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Monday 1 July 2013

Masterpiece Art Antiques Design



On Wednesday of last week I spent the day in London to attend a LAPADA board meeting and afterwards paid a visit to the Masterpiece Art Antiques Design fair in Chelsea, it was the preview day and I was lucky enough to be given a ticket so went along with fellow board member Costas Kleanthos who deals in fine watches and jewellery. On arrival the first thing to be seen is a fabulous custom built pavilion designed to look on the outside like a Chelsea Terrace of houses and a brilliantly fitted out interior with exhibition stands and famous restaurants, bistros and bars such as, The Ivy, Scotts, La Caprice and the Mount Street Deli. The fair runs until the 3rd of July.

http://www.masterpiecefair.com/media/masterpiecemedia/galleries2012/gallery1/images/1.jpg
The Masterpiece Pavilion and yes, this is just a temporary construction.....
The fair is described as, 'Masterpiece London brings together collectors, exhibitors and curators from around the world for an unparallelled show of fine art, antiques and design. Set in the spectacular South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea' and it certainly does live up to its billing. The antiques are the best to be found in the UK with marvellous imaginative stands showing the most fabulous and  unique items. This is of course reflected in the prices but if you want the best you have to be able to pay for the best.
Mary Tudor Pearl, 64.5 carat.

One of the most wonderful items on display is the Mary Tudor Pearl which can be seen on the Symbolic & Chase stand. The pearl first appeared in the collection of Empress Isabella of Portugal in 1526, the Empress died in 1539 and passed the pearl to her daughter Juana of Austria who had a short marriage to Prince John of Portugal, Juana went back to Spain to resume the regency of her brother Philip II. Mary Tudor took possession and named the pearl when she received it as part of her dowry from Phillip II.

Rolleston Ltd of Kensington London
The fair is varied in its displays - from traditional antiques to commissioned pieces from the likes of  Lindley bespoke furniture. The wonderful display above of fine early 18th century walnut furniture and Regency furniture could be found on the stand of Rolleston London.
Anthony Outred
The Anthony Outred stand above with a mixture of a large contemporary dining table with the top made out of a single piece of the tree and a swept base to Dutch master paintings and metal insects.
 If your love is mechanical and you are having a mid life crises here we have just what your heart desires - a classic Harley Davidson supplied by Show Speed & Custom or if you taste is a little more refined and you want the 60's look, a beautifully fully restored E-Type Jaguar, supplied by Eagle E-Types of Tunbridge wells

Graham

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.
collection of the Empress Isabella of Portugal

Sunday 23 June 2013

Inspector George Gently

Sorry for the delay in reporting back on the antiques we rented out to the Inspector George Gently filming crew in order for them to be included in filming that was taking place in Durham a week or so ago. I had asked if we could please have some photographs of the set with our pieces we had provided in place so we could show you all how it looked and the photos were kindly emailed to me by the production company and arrived yesterday. BUT and it's a big but - we have been advised that we cannot use the photographs until the programme is released for viewing in the autumn, shame!!

Initially we rented out about 10-12 items that were to be used in a study.
Open bookcase and books used on the set

A desk, open bookshelves, lamp stand, lighting and assorted chairs and a settee where all loaded onto the van together with an early 20th century carpet to enhance the look.  So off went the van went early one morning to the centre of Durham City to be delivered to the property being used for the filming
Victorian oak pedestal desk

The next morning we had an urgent call to ask if they could come back to the show rooms and pick a few more items that were needed to finish of the set. A large Masons ironstone vase complete with the lilys that were displayed within - particularly handy as those flowers had oblingingly opened up just on que on the right day!  An extra Chinese plant stand was also chosen
Early Masons Ironstone vase

No sooner was the pair of antique Sunderland glass inkwells or candle holders that appeared in the set returned into stock, than they were instantly sold - sometimes timing is everything!
Sunderland glass inkwells

Graham




  Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.










Tuesday 11 June 2013

Antiques for Film Hire and star of Stage


 The Cradle used in the film Anna Karenina
Over the years I have been approached on several occasions about the possibility of renting out  antiques to use as film, television, stage or advertising props and on most occasions have agreed to hire out selected items.  In the past I have rented out a childs rocking crib for the remake of the film about Anna Karenina staring Keira Knightley. A Georgian desk for the detective television programme Vera, based in Northumberland and staring Brenda Blethyn as the female detective Vera Stanhope.


