Decorative Arts — The Open Art Fair Magazine

Exotic Enamels

A short stroll through the wonderful, colourful world of curious and delicious antique enamels.

Decorative ArtsPoppy McKenzie SmithJanuary 19, 2023Poppy McKenzie Smith

The One About Desks

A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. From Georgian to Mid-Century, which era will boost your productivity?

Decorative ArtsFrancesca PeacockNovember 3, 2022Francesca Peacock

Cut-throat or Cut-fish

Some knives are meant for slicing, and others are destined for snobbery.

Decorative ArtsFrancesca PeacockAugust 4, 2022Francesca Peacock

Art for Eating

Art good enough to eat? Or art to encourage just one more bottle?

Fine Arts, Decorative ArtsElise BellJuly 7, 2022Elise Bell

The Art of Mapping London

Mapping cities was an expensive and time consuming process, fortunately it often ended with a great work of art.

Decorative ArtsMatthew GreenJune 23, 2022Matthew Green

The World’s Biggest Wildlife Crime

Ivory legislation is just the start: the protections for endangered wood have been changing.

Decorative ArtsRichard NegusJune 2, 2022Richard Negus

Collecting Glassware

Glassware may be fragile but collecting it can be as simple as starting.

Decorative ArtsPoppy McKenzie SmithMay 12, 2022Poppy McKenzie Smith

An Unlikely Art Critic

What does a bird expert have to say about the works of 18th century Meissen master Johann Joachim Kändler?

Decorative ArtsRichard SmythApril 28, 2022Richard Smyth

All Natural

Why is nature such a key source in design, and how does it fit in the contemporary world?

Decorative ArtsJo Lawson-TancredMarch 17, 2022Jo Lawson-Tancred

All the Way to the Bank

Cartoons are not just for children - comic strips have a strong market following in Europe and the US, but does it translate to the UK?

Decorative ArtsHuon MallalieuMarch 10, 2022Huon Mallalieu

For the Folk, By the Folk

The growing appreciation for the “nebulous” world of folk art.

Decorative ArtsRichard UnwinNovember 11, 2021Richard Unwin

The Pale Face of Fashion

Hedgerow furniture, made of sustainable chestnut, sycamore and ash, reflects both interior design trends and a growing eco-friendly mindset.

Decorative ArtsRichard NegusOctober 14, 2021Richard Negus

Time for Tea

We might drink our morning brew from an Emma Bridgewater mug, but porcelain teacups are still sought after by collectors.

Decorative ArtsPoppy McKenzie SmithSeptember 30, 2021Poppy McKenzie Smith

Where the Value of Silver Lies

Design, age, and provenance can all have a part to play in the value of antique silver.

Decorative ArtsCharles HartleySeptember 23, 2021Charles Hartley

Swords to Sculpture

When the demand for samurai swords declined after the Meiji Restoration, artisans turned their skills to decorative objects, and the era was marked by exceptional workmanship.

Decorative ArtsBilly JoblingAugust 26, 2021Billy Jobling

Papering the Past

Antique wallpaper provides an insight into different layers of design history, and with the skill of specialist restorers, it can live on.

Decorative ArtsCal FlynAugust 12, 2021Cal Flyn

Restore or Replace?

Throw-away culture is creating a problem for the environment - is looking after existing furniture (rather than heading to IKEA) the not-so-new eco answer?

Decorative ArtsJoe LloydAugust 5, 2021Joe Lloyd