Eric Knowles

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Knowles (born February 19, 1953 in Nelson (Lancashire) ) is a British antiques expert , art dealer , non-fiction author and television presenter .

life and work

Knowles attended Nelson Secondary Technical School and worked in both engineering and a firm specializing in shipping antiques in the early 1970s. From 1976 he worked in the ceramics department of the London art auction house Bonhams . In 1981 he took over the management of the department. From 1992 he was entrusted with setting up the Bonhams office in Bristol . He returned to London where he headed the decorative arts department. In 2013 he moved to the auction house Dreweatts & Bloomsbury . In 2019 he took over the executive chairmanship of The Hoard (scottishantiques.com).

A wide audience was Knowles as an expert in ceramic items in the television series Antiques Roadshow of the British TV station BBC announced. He has also appeared in TV formats such as Going for a Song , Going, Going, Gone , Noel's House Party , Call My Bluff and 20th Century Roadshow . In 2010 he presented 20 episodes of the Restoration Roadshow series on the BBC. He appeared in the Antiques Master series on BBC Two alongside Sandi Toksvig ; since 2012 also in the television show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is . He was also a guest presenter on the Bargain Hunt series .

Knowles is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the University of Central Lancashire , an honorary doctorate from Southampton Solent University and an ambassador for The Prince's Trust . In 2000 the City of London honored him with the Freedom of the City award . He has lectured at the Victoria and Albert Museum , the British Museum, and other museums in Australia, Canada, the United States, South Africa, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

He has published a number of non-fiction books on art subjects, including:

  • Lalique. Shire Collections. Bloomsbury USA, 2011, ISBN 0-74780-828-7 .
  • With John Bly: English Furniture. Shire Collections. Bloomsbury USA, 2010, ISBN 0-74780-786-8 .
  • Eric Knowles Antiques. A Beginner's Guide with Over 1,400 Illustrations. Mitchell Beazley, 2006, ISBN 1-84533-234-2 .
  • Miller's Art Nouveau & Art Deco Buyer's price guide Miller's, 2001, ISBN 1-84000-375-8 .
  • With Judith Miller , Martin Miller: Art Nouveau. Miller's antiques checklist. Miller's, 2000, ISBN 1-84000-278-6 .
  • Discovering Antiques: A Guide to the World of Antiques and Collectibles. De Agostini Editions, 1996, ISBN 1-89988-370-3 .
  • Miller's Victoriana to Art Deco: A Collector's Guide. Miller's, 1993, ISBN 1-85732-176-6 .
  • With Judith Miller, Martin Miller: Victoriana. Miller's antiques checklist. Mitchell Beazley, 1991, ISBN 0-85533-895-4 .
  • With Judith Miller, Martin Miller: Art Deco. Miller's antiques checklist. Mitchell Beazley, 1991, ISBN 0-85533-888-1 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Knowles, Eric
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British antiques expert, art dealer, non-fiction author and television presenter
DATE OF BIRTH 19th February 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Nelson (Lancashire) , United Kingdom