Page 114 - Homes & Antiques (February 2020)

The Essential Antiques

MID!CENTURY CZECH
ROOM DIVIDER
LUCY RYDER RICHARDSON, Modern Shows co-founder

I’d pick a bent ply room divider or screen by Ludvik
Volak as I love the versatility of them. I use them in a lot
of styling and own three myself. They are so versatile
– you can have them against a wall or between rooms
with plants on. Czech pieces have risen as fast as the
price of gold in recent years, but thankfully Modern
Shows co-founder Petra Curtis and I started stockpiling
these room dividers early. They were designed as both a
shelving system and divider, and we especially like the
earlier 1950s version with "nger-jointed round corners,
although these can be hard to "nd. The later ones have
square corners, some have feet that a#ach to both $oor
and ceiling, and I have even seen a Sixties mahogany-
veneered version, which is rather lovely too. Lately, the
screen that was originally dubbed claustra (which means
cloister or barrier) has been having a comeback. You can
have them either way up with curves facing up or down,
make them look like doors each side of the centre of a
room, or stagger them to divide up a large space. Create
a mix of di!erent textures by styling with plants, books,
enamel bowls, candlesticks and ceramics.

HOWARD & SONS
CLUB ARMCHAIR
THEODORA BURRELL, Antiques Roadshow
expert and auctioneer at Lyon & Turnbull

For me, the antique every home should have
is without doubt a Victorian Howard & Sons
armchair. Not only are they good traditional
antiques, but I think they transcend the decades
and are permanently fashionable. Whether
used as a comfy bedroom chair, or in pride of
place in a drawing room, the wide plump seats
and upholstered arms o!er comfort while
being e!ortlessly stylish. The company is
synonymous with good quality and has been
trading since the 1820s. Chairs, of course, can be
updated with contemporary fabric, such as this
one, which Lyon & Turnbull sold for £1,600.

114 Homes & Antiques February 2020