18th century Georgian partners desk used in "Vera"

At the end of last year I sold a ladder to use in the stage play that is presently showing in the West End of London, "Peter and Alice" , for the Library scene staring Dame Judy Dench and Ben Wishaw - it can be seen in the photo below as it appears on the stage. 
Spot the "Ladder", a supporting role !!!!

  
The most recent television programme for which I have rented antiques out is  Inspector George Gently that is being filmed in Durham and Newcastle staring  Martin Shaw. The scene they have hired furniture and lights for is a study - about eleven assorted pieces suitable for a library have been taken to help give the setting a truly authentic look. Three members of the film production crew came along with a plan of the  house and decided on the look they wanted and which pieces would be suitable for the set. We then agreed how long the pieces would be away for and when they would need to be delivered to Durham and returned. It's a good arrangement all round - they can borrow period pieces to give the scene the particular look they require, I get some rental income and at the end of the week I still have the items to sell again and with added "Provenience" to boot!
Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby in Inspector George Gently
Martin Shaw (Inspector George Gently) and Lee Ingleby (Bacchus)

 I will report in the next Blog which items we rented out and how it all went.

Graham

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.


 






Monday 3 June 2013

Japanese "Hikeshi" , fire fighters.

I have just changed the description of a Japanese porcelain vase that has been on the web site for a while because, after some research, I found out the vase was of greater interest than I had first believed. Initially I thought it depicted a scene of two groups of Samurai warriors wearing their armour and holding a ladder up in order to provide a look out to see into the distance when in fact it shows Japanese firemen holding up a ladder at a "Dezomeshiki" festival of fire fighters.


The tradition of the Japanese fire fighters known as "Hikishi" go back several centuries and there have been professional Hikishi since the 17th century and, as in the west, they were idolised and the children hero worshipped them.
There were three kinds of Hikeshi.

1. Jobiskeshi-  who were part of the Samurai class and protected Samurai and the Shogun's residences from fire.

2. Daimyo-Bikeshi- who protected the rice warehouses and public buildings and were hand picked by their Samurai lords.

3.Machi-Bikeshi- who protected the houses of the lower classes and working people and because of this were much loved by the common man.




The Machi Bikeshi were eventually allowed to have "Matoi", as can be seen in the photograph above, three dimensional standards that each brigade had as its badge or emblem. Originally only the Samurai had these but in the 18th Century all were allowed a standard.



The brigades would have watch towers around the city to look out for fires and if a fire could be seen a system of bell ringing would call the Hikeshi to action. The fire fighters would go to the fires with buckets and hand pumps to extinguish the fire but they also carried long poles with hooks on the end, called "Tobiguchi", to help pull down buildings to stop the fire spreading - the Tobiguchi can be seen in the picture above. 



The ladders could be held by a group of Hikeshi so that a smaller member could climb to the top to be a look out in order to identify the location of the fire.  As most of the wooden buildings in Japan were only  two storeys high, in this way the lookout could clearly see over the tops of them.
The Hikeshi wore decorative fire proof jackets that were woven from several layers of material which was soaked before going to fight a fire.
Each year the Hikeshi would have a festival of fire fighters, "Dezomeshiki" and to demonstrate their prowess the member who climbs to the top of the ladder would do handstands and other acrobatics and I believe the vase is a celebration of the Dezomeshiki festival.

(With thanks to Samurai Dave: The Roving Ronin Report, for providing some useful information)
Graham

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Thursday 30 May 2013

"MINT"

I buy lots of pieces that are in excellent condition and have an almost unused look but I rarely get something that I actually give the description of "mint" condition. I have just loaded onto the website a writing box that was made near the end of the 19th century and is very deserving  of being described in that way.
Fine Victorian leather writing box

The wood framed box is covered in embossed and gold tooled leather and has a gilded brass military style handle, engraved plate and Bramah type lock with key. The interior is as good if not better than the exterior, fitted with a lift out tray that has two smaller trays sitting in compartments at each end, two original glass ink wells with brass tops and the centre of the tray is lined with water marked blue silk.


The tray lifts out and the compartment revealed underneath is intended for storage and has a matching leather bound folder together with its' original bound paper writing pad, unused.


