Stories from the Red Baron floor

Collector’s Guides

Practical guides to buying, measuring, moving and caring for antiques, from the Red Baron Antiques showroom.

How to Buy an Antique Back Bar: Measuring, Planning and Bringing It Home

Collector’s GuidesHow to Buy an Antique Back Bar: Measuring, Planning and Bringing It HomeHow to buy an antique back bar: measure wall, ceiling, depth and every doorway, know how it breaks into sections, and check mirrors, wood and finish.Read the story

Reverse-on-Glass Pub Mirrors: A Collector’s Guide to English Brewery Mirrors

Collector’s GuidesReverse-on-Glass Pub Mirrors: A Collector’s Guide to English Brewery MirrorsA reverse-on-glass pub mirror is a brewery advert painted on the back of a mirror. How they were made, Meux and Aitken’s history, care and our four.Read the story

Wine Cellar Antiques: A Champagne Riddling Rack, Saint-Émilion Barrel Ends and Cigar Cutters

Collector’s GuidesWine Cellar Antiques: A Champagne Riddling Rack, Saint-Émilion Barrel Ends and Cigar CuttersA champagne riddling rack holds bottles neck-down for remuage. How riddling works, Saint-Émilion barrel ends, cigar cutters and wine-room ideas.Read the story

English Sporting Stained Glass: Golfers at St Andrews and Anglers on the Thames

Collector’s GuidesEnglish Sporting Stained Glass: Golfers at St Andrews and Anglers on the ThamesEnglish sporting stained glass: a St Andrews golfers window, c. 1880, and angling windows, with how leaded glass is made, displayed and cared for.Read the story

Choosing a Tiered Garden Fountain: Belgian, Antwerp and Rose Marble

Collector’s GuidesChoosing a Tiered Garden Fountain: Belgian, Antwerp and Rose MarbleHow to choose a tiered garden fountain: cast stone vs marble, height and scale, pump and GFCI power, and winterizing, with Belgian and marble fountains.Read the story

The 1947 English Ford E83W: A Restored Vending Truck With British Roots

Collector’s GuidesThe 1947 English Ford E83W: A Restored Vending Truck With British RootsThe Ford E83W was Ford of Britain’s 10 cwt light van, built at Dagenham 1938–1957 with a 1,172 cc side-valve engine. Specs, history and our 1947 truck.Read the story

Collecting Vintage Coca-Cola Machines: Cavalier and Mills

Collector’s GuidesCollecting Vintage Coca-Cola Machines: Cavalier and MillsCavalier of Chattanooga and Mills of Chicago built classic Coca-Cola machines. Their history, the nickel Coke and what collectors check before buying.Read the story

Louis Icart’s “La Dame aux Camélias”: An Art Deco Etching With a Story

Collector’s GuidesLouis Icart’s “La Dame aux Camélias”: An Art Deco Etching With a StoryLouis Icart’s “La Dame aux Camélias” is a 1927 Art Deco etching. Its story, technique, how to spot reproductions and how to frame it.Read the story