Newsletter
This year’s first important event for Witney Antiques was the BRITISH ANTIQUE DEALERS ANTIQUE AND FINE ART FAIR held in March at The Duke of York’s Headquarters, London, at which we have exhibited since it’s inception some twenty years ago. This proved to be a very successful outing for us and resulted in our selling a number of major items including a very beautiful raised work mirror with portraits of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza and a fine 17th century embroidery of Orpheus Charming the Animals to The Art Institute of Chicago.
June was very busy. We successfully captured second place in THE OBJECT OF THE YEAR competition held at Olympia and sponsored by LAPADA and Country Life magazine. Our entry was an important lace panel depicting the Battle of Britain which caused much interest and admiration amongst visitors to the fair. For those of you who did not see the panel a description and images follow.
Battle of Britain Lace Panel
This remarkable Lace panel was produced between 1942 and 1946 by the Nottingham Lace firm of Dobson and Browne, the panel measuring 15 feet in height by 5 feet 6 inches in width was produced to commemorate the Allied Air Forces and others who fought to save Britain in 1940. It is believed that in total 38 of these panels were completed.
The production of Commemorative Lace Panels was not a new idea in 1942, in fact it is believed that the inspiration for the production of the Battle Of Britain Lace panel came after Mr J L Were, Dobson and Browne's Managing Director at the time, was shown a lace panel made for the great exhibition of 1851 depicting the life of Joan of Arc.
The production process for this intricate and complicated panel began in 1942 when a 73 year old Harry Cross, the company's head designer was given the job of coming up with a design for the panel. As every detail had to be as accurate as possible Harry worked from original photographs supplied by the ministry of defence as well as postcards and drawings gleaned from various sources. It is reported that at the time he claimed the most difficult drawing to complete was the one of St Pauls Cathedral which he apparently drew from an old postcard. The original design for the panel took Harry over two years to finish, after which the completed design was handed over to the very experienced draughtsman Mr W Herod,unfortunately part way through the draughting process Mr Herod died and the job was completed by the equally experienced Mr W.R.Jackson. It was the job of both these men to translate the drawing onto squared paper, which then required colour coding to show the different threads to be used on the loom, this highly skilled job took a further 15 months to complete, and used seventy five feet of squared paper.
The draught had then to be transferred on to a series of cards through which a series of holes had to be individually punched to control the varying threads on the loom, known as a jaquard, this job fell to Alf Webster who it is believed punched a total of 40 000 cards. Once the full set of cards were completed they had to be stitched together in order to form a continuous strip hundreds of feet long, which was then put on to the loom.The yarn used to weave the panels was 100% egyptian cotton of various counts (thicknesses)and was threaded on to 975 bobbins. As each panel was completed it was checked against the draught and the jacquard, and when any errors were found the jacquard was altered and the hole was filled in and another hole punched until it was perfect,at which point production could resume. After leaving the loom each panel was inspected by hand menders whose job it was to mend any damaged threads, before the panels were finally washed and treated.
The panel itself has at its centre a depiction of the planes involved in the Battle of Britain including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Stukkas, and Dorniers together with the brave airmen baling out of their aircraft. Toward the bottom of the central panel is that 'most difficult of drawings' St Pauls Cathedral with just above it a typical country cottage and an English mansion, these were included to represent the idea that rich and poor suffered alike. Around the edge are many of the buildings damaged during the battle including Buckingham Palace,City Temple, Bow church and St Clement Danes amongst others. The border and edging of the panel incorporate ripening ears of corn representing the season in which the Battle of Britain took place interwoven with Tudor roses, daffodils, shamrocks, thistles and oak leaves. Across the top of the panel are the names of those associated with its manufacture with the Air Force Badges of New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and South Africa alongside the national flowers of those nations, directly below. Along the bottom of the panel is an excerpt from the famous speech by Churchill 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few' with an RAF badge and Tudor Rose centre bottom.
Including this panel the whereabouts of 34 out of the original 38 produced is now known, with many of them residing in museum and public collections across the globe .What is certain is that no more of these highly complex and undoubtedly moving panels will ever be produced again, the jacquard cards were destroyed shortly after the 38th panel was completed.
MASTERPIECE LONDON was our next appearance in June / July where 'the best of the best from around the world' was on show. We were proud to be part of this stunning and highly acclaimed event which was held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Our stand of English embroideries drew much admiration and we made sales to both new and existing clients. This is a 'must' date for your diary 2012.