Inside the lid there sits a leather writing implement holder complete with ivory letter knife, pen knife and propelling pencil plus space for four more pens and pencils. The holder has a gilded brass catch which, when released, allows the holder to fall forward. The inside of the lid is lined with the same blue silk used inside the base and folder, has darker blue ribbon and is used to store envelopes and paper.


The box on the outside back edge has the makers name embossed in gold, "Carlisle & Watts, Edinburgh".  The Company was originally based at 49-51 North Hanover Street and then, at the turn of the century, moved to149 Princess Street, Edinburgh.

In comparison to how excellent the condition of the writing box is, its' original fleece lined leather carrying case has protected the writing box to its own detriment - it is marked and half of the leather fastening strap is missing. I think the box packed inside its case must have been left up on a shelf somewhere in a house for years, forgotten by all and the outter case has, as a consequence, dried out and the leather straps perished.

Graham

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Monday 20 May 2013

Northumbrian Antiques & Collectors Fair


We have just returned from the Northumbrian Antiques & Collectors Fair organised by Malcolm Eglin and his family which was held from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th. The event took place in Corbridge on the Tyne in Northumberland and was attended by approximately 80 different dealers exhibiting a wide variety of antiques and objets d'art
.                 Northumbrian Fair
The fair is a first and a bit of a leap of faith to establish whether the good people of Newcastle and Northumberland would attend in sufficient numbers to make the fair a success. Overwhelmingly, the leap of faith proved to be justified -  it quite obviously ticked all the right boxes for both exhibitors and those who attended.A great time was had by all!
Graham Smith Antiques marquee

The large marquee housing many different dealers
              The Fair started at 9.00 on the Friday morning and people started arriving immediately and the sales followed all through the day and so it continued for many of the dealers. Overall the weather was better than predicted by the forecasters but the forecast was certainly spot on for the Saturday when we had heavy rain throughout the early hours of the morning and all through the day.
The flooding outside the large marquees
                                                                                                                  
        Despite the marquees and outside pitches suffering badly throughout Saturday due to the rain, Malcolm and his team worked ceaselessly to help make the best out of a difficult situation. The weather didn't put off the hardy customers who kept coming all day long although in lower numbers than if the weather had been better.
Sunday started cloudy but no rain and as the weather improved so did the attendance so it ended up being a very busy day - I lost count of the number of people I talked to, measured items for, gave advertising flyers to - but it was certainly none stop! In fact, we made more sales on Sunday than the other two days put together.  One customer purchased three pieces of furniture and, as they lived locally, we were able to deliver the items as the fair came to a close - very convenient for all concerned!

To sum up I would say that Malcolm has hit on a great idea and now has a big success on his hands that I can see growing steadily in the years to come.

Graham 

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.
                                       

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Monday 13 May 2013

Bois Durci

A collection of five French mid 19th century medallions made from animal blood and sawdust a process invented by Francios Charles Lepage in 1856 have just been loaded onto the website. Creating the medallions involved a process using animal blood from the Paris abattoirs mixed with finely ground hard wood - rosewood was a favourite. This mixture which formed a paste was then cured and heated under extreme pressure in moulds. The process in France was called "Bois Durci" (English "Wood" "Hardened") and the outcome was an early form of plastic - very hard and with a glossy texture.  This technique was mainly used to make small decorative household items and the medallions you can see below.

The two medallions above are of "Victoria Queen of England" and "Prince Albert", you can see how fine the detail of the moulds is. The backs of the medallions have the Bois Durci name moulded into the back



 During the later 19th century medallions were made of most of the European royal families, the famous, the great and the good.
The medallions are of 'Giuseppe Garibaldi', Napoleon III Emperor and 'Napoleon Prince Imperial Né Le Mars 1856'.

The new material was used for the cases of Daguerreotypes, the early form of photograph invented in 1837 by Lois Jacques-Mande Deguerreand. Many other items including dominos, frames, ink wells, book covers, clock dials, etc. were made in the 19th century and into the early 20th century.

