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.

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 (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.


 

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.