Five ways to brighten up your room from auctions on thesaleroom.com
18 November 2019 If you are looking for simple ways to brighten up a room at home without planning a full redecoration, the easiest way is to pick statement objects that will make an impact when you walk into the room.
A 19th century patchwork quilt with 18th century embroidery patches estimated at £500-700 at Tennants on November 22.
Think wall hangings, a vintage quilt used as a throw, a colourful rug or what interior designers have started to call an ‘accent’ chair – basically a single piece of seating furniture that contrasts with the other seating in a room.
There are thousands of items on thesaleroom.com that would fit the bill and here is a selection five ideas.
1. Antique and vintage quilts
Quilts are hugely collectable and prices can reflect the demand for the rarest. Many auction houses will offer quilts in general sales while some have specialist sales that will offer hundreds of options. Tennants' Costume, Accessories & Textiles sale in Leyburn on November 22 is an example of a specialist sale where the most collectable and desirable items will be offered.
Among the lots is this decorative 19th century patchwork quilt with 18th century embroidery patches (above). The 6ft 2in x 7ft 3in (188 x 220cm) quilt features various shapes, fabrics and colours and is estimated at £500-700.
View this patchwork quilt on thesaleroom.com
2. Wall hangings
A late 19th century and embroidered suzani, possibly from Uzbekistan estimated at £200-300 at Chiswick Auctions on November 19-20.
Suzanis - large, hand-embroidered textile panels from Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan - are in demand with decorators and interior designers as wall hangings.
This example at Chiswick Auctions’ November 19-20 sale is from the late 19th century and embroidered with iris and carnation flowers. It is possibly from Uzbekistan and stitched together from six panels totalling 5ft 1in x 6ft 11in (155 x 210cm) and is estimated at £200-300.
View this suzani on thesaleroom.com
3. Rugs
A yellow, green and orange Chobi kilim rug estimated at £40-60 at Denhams in Horsham, Sussex on November 20.
The variety of rugs can be found on thesaleroom.com, ranging from modern designs to antique Persian carpets and everything in between. Many of the older, authentic Persian carpets sell into the thousands of pounds but decorative examples can be snapped up for less than £200.
Kilim rugs are tapestry weaves usually made from wool that is woven rather than knotted which gives this variety its ‘flat’ surface instead of a ‘pile’ like other rugs.
This yellow, green and orange Chobi kilim rug is 4ft 1in x 2ft 9in (125 x 84cm) and estimated at £40-60 at Denhams in Horsham, Sussex on November 20.
View this kilim rug on thesaleroom.com
4. Lights
A glass jellyfish sculpture light estimated at £100-150 at the Evolution auction at Summers Place in Billingshurst, West Sussex on November 19.
Lighting is another way to bring unusual objects into a room in a practical way. There are many examples of lighting that can add character to a room available on thesaleroom.com. An example at auction on November 19 is this glass jellyfish sculpture light, one of four available at the Evolution auction at Summers Place in Billingshurst, West Sussex. The 7.5in (19cm) high light is estimated at £100-150.
View this glass light sculpture on thesaleroom.com.
5. Chairs
A grey leather Eames lounge chair and ottoman on a black frame estimated at £500-800 at Wotton Auction Rooms in Gloucestershire on November 19-20 sale.
Interior designers, decorators and furniture retailers have started using the phrase ‘accent chair’ which means a stand-out chair in the room – contrasting with the main sofa. These can range from a colourful arm chair to tub chairs. An Eames lounge chair and ottoman are among the most famous pieces of mid-century furniture.
The American couple Charles Eames (1907-78) and his wife Ray (1912-88) produced a variety of pieces but this classic example is their most well-known. Originally designed in 1956 and first produced in rosewood by Herman Miller, the chair has been made in various materials ever since – in Britain and Germany under licence and today copied by Chinese and European manufacturers.
The original pieces sell into the thousands.
This later copy grey leather upholstered version on a black frame is estimated at £500-800 at Wotton Auction Rooms in Gloucestershire in its November 19-20 sale.
View this Eames lounge chair and ottoman on thesaleroom.com.
New to auctions? Read about how to buy at auction here and find out how auction charges work.
For more on furniture ideas visit our furniture guide.