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the showrooms where they are displayed in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Sunday 28 April 2013

Earl of Hardwicke Jewel box

Charles Philip Yorke became the 4th Earl of Hardwicke in 1834 upon the death of his Father the 3rd Earl.  The 3rd Earl had inherited the title from his Uncle the 2nd Earl because he had no surviving male heir and that is why the title passed to his nephew Charles Yorke.
Charles an Admiral in the British Navy, as was his Father before him, had a long and successful career in the Navy and was a Conservative politician. He was a member of Lord Derby's cabinet and was Postmaster General in 1852 and Lord Privy Seal between 1858 and 1859.  The family seat was Wimpole Hall with the Wimpole estate in  Cambridgeshire.
A jewellery and dressing box we have in stock had been given by Earl Hardwick as a present in 1869, the initials "M. E. Y" intertwined are on the box top in brass and engraved into the sterling silver jar and bottle tops, Yorke being the family name

The box is a very fine quality coromandel wood veneered jewel box  with 14 sterling silver topped cut crystal bottles and jars in the upper layer, all with a  London silver hall mark for 1868. The box was made by Wells & Lambe Manufacturers to the Queen, Cockspur Street London. There is a makers label on the red silk inside the lid.
Coromandel wood veneered Jewel/Dressing box given as a gift by Lord Hardwicke 1869

The lower tray is fitted out with nineteen assorted tools, comprising a mother of pearl button hook,  miniature folding button hook,  propelling pencil by Butler and Co.of London, an ink pen by Gillot of London, three pairs of different size scissors, mother of pearl small hand mirror, three mother of pearl manicure tools, sterling silver hall marked double ended spoon, four assorted cork screws, mother of pearl mounted pen knife, large darning needle and finally a small clip on hook which I think a lady would hang a small pocket watch from. All fitted into a leather edged and dark red velvet tray.

The underside of the lid has a velvet covered panel which when released exposes a leather stationery folder that lift out and behind that a very good quality gilt metal on wood shaped dressing mirror is stored. The free standing mirror is beautifully shaped and engraved and has matching initials engraved into the top edge.
The mirror that fits into the under side of the lid

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all the items shown on the website are available to view at the show rooms where they are set out in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure. Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Monday 22 April 2013

Sunderland Bridge Glass

At the end of the 18th century the town of Sunderland needed a bridge to join the south bank where the town stood, to the north bank.  At the time it was possible to cross the river by ferry or alternatively take the long journey up the River Wear to the closest crossing at Chester-le-Street. Two local politicians, Rowland Burdon and Ralph Milbanke backed the idea of a bridge so in 1792 a bridge committee was set up to design a bridge. An iron bridge had already been built in Coalbrookedale in Shropshire made of cast iron beams and this very modern idea to span the River Wear was decided upon.
The bridge took a couple of years to build and was finished in 1796 and at that time was the world's largest single span bridge.
One of the items made to commemorate the building of the bridge were glasses with an engraved scene of the new Iron Sunderland bridge as seen below
Sunderland Bridge Rummer





One of the main specifications of the design of the bridge was that the span was high enough to allow ships to pass safely underneath as can be seen on the glasses. Sunderland was an important ship building town and newly constructed ships had to pass under the new bridge and out to sea.

A ship in full sail under the bridge




The glasses were made from the late 18th century and because of the demand continued to be sold well into the middle of the 19th century. Glasses of this size are called "Rummers" but it has nothing to do with rum but we believe comes from the German word for a large glass "roemer" and would hold half a pint and more with a short stem and large bowl
























Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all  the items shown on the website are available to view at the show rooms where they are set out in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure.  Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Saturday 13 April 2013

LAPADA Oject of the year

The time has come around again for entries for Lapada (The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers) Object of the Year competition. It is always difficult to decide which item to enter and for what reasons, unusual, rare, quality, or perhaps all three.
For the competition this year I have chosen an article that has several very good features, quality, design and condition. I have just brought into stock an early 19th century table cabinet in almost unused condition made from fine timbers and very pleasing to the eye.

 
William IV rosewood veneered table cabinet the pair of doors with Gothic shaped panels of satin birch and triangular carved corners. The rosewood is solid and backed on to mahogany while the satin birch is veneered on to the mahogany door panel, where the doors meet is a half round rosewood bead and the key hole escutcheons are circles of an undetermined wood.
The cabinet stands on four OG shaped rosewood feet and has gilt brass locking pins to the inside edge of the left hand door and a lock and key for the right hand door, all in working order.

The interior is fitted out with two banks of four drawers which have satin birch veneered fronts with turned ebony knob handles. The drawers are constructed from five different woods, the bottom is pine, the three sides are cedar wood and the drawer front mahogany with the satin birch veneer and a turned ebony knob handle. The drawers are graduated in size and have fine dovetail joints and apart from a little dust look almost unused.

