There are many curiosity items, mainly vintage, but not so many antiques

April 21, 2017April 21, 2017

I spent my weekend in Peterborough last week. It is to see the town and to go to Peterborough Festival of Antiques. I am wondering is Peterborough a new commuter town from London? How does it like to live in

April 6, 2017April 6, 2017

This is an antique silver jug circa 1915. I found it when I went to Peterborough Festival of Antiques last week. It was a huge antiques festival with large outdoor stalls and large indoor stalls too. Unfortunately my phone battery

April 6, 2017April 6, 2017

This is a Georgian silver spoon circa 1808. I found it in one of the antique/vintage shops in Edinburgh. It has a Edinburgh silver hallmark for 1808. With Edinburgh Castle, a thistle, and a letter C. There is also a

March 22, 2017May 4, 2017

Last month, my husband and I visited Edinburgh in Scotland. We travelled by Ryanair from London Stansted. It is quite cheap, only £65 return for the flight. We stayed there for four days and three nights. Here are some tips which come from

February 15, 2017February 17, 2017

When you are in London and wanted to experience authentic Italian dishes for a reasonable price, why not head up to Euston to dine in Brizzi restaurant. Here is the address: 131 Drummond St, London, NW1 2HL. The nearest tube station is

February 8, 2017February 8, 2017

A full hunter German pocket watch is here now! It is a Union Glocke Dürrstein Pocket Watch. This is a 14 carat case full hunter style. The diameter of the watch is approximately 52mm. The weight overall is 95 grams.

February 7, 2017February 7, 2017

If you have two days to spare in Bali, here are the six things you can do: First: Visit Pura Tirta Empul Pura Tirta Empul was founded on the 10th century. It has a large water spring from the ground-source water.

January 18, 2017April 20, 2017

This is my very first visit to the Savoy Hotel. And this is for an Office Christmas Dinner. Lucky me that this is paid for by my employer. I use the main entrance to get in. There is a popular

Life After Brexit: From An Immigration Point of View

January 17, 2017January 17, 2017

Others

Life after Brexit? From an Immigration Point of View As uncertain I am to the life after Brexit, I will try to think as many possibilities as possible to guess where the UK immigration is heading after Brexit. Yes once

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

This is my second collection of vintage wristwatch after Longines. This time is for a Tissot! Here is the length of the watch: The weight of the watch is about 21.50 grams There are original Tissot hallmarks on the bracelet

January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

I have found this Antique Persian pencil case from Portobello Antiques Market. As soon as I saw it, I love it! I really like the intricate colourful painting on it. I thought at first it is made from ivory, but

January 3, 2017January 4, 2017

I would like to share my dining experience at Axis Restaurant at the Hilton in Islington. I have decided to take my husband for a festive dinner in December. After searching for a good restaurant with good value and great

9K Solid Gold pocket watch record dennison

December 6, 2016December 6, 2016

This is a 9ct Record pocket watch circa 1920s. The movement is made in Switzerland by Record Watch Company. It has 15 jewels mechanism. The diameter of the watch is approximately 44mm. I have not measured the weight, but I think

December 2, 2016December 9, 2016

When visiting Vienna antiques market, the Naschmarkt, I saw this beautiful old spoon circa 1807. It is quite a heavy spoon, which I am sure the weight is more than 50 grams. It has an Austro Hungarian hallmark for solid

November 25, 2016December 6, 2016

What to do in Vienna? If you have a weekend getaway to Vienna, here is the quick guide of What To Do in Vienna on a weekend. 1. Visit the Sisi Museum and the Empire Apartment Here we can see

November 25, 2016December 6, 2016

A very pretty vintage Longines ladies watch bracelet circa 1965. The watch is in good condition, but I think it may need service – or maybe I have to learn how to wind a manual watch 🙂 It is not

November 22, 2016December 6, 2016

This is my very first pocket watch and I am so excited! I get it from the Vienna Antiques Fair at the Ringstrassen-Galerien. It is a small watch with a diameter less than 3cm. I think this type of watch is

November 7, 2016November 7, 2016

This time I am very fortunate to visit Vienna, the capital city of Austria. I would like to share two antiquing experience in this beautiful city. 1. Vienna Antiques Market at the Naschmarkt It is located at the famous Naschmarkt.

