Exciting events for Christchurch collectors

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 16

Exciting events for Christchurch collectors

Collecting with

Myrtle Duff

A function of interest to all collectors will be held on Monday, April 28, in the Student Union Building, in Ham Road. It has been organised by the Ladies* Auxiliary of the Laura Ferguson Trust for Disabled People, and is primarily to raise funds for that organisation. The entrance fee is $l5, and the evening will certainly be worth that. Displays of collectable antiques will be arranged by local dealers, and

there are to be lectures by experts in three very popular fields of collecting — Brandon Bell will speak about furniture, Peter Morrison, on antique jewellery, and Dr Denis Dutton will advise us about paintings, with special emphasis on how to detect fakes. It will be a good idea to bring a notebook. Wine and sandwiches will be served. This will certainly be an evening no collector

should miss — a wonderful chance to enjoy ourselves, increase our knowledge and at the same time help a very deserving cause. Tickets are available from the Laura Ferguson Home; from Aynsley Denton (telephone 583-711) or from any other committee member. • ♦ ♦

The supply of antiques available locally is constantly being supple-

mented by enterprising dealers who import container loads from abroad. Recently I was delighted to accept an invitation to be present at the unpacking of a consignment that had just arrived from Britain. It was even more exciting than I had imagined, and became more so as the larger items were uncovered to reveal masses of smaller treasures carefully stacked away inside.

As the paper mounted on the floor, the store became more and more like Aladdin’s cave. I found myself rushing about from porcelain to Sheffield plate, from three-legged stool to mahogany sideboard like a child on Christmas morning. These goodies had not. been brought by Santa Claus. They had all been gathered up by Cliff Ballard, of Village By-gones since he left here some

months ago for a lengthy stay in his native Wales. The furniture and larger items will be available for sale on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week at 56 Lismore Street, just behind Lancaster Park, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Porcelain, glass, and other smaller things will eventually join other stock in the Papanui Road shop. Everything in this collection has been obtained in Wales and many pieces will have a special nostalgic appeal for expatriates, and New Zealanders of Welsh descent. There is a large Bible printed in the Welsh language, a bowl of a type commonly used in Wales for breakmaking, and various chairs and other furniture probably not unique to that country but certainly commonly used in the large kitchens which were the hub of family life there in earlier days. The Victorian era seemed to come alive briefly as we admired and handled things, common in many households then, now treasures eagerly competed for: large dishes, bowls and vases in real Japanese Imafi ware; blue and white bedroom sets; a Spelter figure of a lady, brass lamp brackets; gas and oil lamps, a pair of the lovliest pink Victorian glass vases I have ever seen, and another in fine ruby glass.

The tiny, three-legged sycamore stool had instant appeal, as did the variety of country-style chairs, especially the slatted, wooden “Granny” armchairs. At the other end of the scale was a magnificent Biedemeier sideboard in burr walnut. There were many fine pieces for those who love pine furniture, even a fireside coal scuttle. A large, beautifully-made farmhouse table also took my eye, though I am not sure I would like to cater for the number who could sit around it. There were many small pottery containers. Some were obviously ink bottles, others probably contained jams or pickles, and one enormously beautiful whisky jar with the title Bellamy, Aber.gevenny. Another large pottery pitcher would be of interest to collectors of old bottles and pots. An 1840 rifle with highly polished wood, silver, and gold of the highest craftsmanship was beautiful enough to appeal to anyone, and must certainly bring a gleam to the eye of any collector of antique firearms. We have had quite a spate of sales, shows, and fairs lately, but it is. hard ‘to dampen the enthusiasm of collectors. There will be much to interest many people at the Lismore Street warehouse sale.