Coming towards autumn two important dates are fast approaching in our calendar of events before Christmas. and keeping us very busy. We will be exhibiting at the prestigious LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair at Berkley Square, London, 21st - 25th September and look forward to seeing old friends and clients in this attractive setting. If you do not have a complimentary invitation please contact us for one.
Our second event which is always eagerly awaited takes place the last two weeks of October. This is our annual exhibition of fine and historic samplers which we have been collecting especially for this event. SAMPLERS - PRODUCTS OF A YOUTHFUL MIND. This year however will see an exciting change as we are being joined by two dealers, both foremost specialists in their particular fields, to present not one but three different special exhibitions. This is a new departure for us and one which will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to meet, admire and perhaps purchase that special object.
For almost 20 years WITNEY ANTIQUES have held an autumn exhibition of exquisite English embroideries attracting visitors from as far afield as Japan, Holland and the USA.
This year will be no exception and amongst the treasures on show are rare band samplers dating from the age of Charles 1, map and darning samplers, and samplers worked by girls as young as seven years old. Truly the products of a youthful mind.
Angela and Christopher Legge from Oxford are renowned experts in antique and contemporary carpets, textiles and tribal weavings. They travel extensively in Iran sourcing the rare and exotic. Another aspect to their business is their co-operation with Jan Kath, a leading designer respected world-wide, whose pieces can be custom made and have won numerous international awards. Amongst the rugs from Iran is a very beautiful Khamseh in soft reds and blues, dotted with flower heads which fits perfectly into the exhibition title WOVEN FLOWERS - ORIENTAL CARPETS AND TEXTILES as does a striking 19th century Quashgai Gabbeh from the southwest of the country.
John Howard of Heritage, Woodstock, gives his exhibition of British Pottery Figures the intriguing title IF THESE POTS COULD TALK. How many times has this been said, and here we are reminded of the blood curdling story associated with The Red Barn. A stunning Staffordshire Bull Baiting Group dating circa 1830 leads us to a sport long banned in England. Royal Figures with dark secrets and stories to tell stand proud amongst many rare exhibits.
These exhibitions are free and we look forward to welcoming you.
Further details can be obtained. Tel 01993 703902.
The exhibitions are to be held at: WITNEY ANTIQUES, 96 - 100 CORN STREET. WITNEY, OXON. OX28 6BU
EXHIBITION DATES
Opening Reception: Sunday 16th October 2011. 2 - 5 pm.
Monday 17th - Sunday 30th October. Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm.
Our purpose built restoration workshops have been very busy and have undertaken important commissions throughout the year. We are able to offer clients the skills of our three highly experienced craftsmen in the restoration and conservation of furniture of all types. We have an invaluable resource of old timber, essential to restore the best antique furniture, and copy old handles, locks and metal mounts. Our services also include the restoration and conservation of papier mache, brass inlay and marquetry.
 Finally we are proud to announce that partner Rebecca Scott was commissioned by Shire Publications to write their new larger and more comprehensive edition of Samplers. Samplers have been worked in Britain since the sixteenth century, and provide a valuable social record as well as being works of art. Originally collections of patterns gathered together for reference by needle and lace workers, they came to encompass works of piety, of love, of education, and commemoration. Young ladies would stitch the alphabet, multiplication tables and religious extracts not only for decoration, but to keep them from being idle, and to impress the relevant lessons deep into their consciousness. They are among the few antiques that record precisely when they were made, and by whom, which makes the changing fashions in stitches and decoration all the easier to trace. Samplers, written by one of Britain’s leading experts on the subject, Rebecca Scott, and illustrated with superb photographs of a great range of samplers from Britain and the United States provides an ideal introduction to these amazing embroideries for collectors and those interested in social history and the history of art.
Published by Shire Books Paperback; December 2009; 128 pages; ISBN: 9780747807063
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Showroom Visits
As the days grow longer and warmer, remember that a visit to the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding beauty, is always a memorable experience. We would love to see you in Witney and show you around our showrooms where you will be sure to receive a warm welcome, and for those who have never visited us a very pleasant surprise.
It is essential to call us on 01993 703902 or Email us to book your visit in advance so we can ensure someone is there to show your around.
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