The Antiques Magpie

‘Objects are what matter. Only they carry the evidence that throughout the centuries something really happened among humans.’

This quote by Claude Levi Strauss opens Marc Allum’s The Antiques Magpie, a new book providing an accessible entry point to the world of antiques. Best known for his work as a regular on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Allum calls on his astounding knowledge of the history of things, garnered from decades as an auctioneer and collector, in this compilation of anecdotes, facts and antiquing tips.

What becomes clear within the first few pages of The Antiques Magpie is that the world of antiques is not one of dusty relics and stamp collecting; everything can be priced, whether it’s Napoleon’s toothbrush, a human skull, or the bullet that began World War I. Allum shares insights on a broad range of artifacts that are collected, sold and acquired, bringing to light the mindboggling catalogue of items that find space under the ‘collectable’ umbrella.

Divided into nearly 100 chapters, The Antiques Magpie is a balance of anecdotes and more practical information, such as how to identify a fake or price a diamond; but most interesting is what these objects reveal of human history and the human condition.

As Allum writes: ‘Collecting is complicated, an infusion of many variables drawn form our fragility, insecurity and desire, driven by the need to leave a mark on the world, validate, educate and elucidate.’

Needless to say, with the beginning of civilisation as your starting point, there is no end of content to explore, and with that in mind, Allum does well to keep The Antiques Magpie contained to a mere 224 pages. Unsurprisingly, given the scope of its subject, the book flits from anecdote to anecdote, granting the reader only a taste of the complexities and historical insights offered by the world of antiques, which will either inspire the reader to further research or leave them feeling dissatisfied.

This dissatisfaction may also stem from the knowledge that Allum’s audience is a very specific one: the UK viewers of Antiques Roadshow. Allum refers time and time again to British legislation affecting the acquisition of art and antiques; the British auction system; and specifically British collectibles like the Penny Black stamp, which while interesting from an objective point of view, can become tiresome given their irrelevance in the Australian market.

The illustrations included intermittently throughout the book are an asset; unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the fact boxes, which seem tacked on at the end of several chapters in an attempt to share even more information than is already on offer.

Given the mass of material covered and the brevity of its chapters, The Antiques Magpie is quite disjointed at times. Before Allum is able to explore any object in detail, the chapter ends, only to focus on the next compelling artifact. For this reason, The Antiques Magpie does best when considered as a general guide to collecting. There’s something in it for everyone, whether your interest lies in movie memorabilia, samurai swords, the 19th century tradition of photographing the dead or the history of museums, but it is by no means exhaustive.

The Antiques Magpie is a fine display of Allum’s specialist knowledge, reinforcing his position as an expert in the field of antiques. Lovers of Antiques Roadshow will especially appreciate the familiar format utilised in this collection. A comprehensive general overview of the world of antiques and collectables, The Antiques Magpie is an educational read that will no doubt inspire many to look further into our collective history.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5