Pushkin’s Blog
Building a Legacy: Pushkin’s Charity Gala & Auction
Pushkin’s will be hosting an exclusive Charity Gala Evening at 6pm on Tuesday 6th October at Pushkin's (64 High st, Tunbridge Wells), in support of the Orthodox Church in Hastings and its invaluable work within the local community.
The Art of Meiji Silver: Shibayama, Enamel and Japanese Master Craftsmanship
The Japanese Meiji period (1868–1912) was one of the most important eras in the history of Japanese decorative art. Following the Meiji Restoration, Japan modernised rapidly and expanded its commercial and cultural relationships with Europe and America. International exhibitions, foreign trade and the growth of ports such as Yokohama created a new market for Japanese luxury goods.
Hung Chong & Co.: The Story of One of China’s Most Prolific Export Silversmiths
Hung Chong & Co. was one of the best known Chinese export silver firms associated with late 19th Century and 20th Century Shanghai. The company operated as a silversmith, manufacturer, retailer and luxury goods merchant, supplying finely worked silver and decorative objects to Chinese customers, foreign residents, travellers, diplomats and the international export market.
HUMOR x Pushkin’s - Art That Gets People Talking
Pushkin's is proud to collaborate with renowned Tunbridge Wells artist HUMOR on a series of provocative artworks combining his distinctive style, wit and subversive humour. Playing with familiar characters, authority, money and mischief, the collection is designed to catch the eye, challenge expectations and start conversations.
Maralunga: The Sofa That Learned to Lean Back
Fifty years on, the most quietly radical thing about Vico Magistretti's Maralunga is still the noise it doesn't make. Push the headrest up, pull it down, and a hidden mechanism inside the cushion does the rest; no levers, no clicks, no visible hardware. Just a sofa that knows when to sit formally and when to sprawl.
Murano Glass Lamps: Italian Craftsmanship with a Modern Glow
For more than 700 years, the island of Murano, just outside Venice, has been renowned for producing some of the world's finest handcrafted glass. Today, Murano glass remains a symbol of quality, artistry and timeless design, with its beautiful lamps bringing elegance to homes, hotels and commercial spaces around the world.
From Studio Tool to Sculptural Object: The History of Lay Figures
Lay figure mannequins were once practical studio tools. Today, the best surviving examples read just as clearly as sculpture. Used by artists, sculptors, tailors and academies, these articulated wooden figures helped with the study of anatomy, proportion, drapery and movement.
Sebastian Crespell II's Masterpiece Samovar
There is a particular hush that falls over a room when a piece of genuinely old, genuinely heavy silver is set down on the table. It is not reverence, but more a recognition that the object has outlived everyone who first admired it, and intends to outlive the rest of us too. Such is the case with a remarkable solid silver hot water kettle, also known as a samovar, hallmarked London, 1837, from the workshop of Sebastian Crespell II.
Pushkin’s at London’s Treasure House Fair: A Curated World
Pushkin's recently visited the Treasure House Fair at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and what makes it stand out is how much it broadens the idea of an art fair. Rather than focusing on one corner of the market, it brings together art, antiques and design in a way that feels varied, clear and well judged. Around 70 international dealers take part, with each object independently vetted, so the fair has the polish of a major event without feeling overblown.
Pushkin's Bespoke Luxury Trunks: Custom Humidors, Bars, Watch Boxes & Statement Pieces
Pushkin's has developed a remarkable ability to take heritage trunks and reimagine them as entirely new luxury pieces. The team creates bespoke designs tailored to the lifestyle, taste, and collecting passions of each client. The result is a category of luxury that feels deeply individual: objects with history, transformed through creativity into something entirely original.
Horatio Nelson: The Hero Remembered in a Ring
History often preserves great men in the biggest possible ways - towering statues, grand portraits, and victories that reshape nations. But sometimes the most moving reminder of a life comes in miniature. In this case, it is a mourning ring: small enough to sit in the palm of a hand, yet large enough to carry the memory of one of Britain's most famous naval commanders, Admiral Lord Nelson.
Annie Leibovitz and the SUMO Edition: Photography at Monumental Scale
Annie Leibovitz has defined contemporary portrait photography for over fifty years, from her early work at Rolling Stonein the 1970s through later commissions for Vanity Fair and Vogue. Her images are carefully constructed portraits that go beyond documentation, often combining character, setting and narrative in a single frame.
The BOAC Speedbird Constellation G-AHEL “Bangor II”
Few aircraft represent the golden age of air travel quite like the Lockheed Constellation. With its elegant curved fuselage, polished metal body and distinctive triple-tail design, the aircraft became one of the most recognisable airliners of the post-war period.
License to Design: The Visual Legacy of Bond Posters
Across more than six decades, the artwork surrounding James Bond films has become some of the most recognisable imagery in cinema history. Long before audiences entered the theatre, these designs established the mood of each release through style, drama and spectacle.
Kutch: Indian Silver
Kutch work, a traditional silversmithing craft from the Kutch region, flourished in Bhuj City, which housed around 30–40 workshops and 150–200 skilled artisans devoted to this art. Kansara Pole in Bhuj City became famous as a centre where silversmiths specialised in Kutch work. This craft was practised across various communities.
Ayrton Senna: Two Defining Commemorative Pieces
Ayrton Senna (1960–1994) won three Formula One World Championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991 with McLaren. Over 161 Grands Prix, he secured 41 wins and 65 pole positions, setting new standards in qualifying performance and wet-weather driving. In 1994, Senna joined Williams, partnering with Renault engines in what many expected to be the dominant combination of the decade. He was widely considered a favourite for a fourth world title. His fatal accident at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola ended that prospect and marked a turning point for Formula One, prompting major safety reforms.
Scottish Silver: Table Snuff Mulls and Their Unique Designs
Scottish silver has long been admired for its skill and imagination, and among its most striking objects are table snuff mulls. Unlike the small portable versions carried by individuals, these were designed to sit on a table, often in a gentleman’s study, and to be used and admired as much for their appearance as for their function.
Hollywood Regency: Luxe Style
Hollywood Regency, sometimes called Regency Moderne, is a style that makes an immediate impact. Emerging during Hollywood’s Golden Era between the 1920s and 1950s, it is defined by glamour, clean lines and rich finishes. Mirrored surfaces, polished metals and lacquered details are common features, bringing a sense of sophistication while still keeping a playful edge.
Pushkin’s presents The Burmese Noble Silver Collection
Pushkin’s is proud to present The Noble Silver Collection; the most extensive and meticulously documented private collection of Burmese silver work in existence.
This blog is dedicated to exploring the visual language and cultural significance of these exceptional works. Spanning the full breadth of Burma’s Silver Age, the collection highlights the extraordinary craftsmanship of 19th and early 20th Century Burmese silversmiths, with a particular emphasis on ceremonial offering bowls adorned with detailed Buddhist iconography.
Alexander in America: Reflections from the Birmingham Museum of Art - Silver & Ceremony: South Asia, 1830–1900
This summer marked an especially meaningful journey for me as I travelled to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend the opening of Silver & Ceremony: South Asia, 1830–1900 at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
As I walked through the beautifully curated exhibition space, I was filled with a profound sense of pride and gratitude; not only for the opportunity to witness it in person, but also for the major role I played in bringing this extraordinary collection of Harish K. Patel to life.