‘no pressure, no diamonds’

Amazing answers to your curious questions

Whether it is adding contemporary paintings to a gallery of Old Masters or branching out into territories as diverse as Modernist chairs, Iranian tiles or Churchill memorabilia, the passion for collecting seems to run in some families, as Eleanor Doughty discovers

OF course, Edwina imagined seeing him everywhere. It was only natural in the circumstances, she supposed, but surely that was just wishful thinking? After all, it simply couldn’t really be Laurence. S

Over the centuries, the brooch, invented to fasten garments, has become a glittering gem, a coded communication–an art mastered by Elizabeth II– and a way to express personality. Mary Miers traces the history of a jewel that is back in style

Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight

Starting a new collection can be daunting. Art advisor Patrick Monahan shares his top tips on what and how to buy and what to avoid