Antique and art fair this week in Melbourne!

The Australian Antique & Art Dealer's Association is once again holding an antique fair at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne this week.  I am excited to be assisting Walter & Co of Tasmania with their stand.  Walter & Co is Tasmania's newest most exciting store, which opened around 6 weeks ago in the historic town of Richmond.  But more on this later.

In the mean time, here are the details for the event;

AAADA MELBOURNE ANTIQUES FAIR

8 - 11 May 2014

Gala Charity Preview to benefit UNICEF

Thursday 8th May 6:30pm - 8:30pm

General admission Friday 9th May 11am - 6pm

Saturday 10th May 11am - 6 pm 

Sunday (Mother's Day) 11am - 5pm

Carlton GardensRoyal Exhibition Building

Melbourne, Victoria

Enquiries:

T: 0401 995 501

E: secaada@ozemail.com.au

www.aada.org.au/melbourneshow/ 

If you are too far away or cannot make it to the fair, you can follow our Instagram for pictures during setup and throughout the event.  I am sure I will get a few sneaky breaks along the way.

Until next time,

A visit to the ever so stylish Peony Haute Parfumerie, Melbourne

On a little getaway to Melbourne last year, I managed to get to one of my favourite stores, Peony Haute Parfumerie owned by the one and only gorgeous Jill Timms.  I had only been to Peony once before and both times I was so amazed by this delightful little find on Auburn Road, Hawthorn. 



 

I instantly knew this is a special store from the front window display.  I am sorry about the reflection but I hope you can spot the French charcuterie table and the antique French chemists bottles through the glass window?  All so wonderfully displayed, you feel as if you are in Paris about to enter a very chic store indeed! 



Inside, the products are expertly curated, with carefully sourced French perfumes and perfumed candles.  Jill has used a 19th century glass dome to show some Arquiste products, above.  You may be able to see two 19th century bulls eye lenses, also under the dome.  Jill found both of these with us at The Drill Hall Emporium!

 Ever since my first trip to Paris, where I accidentally happened upon the Astier de Villatte boutique store, on Rue Saint Honoré near the Louvre, I have held a secret love affair with their white glazed ceramics.  Peony stocks their perfumed candles along with some of these gorgeous ceramics. 

I really, really could not resist the Delphes candle.  Not that I need to justify a little gift for myself, but I figure I can burn the candle and then keep the lidded jar for some other purpose.  And along with the candle wick trimmer, also from Peony, I am very happy indeed!

 The candle is now in my hall way alongside my collection of sea urchins, coral and crystals. 

I am sorry for the length of time between posts, life just gets away.  I still enjoy making contact with my readers and will continue to do so through my blog.  Perhaps I will go for quality, not quantity!

Until next time,

my favourite pieces at the AAADA antiques show in Melbourne!

 

Well I am home now from Melbourne after helping Richmond Antiques at the the Australian Antiques and Art Dealer's Association antique show which was held last week and over the weekend.  I took some time out from the fair for a little shopping along the nearby hip Brunswick Street.  I also managed to take some pictures around the fair of some of my favourite pieces on offer.  Everything is for sale, so much better than a museum as you can take things home with you (budget allowing, of course!).  Above are stylish floor rugs from Behruz Studio, who always presents room filling rugs of the most gorgeous designs and colours. 

 



 

Upon entering the antiques show, it is worth taking the time to check out the interior of the grand Exhibition Building in which the fair is held.  Perfect for showcasing gorgeous antiques and art!

 

 One of my duties while helping Richmond Antiques was to find flowers to display within this 19th century Chinese trough.

 

 

Luckily I found some wonderful green coloured orchids at a nearby wholesale florist which complimented the aged iron perfectly.  This Chinese trough is a true decorator's piece, it would be great as a focal point in a courtyard. 

 

Also on the Richmond Antiques stand was this antique zebra skin, which we hung on a wall for maximum impact.  Needless to say, this piece sold very quickly!

 

 

This hall chair, with its elegant shell shaped back and painted family crest panel, is one of a set of four.  They date to the Regency period and were made by the important English furniture maker Gillows and were one of the more special items offered for sale by Richmond Antiques.  They have an interesting documented history and were found in northern Tasmania. 

 



 

Nomadic Rug Traders exhibited this rare embroidered panel which from memory was made around c.1800 and from the Uzbek region of central Asia.

 



 

The detail of the embroidered panel is exceptional and the design looks almost French.  This is because it was made for the European market and would have been intended for export to the West, adding to its interest as a museum worthy textile.  

 

This French (or Italian?) figure of a saint was exhibited by Brans Antiques and Art.  Again from memory I think it dated to the 16th century.  I was drawn to the still intact gilding to her dress and also to her lovely soft and sad eyes. 

This Japanese bronze owl on a carved root stand, also of Brans Antiques and Art, was perhaps my favourite item of the fair.  I have a soft spot for Japanese art and am so very overwhelmed by the attention to detail that was given to pieces such as this.  The patina on the root stand is so very beautiful. 

 Look at the detail in owl itself.  It dates to the 19th century and is a very special piece indeed.

Also on the Brans Antiques and Art stand was this early oak refectory table, possibly Italian and dating to the 16th century (again from memory!).  Tables of this age and proportions are very hard to find.

 

A prize sponsored by Tiffany and Co. was given to the best object of the fair, and it was awarded to this carved oak and fully articulated model of a skeleton, owned by Derek Greengrass Antiques.   It is possibly German, Dutch or Belge and dates to the 17th century. 

