TIM WONNACOTT
Tim Wonnacott is a chartered auctioneer, chartered surveyor, antiques expert, broadcaster and television presenter, best known to millions of viewers as the former host of BBC One’s Bargain Hunt and as the familiar voice of Antiques Road Trip and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
Born and brought up in Devon, Tim followed in the footsteps of his father, auctioneer Major Raymond Wonnacott. After qualifying as a chartered auctioneer and surveyor, he undertook postgraduate study in fine and decorative arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Tim joined Sotheby’s in 1978 and spent 25 years with the internationally renowned auction house, becoming a full Director in 1985 and later Chairman of Sotheby’s South. In 2003, he left Sotheby’s to concentrate on his broadcasting career and established Tim Wonnacott & Associates, providing independent advice to buyers and sellers of antiques.
That same year he became presenter of Bargain Hunt, going on to host more than 350 editions of the programme. His many other television appearances have included Antiques Roadshow, Restoration, The Divine Michelangelo, Going for a Song, Royal Upstairs Downstairs and Strictly Come Dancing.
A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Tim has also used his auctioneering expertise to help raise money for numerous charities through high-profile public auctions.
Cartier
Few names in jewellery carry the glamour and mystique of Cartier. From the iconic Tank watch, Love bracelet and Trinity ring to spectacular tiaras, diamonds and the unmistakable Panthère, Cartier has created some of the most recognisable and coveted jewels of the past two centuries.
Published to accompany the V&A’s landmark Cartier exhibition, this sumptuous book explores how a Parisian family jeweller became one of the world’s most celebrated design houses. Featuring more than 150 extraordinary pieces drawn from the V&A, the Royal Collection, Cartier’s own Collection and important private collections, it traces the Maison’s remarkable history of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation. Along the way are jewels associated with royalty and some of the most glamorous figures of their age, including Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. Beautifully illustrated and rich in history, Cartier reveals the stories, personalities and extraordinary artistry behind the house King Edward VII famously described as the “Jeweller of Kings and King of Jewellers.”
