Arts & Antiques

Where the wild deer run free

THE Somerset Guild of Craftsmen is proud to showcase its “maker of the month”, stained glass artist Clare Maryann Green. Clare is based deep in the heart of Exmoor where, in her own words: “the wild deer run free and owls hoot from the woods” and nature clearly resonates in all her work. It is easy to be Clare Maryann Green inspired in such beautiful Somerset surroundings.

The guild’s gallery in Broad Street in Wells is the ideal venue to see Clare’s work in person, but she also has a presence on all social media sites.

When she's not busy creating her renowned stained glass windows and hangings, Clare works hard at her smallholding where she tends more than 60 sheep. The lambing season is over and she is now busy shearing, using the wool for yet more crafting. The creatures she sees daily are prevalent in her beautiful stained glass.

Clare's passion lies with windows. She says her mantra is: “I want to glaze beautiful buildings with joyous windows.” She has recently finished a superb commission for Williton Community Hospital.

Pilgrimages can start at home

SCULPTOR Ian Marlow is looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the studio and sculpture garden in Buckland Dinham, near Frome, after the restrictions of the last year.

Ian will be opening the studio and sculpture garden in July for the Frome Festival from July 3rd-11th. On show in the exhibition will be new sculptures in stainless steel as well as a series of limited-edition bronze sculptures based on pilgrimages that he is currently working on.

The first of these is Pilgrim –The Reader. Number one of the edition was exhibited at Delamore Arts in Devon in June where it immediately sold, with the second bronze going to the sculpture exhibition at Beaulieu which opened on June 19th.

Each edition in the series features a person in a different activity while seated on animal or bird. Ian said: “Not all pilgrimages involve travelling to a religious site. Music, art, literature, meditation, nursing, walking, reading, sports and 1,000 other routes can all take the person on a spiritual journey.

“Each person is unique, so the journey they take must be appropriate for them. That journey, represented in the first sculpture in the series by the horse, is an abstract construct far larger than the person who travels along its path.

“Nor is the pilgrim in control of the route it follows. The pilgrim in the sculpture is concentrating on the words contained within the book he is reading. Those words are the ‘Pilgrim Way’; they are both the path and the journey. They alone navigate the course, dictate the stops along the way and how long the journey will take.”

Priceless porcelain hung on a nail

QUESTION:When is a nail not a nail? Answer: When it is the life support for a priceless collection of antique porcelain. When I am not working up to my eyes in antiques I like to relax by being up to my eyes in antiques. Whenever my time allows, my favourite pastime is exploring the collections of our historic houses. One I am sure you will know is Tyntesfield, between Bristol and Clevedon.

The lavish Gothic mansion – a mass of arches and pinnacles –was aggrandised on the profits of Peruvian bird droppings (the 19th century farmer’s fertiliser of choice) and is now in the care of the National Trust.

Whenever I visit I am reminded of a story once told me by one of the guides there. High up on the wall of the plush Victorian library there is an impressive display of colourful –and extremely valuable – 17th century Japanese porcelain plates.

Known as Imari, from the distinctive palette of blue, red and gold, they make a bold statement and would certainly get pulses racing if they ever came up for sale which, of course, they won’t.

When the National Trust bought the house back in 2002 and started the mammoth job of cleaning the vast room, they were shocked to discover that the plates, which must have been in place for at least 100 years, as well as being black with years of

dirt, were kept in place by a long piece of twisted wire which was hanging from a single large nail hammered into the wall. How they had managed to stay in place for so long without the whole display crashing to the ground heaven knows. I am reminded of this story every time I come across a plate that has suffered the misfortune of having a metal hanger attached to the With CHRIS YEO back of it. Truthfully these wretched things are torture for plates, sinking their vicious spring-loaded hooks into delicate porcelain rims and turning hairlines into dirty great cracks. How I long to release them from their bondage. So, my advice is to leave your walls for pictures and put your plate on a stand.

Leavers’ farewell

YEAR11 students at Frome College created brilliant and creative art installations as part of their leavers’ celebrations. The installations were planned by Emma Knibbs, head of art, encouraging teamwork and leaving positive messages and experiences for the rest of the students to see.

Swan Artworks –creativity in lockdown

Tony and Carrie Osborne in their workshop

MUSICIAN and artist couple Tony and Carrie Osborne combined their talents when lockdown meant they could not open the doors of Swan Artworks in Paulton to customers.

Determined to spend their time wisely – when not home schooling their two daughters – Tony set about writing and recording his first solo CD, whilst Carrie decided to teach herself the art of linocutting.

The result is Scatterbones – a double CD of 14 songs on which Tony sings and plays all the instruments – featuring cover and booklet illustrations by Carrie. The CDs and limited prints of Carrie’s work are now on sale at the Swan Artworks workshop where the couple are currently seeing customers by appointment.

Carrie and Tony said: “We want to say a huge thank you to all our longstanding customers who have supported us so magnificently throughout the ups and downs of the past year. They have been fantastic and very understanding.” l CDs cost £10 and Carrie’s prints cost £25. They are available in the workshop or online at: www.scatterbonesmusic.co.uk

STANTONDrew Parish Council will be auctioning this painting from renowned local artist Natasha Clutterbuck to raise funds towards the rebuilding of the village’s war memorial. The auction will be conducted by local auctioneer Jim King on Sunday, July 25th at The Cottage, Church Lane, Stanton Drew, 2pm for a 2.30pm auction or in the village hall if the weather is bad.

There is a reserve price of £750. Sealed bids can be sent to The Clerk, Tamkeryn, Tarnwell, Stanton Drew, BS39 4DZ by the day before.

Telephone bidders should email chair@stantondrewpc.co.uk by 5pm Thursday, July 22nd to arrange a phone link.

Memorial auction

Silver and jewellery wanted at Mendip Auction Rooms

KILLENShave welcomed clients back to the Mendip Auction Rooms with a good attendance of potential buyers on viewing and sale days. Many have welcomed the opportunity to view in person with some having grown tired of relying on the computer or ipad!

The team do take the safety of clients seriously however with precautions such as the wearing of face coverings, sanitising and social distancing being implemented.

Jewellery and silver are always in demand at Killens and entries are wanted to satisfy demand. Quality always sell and it seems that there are many with cash ready to spend on jewellery and silver as we emerge from the lockdown.

Valuations can be undertaken on a dropin basis at the auction rooms between 10am and 3pm each weekday and Killens have professional gemologists and experts on hand to advise.

The team of valuers continues to grow with Harriet Mustard having joined Killens in June from Special Auction Services based in Newbury.

At the June antiques sale, furniture flourished with really strong online bidding. An oyster veneered cabinet on stand achieved £3600, various refectory tables between £950 and £1800 and a French gilt metal mounted Boulle work desk in need of restoration £800.

The next antiques sale at the Mendip Auction Rooms will be held on July 10th.

Contact the team at Killens on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance.