The Vintage Contessa

It is a tantalizing array of frou-frou and advance stages of decay.

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PERIOD PORTRAITS

Good morning Elizabeth….yes it’s Yorkshire calling!

Well isn’t it great, I now know that I can rely on you for news and home events..you always seem to know it all..before I do!

PS. Scamp was wanting to type you a message..paws on the keyboard 🙂

 

 HELLO DEAR READERS!

 CONTESSA HERE.

TODAY I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR NICK AT PERIOD PORTRAITS IN YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.

HE HAS DONE UP A COACH HOUSE AND MOVED HIS BUSINESS OUT OF LONDON TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.

TO SAY I AM A WEE BIT JEALOUS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!

 IN REFERENCE TO HIS WORDS ABOVE I WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD HIM HE HAD A NEW PRIME MINISTER!

 I GET THE BBC NEWS ALERTS ON MY PHONE BEFORE ANY NEWS FROM THE STATES!

 I DIRECT MESSAGED NICK ON INSTAGRAM TO SEE WHAT HE THOUGHT!

I THINK I WAS THE FIRST TO TELL HIM HIS QUEEN PASSED AS WELL!

SOME DAYS I AM UP WAY TO EARLY!

 

HOPE YOU ENJOY THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COACH HOUSE BRIMMING WITH ANTIQUE PORTRAITS THAT YOUR CONTESSA SWOONS OVER……….

I TELL YOU I MUST HAVE LIVED IN ANOTHER ERA ANOTHER TIME AND FOR CERTAIN; I LIVED IN EUROPE!!!

AS ALL THIS SPEAKS TO ME SO VERY VERY MUCH…………….ENJOY!

We are redecorating a tv room upstairs in Selvedge..a new colour from Farrow and Ball that came out last week.. not our favourite brand

(too exposed) but going on very well…if ever you want to refresh and pick up a paintbrush….

PERFECT FOR ALL YOU BLUE LOVERS!

I was thinking shall we offer your readers a discount of some sort…like 10/15% off paintings?

Not worth it for prints but could be fun for oils?

CONTESSA SAYS YES TO THAT!

 MY PLAN WHICH CAME YEARS AFTER LIVING IN MY HIGH VAULTED KITCHEN WAS TO COVER THE YELLOW WALLS IN PORTRAITS!

AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE FILLED WITH PRINTS AND A FEW REAL PORTRAITS!

I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON THAT IDEA AND AS MY FRIEND NICK SAYS I CAN START HANGING THEM ON THE CEILING!

THIS MAN HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AND WITT!

HE FOUND ME ON INSTAGRAM YEARS AGO AND I AM SO HAPPY HE DID AS HE MAKES ME LAUGH!

ESPECIALLY HIS SUNDAY VIDEOS!

WHERE HE HAD ONE MINUTE TO GET ALL THE WORDS IN AND DESCRIBE A BEAUTIFUL NEW FIND IN AN ARTISTIC WAY!

A LOT OF YOU WILL RECALL HE TOOK ME DOWN PORTOBELLO ROAD FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!
HE FOUND A RED KIMONO AND I THOUGHT I HAD MADE IT OUT WITHOUT BUYING A THING!
WHEN WE CAME ACROSS A SILVER SHOP!
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE I WENT!
 HE HELPED ME NEGOTIATE A BETTER PRICE FROM A CHAIR!
 I WAS TICKING OFF THE BOXES THINKING OKAY, OKAY WHERE WILL I PACK THESE?
AND HOW WILL I CARRY ON THE AIRPLANE?
THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO!
THOSE WINE VESSELS ARE ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITE FINDS EVER!
SHALL WE GET ON WITH THE INTERVIEW?!!
ANDIAMO AS THE ITALIAN WOULD SAY!
  HOW DID YOUR COMPANY PERIOD PORTRAITS COME TO BE?
I launched the company around ten years ago, but really as you know this career is the result of a lifelong passion, for anything, old and of quality that speaks of the past and a more elegant age of slow living. I love portraits specifically, real characters that live on and form that link with the past.

WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN? HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?
I am a specialist dealer in portraiture from the 17th century to the 20th century and I travel extensively to source our ever-changing stock, which includes quality oil paintings, drawings, and mezzotints from both British and European artists. Each work of art I offer is extensively researched and described honestly and accurately so that people can buy with confidence.

The portraits I love are always more than simple records, they are multi-layered works of art that reflect the virtue, importance, taste, and learning of an individual. A particular focus on English art of the 18th century means that through elaborate costumes or military dress we always stock highly decorative paintings.

My passion was always for art and antiques but somehow I launched the company alongside MY CAREER. I landed in fashion as an editor on Vogue and Harpers Bazaar and Vanity Fair attending the shows around the world and then creating fashion stories for glossy magazines.

As a WELCOME antidote to that often dizzying world I would sell antiques and art privately. This expanded to sourcing ‘ sleepers ‘ paintings who’s identity density or authorship had been lost over time and selling through major auction houses in London ( Sothebys, Christies etc) Then with the arrival of the internet, I started  to think why am I not doing this myself?

SO I SET UP MY WEBSITE AND SORTED SELLING GLOBALLY THROUGH THERE.

 and Instagram

and that became my main focus.

I was the first person to sell art of this type alongside videos or reels on instagram, people thought I was mad and now everyone is having a go, its en equal playing field and without the cost of a conventional gallery its refreshing.

HOW DID YOU FALL UPON THIS GLORIOUS FIXER-UPPER IN YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND?

