A VISUAL TREAT FOR A FRIDAY AFTERNOON

I popped into my favourite London emporium today and as usual it was full of beautiful design. Amongst the handbags, scarves and rare perfumes were some decoupage pieces which I thought were fabulous. Decoupage is the art of cutting and gluing paper images to surfaces. John Derian, an avid collector of antique fruit, flower and animal prints, hand-paints borders over centuries-old ledgers and letters. He combines all these elements into charmingly eccentric collages, which are reprinted and pieced together in layers under glass accessories. His ever- expanding collection includes plates, platters, paperweights, coasters, lamps, bowls, bell jars, urns and vases. Collectors around the world prize his designs. They have been imported from New York to a dresser in London town.