Beschreibung:

Lots 17 to 49 A Single Owner Collection of Antique Cutlery Five ancient bronze and iron knives, four small blades, and three further items (12) Bill Brown is a renowned collector of antique cutlery, something he has done for more than sixty, years. Bill grew up as the second of nine children in Greenwich, and remained in London through the war years as he needed to work. After the war, he trained at Camberwell School of Art as a graphic designer. He worked in London for Harrison &, Sons as a designer of postage stamps and it was during this time that he purchased his first items of cutlery, a Dutch knife and fork travelling set of c.1720. This purchase set off, what can only be described as, an obsession, not only to collect, cutlery, but to discover everything there is to know about the subject. For over forty years, he was a well known and popular figure on his stall at the famous Portobello Market. At the turn of this century he decided to compile an important and, large collection of british cutlery which was taken on tour. It is now housed at Sheffield Museum as ‘The Bill Brown Collection’. He has had many hobbies over the years. As a young man he was a very keen road racer (cycling), and a keen, birdwatcher, which probably started to assist his art work. His biggest hobby is probably growing bonsai trees and he is still the President of Bonsai Kai. He has won many medals for his bonsai including some at the Chelsea Flower Show.