Eric Knowles
Eric Knowles FRSA (born 19 February 1953 in Nelson, Lancashire, England)[1] is a British antiquarian and television personality, whose main interests are in ceramics and glass.
Eric Knowles | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 February 1953 Nelson, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Antiquarian Television personality |
| Television |
|
| Website | ericknowles |
Early life
Knowles joined the London auction house Bonhams as a porter in the ceramics department in 1976 and became head of the department in 1981.[2] By 1992 he had set up Bonham's offices in Bristol. He returned to London to continue with directing the Decorative Arts Department.[3] He opened a "decorative art and design emporium" in the Corn Exchange in The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells in July 2021.[4]
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,[5] 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).[6] 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.[7] After Tim Wonnacott left Bargain Hunt, Knowles became one of a number of 'guest presenters' hosting the show. He also appeared in the series Clash of the Collectables, which he co-hosted with Alan Carter.
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.
Knowles 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.
His son Seb was killed in a road accident in May 2015.[8]
References
- ^ "Biography" 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Manchester Television Personalities
- ^ a b "Eric Knowles: Fine Art & Antiques Auctioneer & Expert". Dfmanagement.tv. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ^ "Eric Knowles - antiques expert, celebrity and after dinner speaker". Nyt.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ^ "Decorative art and design emporium opening in Corn Exchange in Tunbridge Wells". In Your Area. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Noel's House Party clip on YouTube
- ^ Radio Times; August 23–29
- ^ "BBC One - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ^ Andrew Colley (13 May 2015). "Seb Knowles, son of Eric Knowles, died after a car crash on the motorway". Bucks Free Press.
External links
- Scottishantiques.com