Luke Honey

I first knew Luke Honey as the London-based blogger behind The Greasy Spoon, an always-interesting food blog that often includes posts on 1960s and 1970s-era cuisine and cookbooks. (As you can imagine, those posts are my very favorite.) However, Luke also recounts recipes and dishes that both he and his wife have prepared in their recently renovated London kitchen, something that might appeal to those of you who prefer to read about current cookery.

What I only learned somewhat recently is that Luke is also a noted antiquarian, whose background includes stints at such auction houses as Phillips, Phillips de Pury & Luxembourg, and Bonhams. Although Luke's specialty is antique chess sets, backgammon boards, and antique games, he recently ventured into other areas of decorative arts and fine art, all of which can be viewed on Luke's new website, Luke Honey.

On the website, you'll find all kinds of interesting things like the aforementioned chess sets, including a mid-19th c. Indian example carved from ivory.  There is also 18th century blue and white china, out-of-print books, vintage bibelots from Asprey, a screenprint by Martin Battersby, and many other treasures. And fortunately for those of us who live in the U.S., Luke ships internationally.

When you get a moment, do check out Luke's website. And be sure, too, to check out the website's blog, which includes recent posts about Phrenologist's busts, David Bowie's yen for chess, and the garden of David Hicks.

As frustrated as I sometimes get with the internet, the beauty of it is that you get to meet all kinds of interesting people, like Luke, who have unique and varied interests.

An Indian ivory chess set, c. 1840, Delhi

Martin Battersby, "Archaic Smile" screenprint

"The Hunt", mounted wooden lithographic figures, c. 1910.

An Asprey & Co. sea urchin match striker