Chinese New Year 2017

This coming Saturday, 28 January marks the first day of Chinese New Year. New Year is also known as the “Spring Festival” in China and is the longest and most important holiday there. The New Year’s festivities end two weeks later on the 15th day of the first month and this day is known as the Lantern Festival. London's festivities are the biggest celebrations outside Asia and every year, hundreds of thousands of people head to Chinatown to wish each other "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) or "San Nin Faai Lok" (in Cantonese). Find out more about events happening in London this weekend here.

2017 is the year of the fire rooster - each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac - which symbolises loyalty, commitment, hard work and family values amongst other values.

Alfies has several dealers who stock high calibre Chinese and Asian Antiques, such as Horner Antiques who has a keen eye for detail in oriental porcelain and is based on the ground floor, and Hongman Yang, who is based on the first floor and deals in a variety of items, including paintings and jewellery as well as ceramics.

Here are some of our favourite pieces:

Large Famille Noir Chinese Vase - Dragons Chasing Through Flowers, 1st Republic. From Horner Antiques.

Chinese 'Blanc de Chine' of a deity holding a peach. From Horner Antiques.

Chinese blue and white plum flower ginger jar with wooden lid. From Hongman Yang.

Chinese tea caddy Qianlong period. From Diplomat Treasures International.

20th century bowl with rooster. From Hongman Yang.

Colour of the Year: Green

Pantone have announced that the colour of 2017 is green, also known as "15-0343 Greenery". The highly influential colour-matching firm said that "Greenery" will be the dominant shade in fashion and design for the next 12 months. 

In fashion it provides a pop of colour in accessories and shoes, or as a bold accent in pattern. The theme for home decor and interiors this year is all about bringing the outside, inside. 

Pantone’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman puts it this way: “Greenery symbolises the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

With this in mind, we picked some items from various dealers in luscious shades of green.

Vintage green & white gingham shirt, available from Dispensary Vintage

Urnaium decanter set 1930s, available from Beth

1940s knife sharpener, available from Paola & Iaia - The Originals

‘The Garden of the Golden Orb’ by Ronald Morton, available from Robert McKoy Fine Arts

Shell shaped Murano glass, with shades of green and gold leaf. c1955, available from Robinson Antiques

1920s Leaf necklace, available from Carole Collier

The London Art Fair

The annual London Art Fair is the UK's largest contemporary art fair, taking place at the Business Design Centre from 18-22 January. This year is the 29th edition of the fair, which is generally being regarded as the event that kicks off the year for the art world.

The fair primarily has a contemporary focus and presents a lot of modern British art along with other works ranging from the early 20th Century through to the present day. Around 125 galleries showcase within the main fair, and in addition there are also curated sections focusing on younger galleries, new work and contemporary photography. Tickets to the event can be purchased here.

We have a range of art dealers within Alfies, many of whom have a huge variety of work from many different periods, and whilst there is a lot of traditional items, there are some beautiful contemporary works on offer too. Here we present some of our favourites.

'Dorset Abstract' by Richard Witham, 2014. Offered by Graham Thomas. 

'Flowers in a Window' by Richard Suddaby, 1940s. Offered by Graham Thomas.

'Snowdonia' by W. Matthew, oil on board, 2014. Offered by Mark Eaton.

'Venice' by Ray Rossepi, oil on board. Offered by Robert McKoy Fine Arts.

Unknown, oil on board, 1950s. Offered by Robert McKoy Fine Arts.

'Blue Geisha' and 'Orange Samurai' by David Harper, 2014. Offered by David Harper.

Winter Lights

January is here, and with the upcoming Winter Lights at Canary Wharf and the Magic Lantern Festival at Chiswick House and Gardens, the focus this month is on light. The winter months are dark and gloomy so it's inevitable that we are inclined to celebrate and appreciate anything with luminous quality.

At Alfies there is no shortage of fabulous lighting in all shapes and forms. Here's our top picks...

1950s antique brass spider chandelier attributed to Oscar Torlasco, available from Paola Bazzoli

Original green enamelled 1950s desk lamp, available from David Harper

Brass 1940s Floor Lamp by Lightolier, available from The Moderns

  

Gio-ponti lamp, available from Steven Lazarus

1950s Table Lights by Stilnovo, available from Thirteen Interiors