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Iain Brunt, founder of www.antiques.co.uk, shares his expert thoughts on what’s going to be collectable in 2025 – and why it should be out with the technology, and in with the reliable antiques.
I am a great collector of things I use in my daily life. Seeing them and using them gives me a great deal of pleasure, but the most important thing for me is who used these wonderful antique objects before me – and of course who will use them after me.
I once sold a set of chairs from the late Sir Hardy Amies Collection, who was the late Her Majesty the Queen’s dress designer. The new owner said to me, “it’s not about the chairs…it’s who sat in them.”
We spend a lot of time at our desks and even though I own and run www.antiques.co.uk, the UK’s longest running antiques website, I love having personal, meaningful items around me when I work.
Antique pens
I first started collecting antique pens when I learnt to write at school, which usually just meant ink all over my school shirt and pockets, infuriating my mother.
Personally, I think that, just like the resurgence of vinyl records and record players, we will soon start revisiting these much more tactile ways of writing. Not only is it enjoyable to receive a handwritten note, but many of our legal documents have to be handwritten too.
Antique desk objects
I was fascinated with desk objects as these are becoming increasingly rare.
As a society we stopped using ink and quills in the 1880s, when Lewis Waterman invented the first practical fountain pen, and they subsequently came into popularity. But fountain pens have actually been around since the 1600s when they were invented by J Herbin, one of the oldest makers in the world. They still exist today.
You can start collecting these today from as little as £75.00 with this 14 carat gold Waterman fountain pen. It does need a little attention, as the bladder – the component which holds the ink inside – has deteriorated from having been left to dry out. However with some love and attention you could have your own golden James Bond pen (used by Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun).
The most expensive pen sold in the world at auction is the Fulgor Nocturnus by Tibaldi which sold for $8 million US dollars.
Fulgor Nocturnus means ‘night glow’ which seems appropriate given the black diamonds on this fountain pen.
If you happen to discover one of these lurking at the back of your desk, or storage, then you could be in for a major windfall – and you can get it professionally valued and listed with us.
Antique pen holders
Once I had a few antique pens in my possession, I was left wondering what to do with them when I stopped writing – so I started collecting pen holders.
Antique pen holders come in numerous shapes and styles, and are often called ‘pen racks.’ Pen racks were supposedly first made by Waterlow & Sons, London, in 1855.
By the late 1860s, William Staehlen, New York, was selling ‘French Pen Racks.’
I was lucky enough to inherit this elegant silver Tiffany pen holder. I should say that I assume that holding a pen is what it was made for, but if you’re reading this and have seen different versions then I would be grateful for more information! Email me at [email protected].
I had never actually seen one before (in real life), but I can well imagine it on someone’s desk.
Antique pen holders can cost anything from £100.00 to many thousands depending on the material, the piece’s provenance and style. This lovely English Edwardian pen holder is for sale on www.antiques.co.uk at £295.00.
Antique stationery boxes
Finally, I started collecting antique stationery boxes, thanks to my immense love of great paper and envelopes.
After all, when you receive that handwritten letter on fabulous paper you need to open it and reply, and then have somewhere to store everything you need.
Paper and desk organisers come in all shapes and sizes – here’s my selection for collecting them in 2025.
I love this William Wilson stationery box, a truly beautiful example of William IV craftsmanship. You could virtually move into it, as it’s big enough to hold everything except the kitchen sink.
And could this antique Victorian Tunbridge ware stationery box depict Windsor Castle? Please let me know if you have any thoughts. If you’re looking for a very fine example to start your unique collection, I’d start with this, which is priced at only £975.00.
Happy collecting, and please come and visit us soon at www.antiques.co.uk. If you don’t know where to start, you can browse all of our antique categories.