 

Image from here

 

 It is thought that this model may have been used by academics of the medical profession, or perhaps a ship’s surgeon, to illustrate the various bones of the human body.  Definitely of museum quality but most definitely for sale! 
 

I hope you have enjoyed my little summary of the Australian Antiques and Art Dealers Association show. 

 

Until next time,

 





vintage Vespa dreaming...

Image from here

 

I have been absent for a little while for two reasons.  Firstly, I took a short break combined with a furniture delivery run to Melbourne.  And secondly, I have been experiencing boring technical difficulties with uploading images to my blog.  After days of repeated attempts, a trusty google search helped me in manoeuvring around the problem.  And speaking of which, wouldn't it be fun to manoeuvre around the streets of Rome in one of these little guys? 

 

I am referring to the Vespa which is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name Vespa means wasp in Italian. And this may seem a little off track for me, perhaps, but I found a vintage model while I was out and about in Melbourne...

 



 

Isn't it a little beauty?  Now, I must confess something at this stage.  I am scared of bikes.  All bikes, that is.  Riding one, not an unexplainable phobia of being near them but literally being on one.  And  this is probably limited to just on streets and roads, I would be fine meandering along a country lane without the chance or a looming truck behind me.  Or on a farm would be fine too, as I grew up riding motorbikes as a child in large open spaces. 

I am quite admiring of bike riders who are helping the environment by choosing to ride bicycles, without feeling the need to be among them.  But finding this particular model made me both want a scooter and also start daydreaming about zipping around Hobart wearing a little black leather jacket and matching helmet like the uber chic model in first image! 

 

 

Maybe it is the innocent baby shower blue colour? Or the comfortable seat? I am not sure but I fell in love.

 

 

I am guessing the ornament (there is probably a more accurate "bikey" term than ornament, but we will go with this) is an aeroplane?  Strange it isn't a wasp, I think.  And look at the shine on the body.  From the tag I read this is a 1962 model and has been fully restored.  And for $4950 it maybe isn't a bargain but it sure is a vintage dream.   

I kindly left it for the next person...

Until next time,

 

melbourne antique fair highlights including country oak dresser!

I have returned from the AAADA (Australian Antiques and Art Dealers Association) antiques fair which was held last weekend in Melbourne at the Royal Exhibition building in Carlton Gardens.  I may have seen you there, but if not, I have taken some pictures to give you an idea of what I was involved in and a few of my favourite pieces... 

Image from here

During fair set up, I managed to sneak away to buy some flowers on Brunswick Street for Richmond Antiques' stand.  I was told to go to Vasette, an amazing florist shop that had every type of flower imaginable.  A flower lover's dream, that is for sure.

The choice was difficult but I settled on some white hyacinths, I love white flowers.  I just love white, full stop.

The hyacinths were for a pair of 19th century garden urns, I wanted to make the flowers look "planted" rather than displayed as you would in a vase.  But don't worry, they all had water underneath the moss.

This is the country area of Richmond Antiques' stand, it was much admired during the event.

Including this gorgeous English c.1800 country oak dresser with green plates.  Isn't it delightful?

And this is a French folding wine tasting or vendange table, originally used during the wine harvest seasons in France.  It is in cherrywood and has a wonderful patina. 

An English 19th century decoy duck kept watch over the stand.  Or maybe he did a lot of people watching?

 Also to be found on Richmond Antiques' stand were these amonites on museum stands, as well as a whale vertebrae. 

 Next door to us was this Persian hall runner, I fell in love with it immediately and drooled over it throughout the weekend.  It was exhibited by Behruz studio.

More rugs with Behruz studio.  I love the colours of the two rugs on the left wall.  They were a little outside my budget (and would probably not fit any of my rooms) but it costs nothing to admire...

 This marble figure is Italian, was originally part of a fountain and dates to the 16th century.  It was exhibited on Brans stand, all the way from Perth.

More delectable items on the carefully edited Brans stand.  I love the blue and white Chinese porcelain pots with the orchids.

Image from here

Another stand that I admired belonged to Brownlow Interiors.  Alexandra Brownlow did a fantastic job setting up her stand to show how antiques are used to great effect in the modern interior.  Above is a 19th Century centre table with a marble top, with a pair of giant clam shells. 

Image from here

Image from here

Alex has a natural flair for decorating as you can see from her display, above. 

Overall, I had a tiring but very enjoyable time at the antiques fair.  I returned to Tasmania to a busy store at The Drill Hall Emporium, hence the delay in sharing my images.  I hope they were worth the wait and that you get a bit of a feel for what went on at the AAADA antiques fair...

antique fair in Melbourne this week!

 The AAADA (Australian Antiques and Art Dealers Association) antiques fair is on again in Melbourne this week opening Thursday night through to late Sunday afternoon.  You may recall my post last year with beautiful antiques such as these carved oak angels, above.

I will once again be assisting the Tasmanian based exhibitor Richmond Antiques with their stand.  I love being involved with the set up of the fair, working out how to display everything to maximum effect. 

This harp is beautiful, I admired it every day at the fair last year.  A harp is definitely on my eternal want list.

Coral and leather books in a shelf. 

A French limed armoire.  I hope to see more such decorative antiques this year.  I will post on my favourite pieces during or after the fair.

The fair is held at the Royal Exhibition Building which is one of the world's oldest remaining exhibition pavilions and is World Heritage listed. Located in Carlton Gardens, the pavilion was originally completed in 1880 for the first of two international fairs hosted by Melbourne. Today, with its meticulously restored interior, expansive galleries and soaring dome, the Great Hall offers an impressive setting for event.  For more details on the fair, including opening times, venue details and exhibitor list visit AAADA. 

I hope to see you there!