Henry George Sandon, MBE (10 August 1928 – 25 December 2023) was an English antiques expert, television personality, author and lecturer who specialised in ceramics and was a notable authority on Royal Worcester porcelain. He was the curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum for many years.
Henry Sandon | |
|---|---|
 Sandon in 2010 | |
| Born | Henry George Sandon 10 August 1928 London, England |
| Died | 25 December 2023 (aged 95) Malvern, England |
| Education | Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Authority on Royal Worcester porcelain |
| Television | Antiques Roadshow |
| Spouse |
Barbara Starkey
(m. 1956; died 2013) |
| Children | 3, including John Sandon |
Early life
Born on 10 August 1928 in the East End of London,[1] Sandon was evacuated to Buckinghamshire during the Second World War[2] and finished his schooling at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe.[3] He then studied at the Guildhall School of Music and became a singer and music teacher at the Royal Grammar School Worcester and a lay clerk in the Worcester Cathedral Choir.[2]
Career
He began his career as an archaeologist and became interested in the history of ceramics after discovering Roman pots in his garden in Worcester.[2] During the 1950s, he collected ceramic art from buildings in Worcester that were being demolished.[2] He was appointed curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester factory in 1966 and held that position until 1982.[2] He was described as "the world's leading authority on Worcester porcelain."[1]
Sandon joined BBC One's Antiques Roadshow for its second series in 1979 and made many appearances on the programme across 40 years.[4][1][2] One of his projects was an excavation at the Royal Worcester factory site.[2] He was also a former curator of the Gardiner Museum in Toronto.[2]
Personal life and death
Sandon was married to Barbara for 56 years, before her death in 2013.[1] They had three sons together, including John Sandon, also a well-known antiques expert and television personality.[5]
Henry Sandon died at a care home in Malvern, Worcestershire on 25 December 2023, at the age of 95.[6] Following his death, the Museum of Royal Worcester wrote "It is with great sadness we share the news that Henry Sandon passed away on Christmas morning. Our curator and then patron of the Museum for many years, a much-loved expert who shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for pots and Worcester in person, in books & on tv. Sorely missed."[4]
Honours
In 2000, he was voted Antiques Personality of the Year by the readers of BBC's Homes & Antiques magazine.[7] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to broadcasting, the ceramics industry, and to charity.[8]
The Henry Sandon Hall at the Royal Porcelain works in Worcester is named in his honour.[3] He opened the centre for the arts in 2018.[9]
Selected publications
- The Illustrated Guide to Worcester Porcelain 1751 – 1793. New York: Praeger Publishing. 1969. ASIN B001SQB338.
- Royal Worcester Porcelain 1862 to the Present Day (2nd ed.). London/ New York: Barrie & Jenkins / Clarkson N. Potter. 1975 [1973]. ISBN 978-0214201066.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Obituaries, Telegraph (26 December 2023). "Henry Sandon, Antiques Roadshow expert and leading authority on Worcester porcelain – obituary". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Malcolm, Fiona (2005). Battie, David (ed.). The Antiques Roadshow. Mitchell Beazley. pp. 51–52, 94. ISBN 1-84533-060-9.
- ^ a b "Our Spaces". Royal Porcelain Works. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ a b Pidd, Helen (26 December 2023). "Antiques Roadshow pottery expert Henry Sandon dies at 95". The Guardian.
- ^ "Antiques expert Henry loses his beloved wife". Worcester News. 9 February 2013.
- ^ Madden, Sophie (26 December 2023). "Antiques Roadshow's Henry Sandon dies aged 95". BBC News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Antiques Roadshow UK: Appraisers: Sandon, H". PBS. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
- ^ "BBC One – Antiques Roadshow – Henry Sandon". BBC.
- ^ "VIDEO: Watch Worcester Porcelain expert Henry Sandon officially open the Royal Porcelain Works". Worcester News. 30 June 2018.
External links
- Henry Sandon at David Foster Management
- Henry Sandon's Memories of VE Day, Antiques Roadshow website
- Henry Sandon at IMDb
- Henry Sandon discography at Discogs
- Obituary at The Times (subscription required)