nirwatakawaca arjuna semar petruk wayang

October 12, 2016October 12, 2016

This post is about Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, his antique shadow-puppet collection and his resting place. Stamford Raffles is a well known British statesman who governs Java in the 19th century. He is known as Lieutenant Governor of Java. Raffles is also

October 10, 2016October 10, 2016

This is an antique 9ct gold pendant/brooch with pearls. The design is very exquisite – it is so pretty! I like that it comes with additional small chain. I also like the fact that you can use it as a

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016

These are beautiful duo antique silver compacts from Czech. The first one is the smaller one, with 835 hallmark. The look from the inside: The look at the back. They are stamped 835 at both sides. This is the the second

September 26, 2016September 27, 2016

I really love the details of this cameo. The carving is so ornate and flawless. It depicts a lady with flower on her hair and her dress. It is a cameo on 9ct gold. There is a ‘9ct’ hallmark written

September 22, 2016September 22, 2016

When in Oxford, why not visit ‘The Eagle and Child’ pub and discover its unique history with some of the greatest writers in English history. The pub is located very close to the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford. The

lovely antique shops in oxford city centre

September 21, 2016September 22, 2016

I just want to share two antiquing places that I have seen during my weekend in Oxford: Oxford Antiques on High 85 High St, Oxford OX1 4BG This is a lovely shop consists of about 25 dealers. I very much like

September 19, 2016September 20, 2016

From the Oxford Antiques Shop, this is an excellent quality of Edwardian 9ct pin with the shape of crescent moon and star.

September 14, 2016September 14, 2016

I could not stop to like gold seal intaglio. Intaglio I think is an engraved gem. I like it because it is incredibly beautiful. The hand crafting usually is just so pretty and so detail. This is my first engraved intaglio seal

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016

I love this beautiful ornate brooch. It is hand painted and you can see the signature of the painter. I think it is an Italian brooch. I bought this lovely brooch at the Adams Antique Fair at the Royal Horticultural Hall.

September 5, 2016September 6, 2016

Bergamo and Milan – Experience the Finest Lombardy Surely a weekend getaway is too short to experience Lombardy, but with limited annual leave and bank holiday per year, a weekend break to Italy’s finest region could be a fantastic treat! It was

September 1, 2016September 6, 2016

I was at the Admiral Vernon antiques market in Portobello. One of the stalls downstairs sells Asian/South East Asian antiques. I bought this unique piece of foo dog/guardian lion brass. At first I thought it is a barong: a good

August 30, 2016September 6, 2016

Antique shops in Chelsea This time I accompany my hubby to buy an antique match-box at a premium location in London: Chelsea! There is an arcade consists of about 25 antique shops, it is called Bourbon Hanby Antiques Arcade. It is located

August 30, 2016September 13, 2016

This is the piece that I bought at the Milan Naviglio Grande antique market. It is a gold pendant with masonic seal. It is meticulously finished by hand. The colour of the seal is blue-off-white. I am not sure about

August 24, 2016September 6, 2016

Antiquing in Milan When in Milan, do not miss the once-a-month antiques market at the panoramic Naviglio Grande. The name of the market is simply Naviglio Grande antiques market as it is where the market is located. To get to

July 29, 2016September 6, 2016

Top Tips of What To Do in Jakarta If you happen to travel to Indonesia from Europe, Jakarta is usually the first airport to touch down. Although your destination may not be Jakarta, here are some tips of what you

Streling Silver Brooch with a French haind painted limoges

July 29, 2016September 6, 2016

A beautiful brooch in a French and English combination. It has a French Limoges hand painted porcelain in an English sterling silver exterior. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1975.

July 21, 2016September 6, 2016

This is a Victorian teapot gold pendant which is very cute and ornate. I think it also has a function as a seal. This is from the Bushey Yew Tree Antiques Fair.

