Eric Knowles

Eric Knowles (born 19 February 1953 in Nelson, Lancashire, England)[1] is a British antiques expert and television personality, whose main interest is in ceramics and glass.

For the Australian cricketer, see Eric Knowles (cricketer).
Eric Knowles

FRSA
Born (1953-02-19) 19 February 1953
Nelson, Lancashire, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationAntique ceramics expert
Television personality
Television
Websiteericknowles.co.uk scottishantiques.com

Early life

Knowles joined the London auction house Bonhams auctioneers as a porter in the ceramics department in 1976 and became head of the department in 1981.[2] By 1992 he was given responsibility for setting up Bonham's offices in Bristol. He returned to London to continue with directing the Decorative Arts Department, leaving in 2013 to join Dreweatts and Bloomsbury. In 2019 he joined The Hoard (scottishantiques.com) as executive chairman and will be opening a gallery The Hoard on The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells in early 2020. [3]

Television career

He first earned fame as a ceramics expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. He has also appeared in such programmes as, Going for a Song, Going, Going, Gone, Noel's House Party,[4] Call My Bluff and 20th Century Roadshow. He has presented the 20 episodes of Restoration Roadshow on BBC for several weeks in the summer of 2010 (ending 3 September).[5] He is the challenger setter and adjudicator on BBC Two's Antiques Master assisting host Sandi Toksvig. As of 2012, he is on the UK TV show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.[6] After Tim Wonnacott left Bargain Hunt, Knowles became one of a number of 'guest presenters' hosting the show.

Personal life

Knowles is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust. Knowles is associated with several other charities including Headway, FABLE (For a better life with epilepsy), the New Mozart Orchestra and Wycombe Scanappeal.[2] He has lectured at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, and important national museums in Australia, Canada, the US, South Africa, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and had the Freedom of the City of London bestowed in 2000.

He is a published author on subjects such as Victoriana, Royal memorabilia, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and René Lalique.

On 3 May 2015, it was reported that his son Seb was killed in a road accident.[7]

References
  1. "Biography" Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Manchester Television Personalities
  2. "Eric Knowles: Fine Art & Antiques Auctioneer & Expert". Dfmanagement.tv. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  3. "Eric Knowles - antiques expert, celebrity and after dinner speaker". Nyt.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  4. Noel's House Party clip on YouTube
  5. Radio Times; August 23–29
  6. "BBC One - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is". Bbc.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  7. Andrew Colley (13 May 2015). "Seb Knowles, son of Eric Knowles, died after a car crash on the motorway". Bucks Free Press.


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