Arts & Antiques

Celebrating ten years of local art

ThiS november sees the Cam Valley Arts Trail celebrate its tenth year. Karen George, chair of the group, said: “Ten years of art trails is a huge achievement to everyone involved.

“We are thrilled to have over 40 artists taking part in local community venues and artists’ studios during the trail for this special year. We can’t wait to see their creations.” during the arts trail some artists will also be offering frEE taster workshops. There are nine workshops to choose from and as spaces are limited, bookings should be made on the website.

You can celebrate with the artists and join them on the trail on Saturday, 5th and Sunday, 6th november 11am–4pm daily. The arts trail will host local artists across 14 venues.

Details: www.camvalleyartstrail.co.uk

Children visit art group

WinfordArt Group held an open morning, which was attended by pupils from the local school next door.

School head, nik Gardner, said: “initially we were invited as a one off, but we hope to be invited again in the future as it is a real way that the school and the community can work together where everyone benefits.”

Leader of the art group, Ann Baber, said: “Quite a few of our group are ex-teachers and they loved having the youngsters visit us. They created a lovely atmosphere and everyone felt that the morning’s session had gone extremely well.”

Sitting pretty –in praise of Danish design

ChAirSare works of art. Well, not all chairs but some chairs – particularly danish ones. Admittedly, as someone who has worshipped at the (very stylish) altar of danish design since John Major was P.M., i suppose i would say that. for a design addict like me, denmark is a place of regular pilgrimage. Go to denmark and you’ll soon discover that the danes take design very seriously.

That this should be the case really isn’t all that surprising. in the harsh climate of the north, the home becomes more than purely where you eat and sleep, it’s the centre of family life and the place where you socialise with friends. for the danes, the home and its furnishings are of special interest to everyone.

So how did this small country of modest people get to such a position of pre-eminence in the design world? The roots of danish design are far

longer than you might think. it was among denmark’s fishermen and farmers, building boats, houses, and furniture for their own use that a strong crafts tradition developed. Crucially, danish craftsmen and designers stayed loyal to these traditions long after other countries had moved on to more modern materials and manufacturing. in doing so the danes developed an With expertise working with wood that other countries simply couldn’t CHRIS YEO match. one of the most iconic chairs ever made was designed in 1955 by designer Arne Jacobsen. With a curved plywood seat and back and on spindly metal legs, design aficionados know it as the 3107 but you probably recognise it from its scandalous 1960s associations. it’s that chair from that photograph of Christine Keeler, fresh from the Profumo scandal, provocatively straddling the chair wearing a coy expression and very little else. Except, it isn’t. if you take a closer look, you’ll see that, unlike the genuine article, hers has a handle cut into the back. reader, they gave her a cheap copy!

Chris Yeo is a valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow Please visit the website www.clevedonsalerooms.com for more details

Artists make their show debut

AfTEr meeting each week for more than ten years, members of the friday morning art group at the Crispin Community Centre in Street have staged their first exhibition.

All are welcome to join the group, which meets from 10am until midday and sits together to work on their individual projects.

Members of the art group show off their work

Pottery –a new hobby for winter and beyond?

ELLA Phillips Ceramics is introducing classes in wheelthrown pottery this autumn/winter at the forge Pottery in Cheddar.

The building from which Ella Phillips runs her classes was previously the blacksmith’s forge and workshop of her father, Peter Phillips.

Ella is pleased to be able to share her experiences of more than 20 years in the field of ceramics through the lessons she is now running at the workshop.

Classes and courses will be focused on wheel-thrown pottery. however, Ella also offers sessions and have-a-

Ella Phillips with a student

go experiences for small groups, giving people a taster of various ceramic processes. if you are looking for a new hobby or an activity to focus the mind and help you relax, pottery could be the answer.

Starting in late october, the six-week throwing course is held Monday evenings or friday mornings during term times.

For details, visit: www.ellaphillipsceramics. co.uk

Success in bringing sports and fine wines together

iT almost seems natural for the team at Killens to bring together the world of sport with fine wines and spirits in their bi-annual Sporting, fine Wines and Spirits sales. We are at that time of year when it is tempting to slumber on the sofa at the weekends to watch the rugby, racing or football with glass in hand or to be out in the field enjoying the contents of a hip flask.

At their lates sale at the end of September, there was a good entry of sporting items, including an array of guns and air rifles, as well as fine wines and spirits. fishing equipment including rods and reels met keen demand with hardy reels selling well.

The sporting section showcases all sports with an excellent entry of football memorabilia including programmes from over the decades for which there was keen online interest.

Amongst the fine wines and spirits, a bottle of The Macallan ten-year-old old single highland malt Scotch whisky achieved £320, a bottle of The Glenlivet 25 year old royal Wedding reserve whisky £590, a bottle of Krug 1985 vintage champagne £400, two bottles of Sauternes £1200 and a bottle of Ardberg whisky £1000. in november, three sales will be staged. Valuations can be undertaken on a drop-in basis at the auction rooms between 10am and 3pm Monday to Thursday and Killens have professional valuers and experts on hand to advise. Alternatively, our valuers are able to conduct free home visits.

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

Fine Asian art comes to Frome

dorE & rees are looking forward to a highly successful fine Asian Art auction on Monday, november 7th. The auction features works of art of Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian origin including ceramics, bronzes, jades, furniture, sculpture, pictures, robes and books and includes a number of private The Imperial Dragon moonflask: estimate £30,000-£50,000 collections. Amongst the lots is a collection of South East Asian sculptures, gathered by Angela Trueb, a passionate collector with an interest in the religious sculpture and art of india where she grew up and enjoyed researching and travelling widely, visiting temple sites during the mid-twentieth century ahead of returning to Somerset. A fine Chola period bronze figure of Parvati leads the collection, finely cast in the classic style with tall headdress and draped in jewels, beads, armlets, bracelets and anklets, offered at an estimate of £30,000-£50,000.

An exceptional pair of damascene bronze and silver vases by Kashima ippu (1828-1900) lead the Japanese works of art section of the auction. finely crafted with intricate designed panels depicting carp, duck, fishing boats and mountain landscape views they sing of quality and are offered at an estimate of £25,000-£35,000.

The vases come from the collection of Joshua neale, who along with henry West set up neal and West Ltd in 1885 as fish merchants in Cardiff. The trawlers were given Japanese names such as fuji, oku, Kyoto following a friendship with a Japanese businessman. during World War i, most of the neale and West fleet was taken over by the Admiralty, mainly for use as minesweepers; seven were lost to enemy action.

The Chinese ceramics section of the auction features a rare imperial famille rose “dragon” moon flask with flattened globular body finely enamelled on each side, depicting iron-red bat in flight above peaches, flanked by two pink scaly confronted five claw dragons between lotus blossoms and is offered at an estimate of £30,00-£50,000.

Looking forward to december, the fine Jewellery and Watches auction will be taking place on Tuesday, december 6th, with lots of beautiful pieces on offer just in time for Christmas.

Keep an eye on www.doreandrees.com or follow us on instagram (doreandrees_auctions) and facebook (dore & rees) to keep in touch with events and auctions.