July 20, 2016September 6, 2016

Fancy an Italian food near the British Museum? Amarcord Italian Restaurant Museum St London WC1A 1LU I was at the British Museum two weeks ago attending an exhibition about Sicily with my husband. We then decided to have an Italian

Antiques Fair The Rembrandt Hotel London

July 19, 2016September 6, 2016

Sunday Antiquing at the Rembrandt Hotel Ian Russell Antiques Rembrandt Hotel Antiques Fair 11 Thurloe Place London SW7 2RS A great time to spend your Sunday at the Rembrandt Hotel! The hotel itself is located just opposite the Victoria & Albert

July 19, 2016September 6, 2016

Yes the monthly antiques fair is here in London! Adams Antiques Fair Royal Horticultural Hall London SW1P 2QW Last Sunday I was at the Royal Horticultural Hall browsing the antiques fair there. Royal Horticultural Hall is only ten minutes walk from Victoria station. I

The Windsor Castle Pub Victoria Sitting Room

July 7, 2016September 6, 2016

What to eat on Sunday in Victoria? The Windsor Castle Pub 23 Francis Street, Victoria London SW1P 1DN Fancy a pint with a good food in an antique-setting pub? Visit The Windsor Castle Pub in Victoria! It is located just a ten

Kensington Creperie Banana with Nutella sauce

July 6, 2016September 6, 2016

Kensington Creperie 2-6 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2HF Kensington Creperie is a great place to enjoy dessert: ice cream, crepes, or waffles. I was there last Sunday and I was lucky that it was a sunny afternoon. Definitely

Gaucho 25 Swallow Street London W1B 4QR Indulge Yourself at One of the Best Steak Houses in London Gaucho at Piccadilly London is one of the best places for steak lovers. Although the prices can make you nervous, the

July 1, 2016May 4, 2017

June 27, 2016September 6, 2016

Others

Brexit: What if the UK mirroring the Australia Point Based System? Discretion: This is an opinion article and should not be used as an immigration advice or immigration guide. ****Update: As Theresa May is now the UK Prime Minister, I

June 22, 2016September 6, 2016

Viewing an Auction House in Islington When I was antiquing in Islington, to be precised at the Camden Passage, I have noticed that there is an auction house in the area. Not too far from Camden Passage, you can find an

June 22, 2016January 11, 2017

Here is a delicate French chocolate paper box. Look at the gorgeous scene printed/painted on the box. It is, I think, a baptism scene of a famous baby (with famous mother). There is a word “Bernard” written on the top left of the

June 17, 2016September 6, 2016

Antiquing in Islington Here it is another antiques market in London which is worth to visit: Camden Passage. Just a two minutes stroll from Angel (northern line) tube station, you will find a selection of stalls in an open air

June 14, 2016September 6, 2016

Two days full of antiquing in Arezzo Well, I suggest all antique lovers to visit Arezzo, a city in Tuscany Italy, where there are plenty of well established antique shops and not to forget the once-a-month Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo.

June 13, 2016September 6, 2016

This is my first ever cigarette case collection! It is stunningly beautiful with dog embossed on it. It has a hallmark of Birmingham circa 1921 with W.N Ltd marker mark. I bought this from my favourite stall in Rogers Antiques

June 10, 2016September 6, 2016

This is a lovely 9ct gold of heart locket pendant. It has a bird decoration and its grid lines are very pretty. It says ‘9CT BK & FT’. I bought it from a stall in the Admiral Vernon antiques market. The

antichita burgalassi with its serious collection

June 9, 2016September 6, 2016

Travelling in Pisa and Seeing the Pisa Antique Shops And so yes I am taking my annual leave to travel to Pisa, Italy. It was on early June 2016 and I stayed in Pisa for only two nights. The weather was

June 9, 2016September 6, 2016

One of the loveliest pieces I bought from the Arezzo Antiques Fair. This is an antique silver Holy water font with Santa Theresa picture. Is the picture hand painted? I am not sure. Is this holy-water-font Italian? I hope so.

June 8, 2016September 6, 2016

This is one of the two pieces that I bought from Arezzo Antiques Market. This Italian cup is made in Florence/Firenze. It bears the 800 hallmark for Italian argento with 376 FI marker’s mark. According to http://www.silvercollection.it/, it is made by

Arezzo Antiques Fair Piazza Grande, Arezzo, Italy I was in Arezzo Antiques Fair on the 4th and 5th June 2016. The fair is one of the biggest in Italy and is held at the first Sunday of the month

Very small chair with a cat

A little cute Italian silver decoration of a small chair with a cat on it. It has 800 mark with AR (a city mark for Arezzo). I bought this piece in a shop in Alghero, Italy.

