| ERIC KNOWLES - ANTIQUARIAN | ||||||||
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Good things come to those who wait, or so they say, and I have to admit that life somehow tastes just that little bit sweeter now that we have won back the Ashes.
However, something tells me that the wait for the captain of Burnley Football Club holding aloft the FA Cup might be even longer - still an auctioneer can dream.
So it's goodbye summer and hello autumn which in turn means lots happening on the fine art auction scene especially at the office in New Bond Street and which I will be reporting upon in the run up to Christmas - I can't believe that I'm thinking of Christmas when we haven't even put the clocks back.
Meanwhile I might as well reflect upon the last four weeks that began after the Knowles clan returned from a one week get away from it all in Tobago. Regrettably I'm now unable to get away from the reggae music blaring from the oversize speakers situated in my eldest teenage son's bedroom. Nice place Tobago, just a pity that once again the entire family shared the common trait of being mosquito magnets.
Back in Blighty it was a case of back on the road with several Moorcroft Collectors' Club events dominating the diary.
The first was an inaugural get together for the recently formed Gold Club members which took place at Cranage Hall in Cheshire. Totalling 164 members, the club was set up to allow those with a real passion for Moorcroft pottery to get that little bit closer to their Holy Grail.
Speaking of which I am now possibly the last person in the country to have read The Da Vinci Code which I have to admit is a great page turner - soon to be out as a film starring Tom Hanks who, to the best of my knowledge, has never made a dud film - no response from film buffs please.
Other Moorcroft events have entailed making the treck to top retailers such as Sinclairs of Inverurie and their amazing newly-opened state of the art store up there in Aberdeenshire and James Macintyre, situated in Leeds' breathtaking County Arcade - a beautifully restored Victorian indoor shopping mall.
Nearer to home my visit to Talents of Windsor included meeting no shortage of would be property collectors who find it difficult to resist the splendid minature pottery shopfronts and buildings of architectural merit produced by Hazel Ceramics who, incidentally, was there to celebrate its 15th anniversary.
Hidden behind Windsor's Guildhall (where Charles and Camilla tied the knot), Talents is an Aladdin's cave that stocks what might aptly be described as 'Blue Chip' collectables of desire and over the past couple of years has been under the dynamic ownership of Ricky and Sue Ghai.
Antiques Roadshow locations this past month have been limited to Ventnor down there in the Isle of Wight and a venue that qualified as being cosy to some and claustrophobic to others. The islanders proved themselves to be the real find of the day - maybe it's the combination of sea air and their relaxed approach to life that made all who came along such a friendly bunch of folk.
I always enjoy a visit to East Anglia and Bonhams obliged by asking me to take part in an evening reception at the Athaneum in Bury St Edmunds held in collaboration with financial and pension expert Grant Thornton. It was followed the next day by a good old fashioned valuation day that saw everyone who came along with their potential treasure dash off to the nearest travel agents and actually 'cancel' the world cruise.
Middlesbrough to the best of my knowledge rarely plays host to cruise ships but the theatre knows how to host a top Jazz band in the guise of the Charleston Chasers. This I know to be true, as yours truly acted as their 'guest' presenter - other 'guests' include such stalwart luminaries as David Jacobs and Angela (can you ever forget those legs) Rippon.
The 10-piece ensemble are top musicians who delight in merging their undisputed talents to produce an incredibly authentic 1920s and 1930s sound that could aptly be described as Art Deconisation for your ears. But don't just take my word for it check them out yourselves, to find out where you can do just that or perhaps treat yourself to one of their CDs check out their website on http://www.charlestonchasers.com/ Meanwhile it might be prudent to dust off your shimmy and brush up on your 'Black Bottom'... Till next month.
Images:
1. Hazel Boyles of Hazel Ceramics on the sunny side of her street.
2. Sinclairs' shop window proving that I'm a big favourite in Invenurie - if only for one day.
3. Ricky and Sally Ghai outside their Talents of Windsor gallery - service with a smile.
4. The fabulous Charleston Chasers - Art Deconisation for your ears!
Originally published in Collect it!