For years, antique dealer Mike Hicks welcomed visits from a special couple. Here, following the death of Janette Howell, he reflects on their connections with the antique world.
Having been connected in the antique trade for well over four decades now, people often ask how I learnt about antiques and collectables.
It is quite surprising really if you have an aptitude and a love of something, how easy it is to absorb extra knowledge, and hopefully, you can retain that knowledge to be recounted and recalled later.
Although books, videos, programmes and visits can help, a high proportion of what you learn are from collectors themselves.
The people who visit you and ask pertinent questions to which you do not have an answer, but they do, and those people with a specialised knowledge of the items that they collect, have probably studied that subject in greater depth than you will ever do.
So people like that are welcomed into your premises, in order that you might learn something from them.
I remember so well one certain couple who came to all the fairs that were held in the area, both large and small, and occasionally would turn up in your retail premises.
There was no fuss, no fanfare, no pomp and circumstance, they were a very down-to-earth couple, and whilst they did not always buy, that was not the important part. It was what you could gleam from them about something you had been festering about, for maybe a long time.
Produce it, and they invariably had an answer. Most times, in much greater depth of analysis, than you had ever dreamed of.
John and Janette Howell were a breath of fresh-air whenever they visited, and in latter years, with the passing of Mr Howell, I was always pleased to see and visit Mrs Howell.
I never bought anything from them, and I never knowingly sold anything to her, but I gained immeasurable help from just talking to them about the things they specialised in.
They were, in fact, academics, with a far greater depth and breadth of knowledge about items that were made hundreds of years ago, which, whatever the subject, there were certain answers that you were not aware of, but they were.
I am very sorry to learn of the passing of Jan, who had survived her husband for several years but had been unable to get out. It was always a pleasure to visit her.
The trade and other academics are today much worse off without Jan’s presence and ability to help analyse any unfathomed mystery.
The couple belonged to so many different societies connected with art and antiques. For instance, they were members of the Family History Society, the British Button Society, the Festival of Britain Society, the Friends of Norwich Museum, the Wedgewood Society, and the English Ceramic Society to name a few.
Both were always generous with their time and knowledge, and they will both be sadly missed.
I am sure people will realise how much Jan will be missed from all those connected and involved with antiques.
Janette Margaret Howell (b. March 18, 1932) died on May 9, aged 92 years.
Her funeral took place at All Saint's Church in Mendham on June 11 and donations were raised for the church in her memory.
- To pay tribute to a loved one, email norfolkobituaries@newsquest.co.uk
- To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.
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