The frame around the drawers is made of solid rosewood and the carcase from which the drawers slide in and out is constructed from pine.
The condition of the cabinet is excellent and when you look at the fine work and time taken to make such a wonderful article it  does make one realise, not for the first time, how reasonably priced antique furniture is and what it would cost to have such a piece commissioned today using the same selection of timbers.
 

Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all  the items shown on the website are available to view at the show rooms where they are set out in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure.  Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Pietra Dura Box

 An interesting small Italian box of great quality has just come into stock, Sarcophagus in shape and with an ebony frame and inset with panels of "Pietra Dura", Italian "Hard Rocks" or stones. The black marble has inset cut pieces of stone in the shapes of flowers, each of the five panels in the box is different and hand made. The moulded ebony frame with a hinged lid and sitting on four turned ebony bun feet.
Pietra Dura Sarcophugus shaped box with a hinged lid

Pietra Dura dates back to Roman times , used in floors and pillars in Italy through out the middle ages. Florence is where it was developed and in 1588 Grand Duke Ferdinando I of Tuscany opened the Galleria di'Lavori one of the finest workshops of the Italian Renaissance where workman used the precious and semiprecious stone to make table tops and panels, jardinieres, garden ornaments and artifacts. In the 19th century Naples became a centre for the work but over the years it has declined and the skill is used today mainly for restoration of old pieces 
The interior with panels of boxwood holding each stone plaque in place
 


Graham Smith Antiques has been established for 14 years but Graham has been in the antiques business for 40 years. We trade on line and from showrooms on the edge of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and all  the items shown on the website are available to view at the show rooms where they are set out in four room settings - for ease of viewing. As long time members of LAPADA [the Association of Art and Antiques Dealers], the UK's largest trade association for professional art and antiques dealers, we want all our customers to be confident to buy from us on line or in person and make every effort to make each sale a pleasure.  Please take some time to read our Testimonials page which can be found on the home page of our website.

Friday 22 March 2013

The Gun

I can remember at school reading a book written by C S Forester about a huge gun that was dragged around Spain during Napoleon's Peninsular War and used as a siege breaking weapon. Well I have just bought "A Gun", do not know much about it but it took my fancy, very heavy steel, it is a model of the much larger real thing.
After a bit of research we believe it is a model of a coastal defence gun made at the end of the 19th century.
It has wheels underneath at right angles to the gun, but at a slight angle so that it could be set on a pair of curved rails so that it could be moved to follow a target out at sea.
I always call these sort of items "Boys Toys"
The Gun

The angled wheels on the under carriage

Sunday 17 March 2013

Edinburgh Trunk, a life time of travel


When I was in Edinburgh last week I took the photo below of a row of shops in Hanover Street just where it meets Princess street because I have a wonderful early 19th century trunk with a label inside showing a luggage shop in the same location.

The bottom of Hanover street with The Royal Scottish Academy just in view at the T junction.
If you look diagonally across the road where you can see the two telephone kiosks is where A Boswell Brush Trunk Port Manteau & Carpet Bag Manufacturers ran their business.

The shops without the modern front extensions and The Royal Scottish Academy to the left

The Trunk could tell some great stories of where it has been and how many times it has been loaded on and off the Coaches in the 19th century

Georgian Leather Bound Trunk






Sunday 27 January 2013

Clarkes Patent Night Lights

 


An item that has just come in and has been interesting to investigate is this set of four S Clarkes Patent Fairy Lights with clear glass bases and candle holders and with "Burmese Glass" shades.


Clarke was a master at marketing in the late 19th century and paid for expensive adverts, sometimes in colour, in News papers and Magazines yet he only made the candles. Clarke managed to get many manufacturers to make the lamps to hold his candles, and to great success, companies such as Thomas Webb, Doulton, Royal Worcester, Northwood and many more. The range of styles and colours of glass is huge with candelabra designed to hold several of the lights.
  The Advertisement below boasts about "As used by Her Majesty The Queen".








                                  


The trade mark "S Clarkes Patent Fairy lights" are on all of his products at the expense of the manufacturers of the candle holders. He was always protecting his Patents to stop other manufacturers copying his designs.

Two night lights , one of them lit.



 40 years ago when I first started in the Antiques business the lights where highly regarded but it seems over the years interest has waned, but while I have been investigating the lights I have come across a great website for the Fairy light collectors which this link will lead you to .
The S Clarke Patent mark in the bases of all of this lights