This is a cute silver dressing pot or dressing jar. It has a Birmingham assay office hallmark with E.S.B marker (stands for Edward Souter Barnsley).

A stunning silver candy bowl made circa 1919 by a large manufacturer Mappin & Webb. It has a Birmingham assay office hallmark with MN & WB markers. I bought this from my favourite stall at the Rogers Antiques

enamel silver compact and lipstick flower set

May 31, 2016September 6, 2016

This set is a true beauty! A silver enamel compact with flowery design made by Garrard & Co in Regent Street London. The hallmark is visible in the inside case. The compact still has its original puff and

Northcote Road Antiques Market 155a Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QB On my bank holiday weekend, I have decided to visit Northcote Road antiques market in Clapham. It is approximately 10 minutes walk from Clapham Junction station. Northcote road itself

A set of Italian silver cutlery consists of one spoon, fork and knife. It comes with a red box which read ‘A. Sguilla Argenteria Gioielleria Perugia’. I hope the box is the original box. The cutlery has

A lovely 9ct gold heart locket with a chain. It says ‘9CT B&F’ at the reverse side of the locket. I bought it from one of my favourite stalls in Rogers Antique Gallery.

This is a Portugese silver (plated?) pill box with rooster enamel. It has a pretty design of two hearts and a coat of arm (?) on top, and flowery design on the sides. It reads ‘Domex Portugal’ at

Italia argento silver sugar bowl antique

This is a unique Italian sugar bowl with hallmark: 800 and PA on its bottom. It is made in Palermo, Italy. I cannot see clearly the marker number, but I think it says either 47 PA or

A stunning silver posy vase c.1901 made by Marston and Bayliss. It is beautifully crafted. I bought this from Croxley Antiques.

Bushey is apparently a nice place for antiquing! There are two antique fairs in Bushey that are of my interest: Bushey Golf & Country Club Antiques Fair The Bushey Antiques and Collector’s Yew Tree Fair Let’s start with the

After a long walk of antiquing at Portobello Market, you may want to find yourself a nice cafe to sit and relax. Cafe Diana is located not far from the Notting Hill Gate tube station. It has a unique decorations

This weekend, I visit Croxley Antique shop in Croxley (nearest tube station: Croxley on the Metropolitan line). It is a well presented shop with wide range selection of antiques. The price is good too. I would recommend to visit if

May 23, 2016June 10, 2016

Portobello Antiques Market is my regular visit of antiquing. What I like is that it has a variety of galleries and arcades for me to explore. My favourite one is Rogers Antique gallery. Inside this gallery, I can find a

May 23, 2016October 12, 2017

Antique silver fork beautifully designed with monogram.

May 23, 2016October 12, 2017

A pretty Edwardian silver vesta case circa 1904. I bought this vesta at one of my favourite stalls at the Rogers Antique Gallery. It has Birmingham silver hallmark with A.C. marker’s mark.

A Victorian silver fork circa 1895 with marker’s mark H.M. The Birmingham assay office hallmark is present. It has a very cute kind-of-fish design on the handle.

May 23, 2016October 12, 2017

A very pretty London silver tea strainer c.1892 with marker mark: G.A. It has a sad-looking nomad (or apostle?) figure on the handle side. It is beautifully gilded on the scoop-side. I bought this at one of my favourite

May 20, 2016September 6, 2016

A very cute Victorian silver glass pot circa 1896 made in London by C.D. It is engraved with initials. The London town assay office hallmark is present. The top is gilded inside, very pretty.

Victorian silver dish London 1891 E.F H.T

May 20, 2016September 6, 2016

Beautiful (scallop or leaf shaped?) silver dish, hallmarked London c.1891, made by E.F and H.T. This is sold at one of my favourite stalls (own by a nice lady) at the Rogers Antique Gallery.

Lovely gold pendant with picture of two persons (I hope it is originally belong to them). My guess that the picture is a husband and wife (or what do you think?). It says 9ct at the reverse-top of the pendant. I

May 20, 2016May 24, 2016