Ellie Tennant
Ellie Tennant is a freelance journalist, stylist and author, who has regularly contributed in-depth features to H&A for over a decade on a plethora of fascinating subjects, from majolica to ships in bottles. Today, she lives in South Oxfordshire with her husband and their three young children. When she’s not writing, she grows flowers and vegetables on her allotment, escapes to Pembrokeshire whenever she can and spends as much time as possible enjoying the natural world.
Recent articles by Ellie Tennant
Vinyl revival: LPs are thriving, why now is the time to invest
Highly collectable with a rich history and unparalleled sound quality, vintage vinyl is not just surviving, but actually thriving in our digital age
Collecting antique and vintage breadboards
From plump wheat borders to lofty mottos, we uncover a fascinating slice of British history
Meet the treasure seekers scouring river foreshores, beaches and fields for the history beneath their feet
We talk to the amateur detectives who revel in the hunt for long-forgotten objects
Discover the quirky and cheerful pottery with European roots, beloved by Americans
Under-celebrated and misunderstood, this appealing speckled pottery, which was once mass-produced, is surprisingly elusive today
A striking flat in a Georgian Bristol townhouse
This striking flat in Bristol has gone from beige and boring to dark and daring, thanks to the bold approach of homeowners Cassandra and Edward Nicholas
Antiques experts share their favourite places to visit
From sun-soaked Sicily to an Oxfordshire reclamation yard, six antiques aficionados tell Ellie Tennant about the places they love to visit…
The joy of vintage and antique cocktail rings
More is more when it comes to eye-catching cocktail rings, so jazz up your jewellery collection this party season with some vintage bling
A collectors Christmas: Janice Issitt's 1980s home
The eclectic interior of this 1980s house is constantly evolving thanks to artistic homeowner Janice Issitt’s passion for collecting antiques and her eye for new paint palettes. Photographs: Jan Baldwin.
What is a marriage chest?
Inspired by ornate church interiors and embroidered textiles, the beautiful marriage chests of central and eastern Europe marry folk art with skilled craftsmanship
Collecting vintage fountain pens
We live in a digital world, yet vintage pen collecting has never been so fashionable. Discover how to start your collection today
What does it mean when art is 'accepted in lieu'?
Step behind the scenes of the art world and discover the secret process that secures art for generations to come
Antique military medals: most valuable, why you should collect and how to spot a fake
From car boot bounty to harrowing war experiences, the realm of antique military medal collecting is all about uncovering the stories behind them
Welsh love spoons: their history, meaning and how to make and collect them
Ellie Tennant explores the history of Welsh love spoons (‘Llwyau cariad’) and discovers romantic symbols, incredible craftsmanship and also high prices…
Antiques experts share their favourite museum collections
If you had to choose your favourite public collection, what would it be and why? When Ellie Tennant put this question to 10 interiors and antiques experts, she unearthed a world of inspiration...
A history of Mouseman furniture and where to buy
Unearth the history of these classic wooden furniture designs, famous for the little signature mouse carved into every piece...
Barnaba Fornasetti’s elegant Milan townhouse
Barnaba Fornasetti’s elegant Milan townhouse is an iconic installation, a carefully curated shrine to the Fornasetti aesthetic. But it’s also a personal home filled with memories and antiques. Photographs Maxime Galati / Fourcade & Laura Fantacuzzi /
Living Inside
A history of antique spongeware
Explore the charming history of sponge printing as Ellie Tennant dips into a thoroughly British pottery technique. Photographs Rachel Whiting
Collecting ships in bottles
Intricately carved and ingeniously engineered, antique ships in bottles have a fascinating heritage and are true miniature masterpieces that are still making waves among enthusiasts
The history of antique terracotta
From classical sculptures to patio pots and cutting-edge, contemporary lighting, Ellie Tennant explores the rich history of this enduring and versatile material. Photographs Katya De Grunwald. Styling Ali Attenborough
Collecting antique and vintage vases
From sleek mid-century glass designs to dainty oriental porcelain, Ellie Tennant reflects on antique and vintage vases, finding there’s a style to suit every budget, taste and space. Photographs Katya De Grunwald. Styling Selina Lake
11 collectors share their favourite antiques
When does a hobby turn into an obsession? From jelly moulds and porcelain to taxidermy, garden tools and typewriters, we meet eleven passionate collectors who are addicted to amassing antiques. Feature Ellie Tennant & Alice Robertson
Collecting vintage and antique books
From Zoom meeting backgrounds to hotel interiors and ‘instant’ home libraries, vintage and antique books are having a moment, discovers Ellie Tennant, and the market for collecting has never been better
Collecting antique dummy boards
The mysterious 17th-century trend for flat painted ‘dummy boards’ continues to intrigue and delight today
Antique napkin rings: how to collect and where to buy
From souvenirs and gifts to inherited treasures and class indicators, antique napkin rings are highly sought after. Here, Ellie Tennant explains how you can build a collection...