Actually the barn that you see is one part of a group of properties belonging to my family, that I purchased. My space was originally for animals and agricultural machinery we decoded to convert it into a home..complete with flagstone floors, beams etc. No surprise then that the dogs and assorted wildlife feel at home.

WERE YOU SMITTEN BY THE FIRST VIEWING?OR DID YOU NEED TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT?

We were already living in part of it but the downstairs was completely uninhabited, earth floors, no doors etc…after what seemed like an age we got around to converting it.

We are now working on another project close to home to house our growing collection of portraits…that has cathedral height ceilings ,..and lets just say that heating…well that can be ‘interesting’.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DISCOVERY OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED IN TERMS OF MONEY?

The fact that our business is largely online means that we were also able to relocate to the countryside, and welcome a couple of working Springer Spaniels into the mix, now there is never a dull moment, and all work seems like play.

DO YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE HERE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
OR HAS THE “BUG” BIT YOU TO DO ANOTHER GRAND DAME UP?

I am a Yorkshireman by heart but I also have a great passion for Scotland, especially the west Coast around Loch Fyne and Inverary the great wide exposes of lochs and mountains, so the dream is to have the business there at some point down the road, a great rambling house by the water, where we can live, enjoy the great outdoors and sell the occasional artwork!

THANK YOU NICK FOR SHARING YOUR HOME AND PASSION!PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED TO VIEW HIS “PEOPLE” THAT NEED A WARM LOVING HOME.IF YOU ARE ON INSTAGRAM JOIN ALONG AS HE HAS THE EYE AND GIVES A WELL NEEDED LAUGH NOW AND AGAIN!ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ARE WELCOME BELOW JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON SCROLLING DOWNWARD!

THIS HORSE WITH THE FERNS IS IN NEED OF A GOOD HOME TOO!
YOUR FAVORITE CONTESSA …..I HOPE!XXX

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Biblical proportions, curating & rescuing great art, rehoming it. Nick Cox born with talent and thankfully followed his gift. Many of the pieces seem to have had more recent work done to them, perhaps removing gunk, and showing the amazing colors? Beautiful work, and frames too. Nothing to do, once purchased from him !

    Hope Nick does get a place in Scotland as described, his home now is a stunner. Hopefully, Nick can have both, not have to sell anything. Those Springer Spaniels ! Had a client with 1 Springer Spaniel, Ellie; at most a quarter acre. No fool, Ellie’s favorite running/barking path remained INTACT. Quite easy to design any garden from such a start.

    You and Nick have overlapping DNA in your many aesthetic loves. Hahahaha, his negotiating you a better price when he was sitting in a chair, seemingly uninvolved until, BOOM.

    Next time, include Nick’s CLOSET………………what were you thinking?

    Garden & Be Well, XOT

    Reply

      • You and Nick were my early IG inspirations for collecting art, specifically portraiture.
        It’s been a source of absolute joy and wonder ever since!
        Nick’s videos are a must watch, I’ve even gotten colleagues hooked who never had a spark for period portraits and now are eager to discuss Nick’s latest finds.
        What a marvelous web this IG family weaves for kindred spirits!

        Reply

  5. I was all in the minute I saw those floors- stunning! What a great story! Thank you for introducing me to Nick. It’s time to have a cup, visit his Instagram, and look for dog portraits. How fun

    Reply

  6. What a dashing man! Love his clothing especially the kilt and dagger. The art is absolutely stunning. I feel like you and Nick could be related somehow—cousins? 🙂 Thanks for sharing Nick’s world with us, LA CONTESSA. I have followed his Instagram and look forward to seeing him there as he will spice it up.

    Reply

  7. Love the robe! The colors remind me the underrated movie version of Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon. The carriage house is to die for!

    Reply

  8. Love The Horse with Ferns! Love Nick’s style and business- the paintings from that era are so amazing. I’m glad he is focused on keeping that art front and center.
    I too am envious of the “barn” living in the English countryside. Maybe in my next life:-)

    Reply

  9. What a wonderful fun chat with Nick! I am so enamored of his beautiful home and his art. He also seems to be the nicest gentleman. It’s been a joy following him and seeing what he finds. You two look so cute together.. Thick as thieves my mom would say. I’m sure if you were in the UK you’d be in a lot of trouble together.. xo

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  10. I love this handsome man and his barn! He’s redone it in such an elegant fashion and the wall paint is beautiful. I always wanted an old oil portrait, but having been a photographer, I started collecting my favorite photographers and have my eye on a piece I hope to be able to afford in the future. Thanks for sharing with us, Brenda

    Reply

  11. Contessa! I see why you and Nick were drawn to one another. You are living somewhat parallel lives. I’m glancing around Snowberry wondering what room can be taken to welcome period portraits of near-certain ancestors. His Yorkshire home … oh my. Those floors … and is that the living room. It’s amazing. Tell me, is it radiant heat under the stone? So curious about Nick’s magazine background … the people he must know and the places he must go. I’m heading over to Instagram right now! xo

    Reply

    • Funny you say that ‘The people he must know”as my driver to the SF FALL SHOW as you know we were headed there to hear HAMISH speak and he was not there due to covid.I did mention to NICK I had bought tickets to see HAMISH not even connecting the dots………..
      His response “I KNOW HAMISH” and at that moment I thought OF COURSE YOU DO!
      It is a small small world which I LOVE!
      XOX

      Reply

  12. Another interesting and fabulous post. Thanks to you and Nick for the efforts (photos do not take/edit themselves!)

    Reply

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