This blog will from time to time complement my Wales Antiques Web Site and its printed companion. The guide is a developing listing of general suppliers of antiques and collectables in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Powys and beyond; it now including auctions and in the future specialist heritage related attractions. Over 23 years it has become an essential resource for anyone with an interest in buying and selling antiques and collectables in West Wales and Beyond. If you would like to know more visit the site here.
Every day, I confess, I visit a certain charity shop. It is a rather unreconstructed affair; no pricing policies, no Fair Trade, no over-priced secondhand books and no visiting window dresser. You’ll gather that this is my kind of charity shop. It’s old school and I like it because there’s most likely something worth buying. As often as not it’s a ‘nothing’, a ‘yes-thing’ that’s cool to have around, but not a thing that will make worry about getting too rich, too quick.
The WALES ANTIQUES GUIDE is published annually each spring and distributed across Mid and West Wales and beyond. We have been publishing the Guide since 1987 – twenty-three sucessful years! If you are interested in finding out more about the Wales Antiques Guide contact Paul Williams on 01239 615866 or 07790438157 or by email at paul_williams@btinternet.com. Prepared and designed by Paul Williams with the help of Norman Williams and John Higginbottom.
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Anyone following my blog will have noticed a drop-off in posts and I think a drop-off in quality.
January has been a bit of a drag really, travel and schooling disrupted and so on, a lot of new projects to nurture, not least the 2010 – 2011 Wales Antiques Guide.
As well, I have been clearing out a lot of bits and pieces and selling some of them quite well in Steve Furness’s Newcastle Emlyn Antiques Centre. My stall, Number 23, is bursting mainly with things ‘Mid Century Modern‘ (20th century, that is). I hope to post more about this later and perhaps introduce you to the G Plan revolution!
For today I thought I’d post a recent find. Unremarkable in design (it’s pretty much a Chinese Ginger Jar shape), and decoration (silver lustre, nothing new there). It’s the monogram that matters. The painted mark of Louise Powell (ne Lessore, 1882-1956) is rather rare to find (or rather, rare to find in these parts!). Damaged as you can see and repaired, old style, with staples, presumably not long after it was bought in the 1920’s or 30’s.
It is a trifle compared with the Arts and Crafts work she produced with her husband Alfred Powell, but interesting nonetheless. Not a keeper but one to remember.
If you want to know more about Wedgwood in the 20th Century here are two superbly researched and illustrated books.
The Peter Francis monthly catalogue sale is a must for eager dealers especially those looking for sleepers. Experienced dealers read sale catalogues like gardeners read seed catalogues. The crucial difference for potential buyers is that bidders from around the world on the interest and on the phone are crowding into the room as well.
I snapped this scene while Nigel Hodson was selling an eighteenth century silver silver by celebrated Boston silversmith Nathaniel Hurd. Estimated somewhat overcautiously at 1000 – 1500 pounds this was the moment when the hammer fell at 19500 + premium.
This is the blog of Paul Williams, Ceredigion resident since 1970. I am an English and Philosophy graduate of what was once known as St David's University College, at Lampeter . I played bass in Dyfed's first punk band and, living in Llandewi Brefi, had a grandstand view of Operation Julie . Eventually, after 2 years playing bass in Brighton's 256th punk band , I returned to Wales to deal in books and then antiques. I've trained and worked as a counsellor, I am a photographer, blog and web designer and I publish the annual Wales Antiques Guide . I am married and a father of one.
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