Interest in art and antiques has been on the rise for a couple of years as new and seasoned collectors increasingly seek investment quality pieces for their homes. Part of the newfound interest is spurred on by legendary finds such as the $80 million Chinese vase discovery in an English estate last fall.

"Specialists in 'decorator’s pieces' – from vintage pond yachts to Swedish painted sofas – felt the change first," writes Katrina Burroughs of collecting trends in Britain. "The revival has also extended to the traditional antiques trade, embracing English and Continental furniture, 18th and 19th-century paintings and ceramics: the Lapada fair, held in [London's] Berkeley Square, gained 15 per cent more visitors last year."