Adventures of a Collector
by Lord McAlpine (9781865087863)

An inveterate collector all his life, Alistair there is no-one better qualified than Alistair McAlpine to discuss the highs and lows of the collector's life. In this sparkling collection of personal anecdotes, McAlpine invites the reader to join in the wheeling and dealing of the shop and the sale-room, as well as offering a humorous insight into the minds of collectors and dealers. Here are the obsessive cravings, the squirreling instinct, the gullibility born of pride or greed and for every bargain a disaster. We learn about the fakes that have hoodwinked the experts, tricky questions of provenance and the beautiful pieces that can be found in the most unexpected places.Since starting his own remarkable collection, Alistair McAlpine has travelled the world 'collecting' countries. Adventures of a Collectoris an eclectic catalogue of the places and peoples that have thrilled him, from Ayers Rock to Euro-Disney. Join McAlpine on his travels and marvel at the weird and wonderful objects, including ostrich-skin cowboy boots in LA, a Dadaist urinal in Venice, a six-foot budgie in Bangkok.Alistair McAlpine has been actively involved in the arts for many years and has contributed to the Spectator, the Mail on Sunday and many other national papers. A regular visitor to Australia, his previous books include Once a Jolly Bagmanand Bagman to Swagman.

USD $29.22

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