Antiques and Collectables
Contact Ann Lisney on 01435 865929 for more details
During the winter months we meet in each other's homes.
In the summer with the onset of the longer days we plan visits to auctions, antique fairs, stately homes and museums.
We meet on the morning of the last Thursday of the month, (this changes when we start going out and about.)
FOR OUR MARCH 2023 meeting we are letting our imaginations run riot. Each of us will research a 'desert island' item to talk about. Perhaps a Lalique vase? Possibly a Tiffany lamp? Maybe even a pair of Queen Victoria's bloomers? Who knows? Watch this space!
FEBRUARY 2023: Having finished our first romp through the alphabet from apothecary jars to wine glasses, we all brought along something from home to talk about for our February meeting.
As many of the items were family pieces we had some lovely diversions down memory lane, talking about a pinchbeck mourning brooch, Chinese silver miniature figures, a gold half-hunter fob watch, stevensgraph silk pictures, a Victorian gold bracelet, a Royal Doulton vase, a coloured glass sugar bowl and a collection of items owned by an intrepid female ancestor, including compass, travel inkwell and collapsible snifter cup.
AUGUST 2022 Because of the summer parking situation in Lewes, we abandoned our idea of visiting Anne of Cleves House or Lewes Castle and eight of us went instead to The Monk's House at Rodmell, the home of Virginia Woolfe and her husband Leonard.
The house is quite tiny and only the ground floor is open to the public - the sitting room, the dining room, the kitchen and Virginia's bedroom. Each of the rooms is explained in fascinating detail by a National Trust Guide. Some of the furniture is original to the house, but a lot was sold off and disposed of by subsequent owners. However, as Virginia's husband was an inveterate list maker and diary keeper, everything is as near as possible to how it was when they lived there.
Virginia wrote in a garden room, specifically built for that purpose. The room itself has a glass panel to prevent access - apparently it has to be wiped down every evening as it is usually covered in kiss marks!
The garden is huge, but a bit higgledy-piggledy with random paths, steps and hedges. There is a path leading to the
River Ouse, which is the very one Virginia took - her pockets full of stones - on her final journey.
All of us were delighted with our visit as we had not really known what to expect. Unfortunately no tearoom, but you can't have everything!
July 2022
"In July six members of the group spent a morning at an antiques auction in Battle. Firstly we were amazed at how much of the bidding was on line - we sat in splendid isolation in the auction room while bidders from all over the world slugged it out from the comfort of their own homes. Secondly, it was a surprise that some perennial favourites - like Moorcroft pottery - did not reach their auction estimates, while other perfectly ordinary-looking Chinese vases fetched thousands of pounds.
We all enjoyed resting briefly on a 'Howard' armchair before it was snapped up for a mere £1900. Alas, our more plebeian posteriors had to spend most of the time on slightly less comfortable former cinema seating!
We enjoyed our experience and decided it was nothing to be nervous about - in fact quite an entertaining morning. And no, you don't have to worry that scratching your nose can be taken as a bid - you need to brandish an official bidding number."
JUNE 2022 No meeting this month
MAY 2022
In May we researched things beginning with 'O', including opals, but also strayed into 'P' territory, among other things discussing pearls and pietra dura.
APRIL 2022
We have all learned so much, and hopefully had a bit of fun as well, with our research into antiques or collectables starting with a particular letter of the alphabet! Last month was 'N', and particularly memorable was Mark's collection of silk neckties, most of which he had designed himself. Suzie's display of necklaces also had many fans. I am always amazed and fascinated by what turns up and look forward to every meeting.