Geoffrey Munn
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Munn is a British jewellery specialist and writer. He is best known as one of the experts on the BBC
's Antiques Roadshow
however his first television appearance was in the early 1960s when he, and his brother, Roger Munn, featured with their pet fox cubs on Johnny Morris
's Animal Magic. Now Geoffrey is the managing director of London
jewellers, Wartski
where he has worked since the age of 19; his specialisation is 19th-century precious metalwork and Fabergé
. Geoffrey Munn has a keen interest in every aspect of history and has appeared in several television sequences of "mudlarking" in the Thames at Westminster
. Munn is fascinated by both literature and art and has written a pictorial history of his home town entitled Southwold
, an Earthly Paradise, (Antique Collectors' Club 2006).
Munn has curated many exhibitions, including Tiara
s at the Victoria and Albert Museum
in 2002. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
and a Liveryman of both the Worshipful Companies of Goldsmiths
and Painter-Stainers
. Geoffrey is also a member of the Garrick Club
, The Arts Club and the Sailor's Reading Room, Southwold.
Munn is the author of several books about jewellery including Castellani
and Giuliano: revivalist jewellers of the nineteenth century (Office du Livre 1984), Artist's Jewellery; Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts with Charlotte Gere (Antique Collectors' Club 1989), The Triumph of Love: jewellery 1530-1930 (Thames and Hudson 1993), Tiaras: a history of splendour (Antique Collectors' Club, 2003).
In 2007 Munn played himself in Joe's Palace
a film by Stephen Poliakoff
. Munn is an Ambassador for the Samaritans and patron of the Lowestoft
Branch; he ran the Flora London Marathon for the charity in 2009 raising £80,000 in sponsorship. Munn is also patron of Waveney Hospice Care and Sotterley
Chapel Preservation Trust. He lives in London and Reydon
with his wife Caroline. They have two sons.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
however his first television appearance was in the early 1960s when he, and his brother, Roger Munn, featured with their pet fox cubs on Johnny Morris
Johnny Morris
Ernest John "Johnny" Morris OBE ) was a Welsh television presenter. He is best known for narrating the imported, Canadian-produced Tales of the Riverbank series of stories about Hammy the Hamster, Roderick the Rat, GP the Guinea Pig, and their assorted animal friends along a riverbank and...
's Animal Magic. Now Geoffrey is the managing director of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
jewellers, Wartski
Wartski
Wartski is a family-owned firm of antique dealers specialising in Russian works of art; particularly those by Carl Fabergé, fine jewellery and silver. Founded in North Wales in 1865 the business is now located at 14 Grafton Street in Mayfair, London. The company holds royal appointments as...
where he has worked since the age of 19; his specialisation is 19th-century precious metalwork and Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
. Geoffrey Munn has a keen interest in every aspect of history and has appeared in several television sequences of "mudlarking" in the Thames at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. Munn is fascinated by both literature and art and has written a pictorial history of his home town entitled Southwold
Southwold
Southwold is a town on the North Sea coast, in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the North Sea coast at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is around south of Lowestoft and north-east...
, an Earthly Paradise, (Antique Collectors' Club 2006).
Munn has curated many exhibitions, including Tiara
Tiara
A tiara is a form of crown. There are two possible types of crown that this word can refer to.Traditionally, the word "tiara" refers to a high crown, often with the shape of a cylinder narrowed at its top, made of fabric or leather, and richly ornamented. It was used by the kings and emperors of...
s at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in 2002. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and a Liveryman of both the Worshipful Companies of Goldsmiths
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company, which has origins in the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327. It ranks fifth in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice...
and Painter-Stainers
Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. An organisation of stainers, or painters of metals and wood, is known to have existed as early as 1268. A similar organisation of painters, who generally worked on cloth, existed as early as 1283...
. Geoffrey is also a member of the Garrick Club
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:The Garrick Club was founded at a meeting in the Committee Room at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Wednesday 17 August 1831...
, The Arts Club and the Sailor's Reading Room, Southwold.
Munn is the author of several books about jewellery including Castellani
Castellani
Castellani is a surname of Italian origin meaning 'castellan.' The name refers to:*Aldo Castellani , Italian pathologist and bacteriologist*Castellani , Italian wine company based in Pontedera, Tuscany...
and Giuliano: revivalist jewellers of the nineteenth century (Office du Livre 1984), Artist's Jewellery; Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts with Charlotte Gere (Antique Collectors' Club 1989), The Triumph of Love: jewellery 1530-1930 (Thames and Hudson 1993), Tiaras: a history of splendour (Antique Collectors' Club, 2003).
In 2007 Munn played himself in Joe's Palace
Joe's Palace
Joe's Palace is a BBC television drama, and written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. It was first aired on BBC One on 4 November 2007...
a film by Stephen Poliakoff
Stephen Poliakoff
Stephen Poliakoff, CBE, FRSL is an acclaimed British playwright, director and scriptwriter, widely judged amongst Britain's foremost television dramatists.-Early life and career:...
. Munn is an Ambassador for the Samaritans and patron of the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
Branch; he ran the Flora London Marathon for the charity in 2009 raising £80,000 in sponsorship. Munn is also patron of Waveney Hospice Care and Sotterley
Sotterley
Sotterley, originally Southern-lea from its situation south of the river, is a parish in the English county of Suffolk, located approximately south-east of Beccles and east of Willingham St Mary and Shadingfield. The parish is primarily agricultural with a dispersed population of 110...
Chapel Preservation Trust. He lives in London and Reydon
Reydon
Reydon is a village and civil parish, north-west from Southwold and south east of Wangford in Waveney District and the ceremonial county of Suffolk in England. It has a population of 2,567....
with his wife Caroline. They have two sons.