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NEWS LETTER.

APRIL 2017

Dorking Halls Antiques Fair.


SUNDAY

' 23rd APRIL  '

NEXT FAIR: 23rd April 2017. 
fully booked again with over 50 plus dealers in the Grand Hall with free parking, café and WIFI - our regular stallholders, recent additions  & new exhibitors  bring  another fascinating &  eclectic mix of antiques to choose from including, this month, an emphasis on a particular area of art & design that has seen a marked 
 increase in interest  for 'Scandinavian Moderne' particularly in silver, glass & jewellery. This month the fair has a number of exhibitors who specialise in this area of design.
The front cover offers a little taste of  wonderful examples exhibited by our stallholders, original pieces by designers / makers synonymous with the period. 
 

'Collectors Tips' offers a little more background knowledge introducing those of you who may not be aware of this truly wonderful and unique area of art and design.  
 
For a great many people Scandinavian Modernism is  most recognized by iconic pieces of furniture such as Arne Jacobson's  'Egg chair'  adorning the chic office reception  too the flat pack functional found in the Ikea store!  Whether it is just a few pounds or several thousands, historically, Scandinavian Moderne covers far more than furniture  and is an area of art & design that honoured quality of craftsmanship, purity in form  and  materials used in the pieces that truly captivated a philosophy expressed by a refined organic style.
Exhibitors At the
Dorking Halls Antiques Fair.
*Tony Knott.                                   *Julia Dawson. Guilloche enamel broach
                                                         Norway. c. 1955-70.
With over 50 dealers exhibiting this month here are just a few who, not only offer interesting pieces from the 18th, 19th & early 20th Century but, also carry examples of Scandinavain design that will catch your attention:

*Tony Knott

specializing in Scandinavian jewellery & object of vertu, - (by appt. Shropshire & exhibitions) - Tony exhibited with us for the first time in 2016  and returns this April for a one off opportunity, kindly traveling a long distance to attend with us. 

*Julia Dawson
Julia is a regular exhibitor who specializes in studio potteries and Scandinavian jewelley particularly, broaches. The handmade example above is a
blue guilloche enamel & enamel ladybird broach , 925 sterling silver, Norway,  hallmarked OF Hjortdahl . Julia also holds other pieces using different decorative techniques including examples by the highly renowned studios of 'Georg Jenson'. 
  
Keith Baker. Glass:- (left to right) Boda Afors (Swedish) acid-etched glass bowl by Bertil Vallien, circa 1977 / Iittala (Finnish) cut glass leaf-shaped dish, by Tapio Wirkkala, 1955. / Kumela Oy (Finnish) amber glass bowl with fish decoration, circa 1970.
*Keith Baker.

Keith has gained a broad knowledge and experience having worked at two of London's major auction houses, been a regular antiques expert on BBC TV and vetting at highly regarded London and national antiques events.

He regularly exhibits at Dorking Halls Antiques Fair and his chief discipline is 19th & 20th century decorative arts, however he currently favours Scandinavian Modern design including the glass above & especially jewellery. He is currently working on a website that will include pieces of the same category as shown on the 'front page',  illustrating a selection of Scandinavian silver jewellery from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, including works by Georg Jensen, Hans Hansen, N.E.From, Bernard Hertz, David Andersen and J. Rostrum.'

*Andy Mackenzie
Last month 'Collectors Tips' looked at the Art Nouveau period which illustrated a collection of pieces exhibited by  Andy Mackenzie.  Those have now sold but, as part of a larger collection of 19th & early 20th century  metalwork Andy also has original piecs in the Scandinavian style.  For example the  Copenhagen 1948 long caddy spoon above by S.A.Jacobsen and carries the assayers mark (JS) for Johannes Siggard.

The caddy spoon above,  again Copenhagen  (1938),  a little more figurative in decoration and folk art in influence, is by Horsens Solvvarefabrik,  (W&S Sorensen-Horsens), and also carries the assayers mark (JS) for Johannes Siggard.
COLLECTORS TIPS
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN
Stylistic foundations of this quite unique aesthetic follows elements of organic forms & philosophies shared by other art movements e.g. Arts & Crafts / Art Nouveau during the late 19th early 20th C. and Modernist ideals of the Bauhaus. 
However, Scandinavian Modern  was underpinned by Humanist  belief and the vision of a vast geographic region including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden forming a mix of cultures, languages,  and politics which created a design philosophy that became a major International  design influence of the 20th century. 
 
All five countries shared principles of the modern movement to create 'democratic design solutions'  first 
displaying uniquely different traditions and craft characteristics too later form functionalist principles within an organic aesthetic.

Home was central focus to family life and protection from hostile climates. (Architecture & ) Interior furnishing was therefore treated with as much  aesthetic value and distinguished the Scandinavian style using natural materials, smooth simple curved organic and geometric lines with limited, if any, applied decoration such as foliage or plants associated with each country. 

  
Architects of the period such as Alvo Aalto,  Arno Jacobson & Bruno Mathsson often branched into the interior furnishing and decorative arts  -  furniture & lighting, glass, metal and wood -  who experimented with new forms and are highly collectable.

Noted 19th C.  Scandinavian family business, still recognized & collected today for the production of decorative arts in silver,   include 
Hans Henson & his son, Karl Gustav Hansen and Georg Jensen (Danish), universally acclaimed for elegant silversmith with designs by Johan Rohde and Henning Koppel.  
Kosta Boda Handmade Glass.

(Michael & Liz Flatter- Dorking Halls Antiques Fair).

 
Much like their contemporaries other designers worked for Scandinavian glass manufactures including  Afors (Swedish),  Iittala or, now, Kosta Boda AB (Finnish) - a merger of 
Kosta (Est. 1742) , Boda and Orrefors in 1976. These glassworks decided to stop producing  older well-known designs like the fish-graal vases and only focus on designs from contemporary designers making the older styles greater in value particularly, as they closed the  Orrefors glassworks in 2012.
Other examples of highly regarded  post war contemporary designer makers include  Mat Jonasson  (Swedish) attracting great attention from the 1960's  & working  as an apprentice with many of the most respected contemporary glass artists in Sweden.
Examples of his work is exhibited by Peter Jeffs, (amongst a range of  other silver and glass from earlier periods of design).
Exhibitors, Michael & Liz Flatter  also specialise in antique and studio art glass including Costa Boda, (see above).

20th century, Swedish and Danish potteries produced both table ware & art pottery. Early Swedish pieces had  Art Nouveau & Art Deco influences with Gustavsberg as the largest factory employing leading designers of the late 19th and 20th centuries; Josef Ekberg, Wilhelm Kage, Stig Lindberg, Lisa Larson.

Danish ceramics illustrated  a more  modern aesthetic before the post IIWW Modern movement took hold. Factories such as Royal Copenhagen & Bing & Grondahl employed designers such as Axel Salto, who worked for both firms from the 1930s  or Knud Kuhn, artist and sculpture who joined the company in 1906 best known for his animal (bear) sculptures showing his unique glaze techniques. Above: Royal Copenhagen stoneware dish designed by Knud Kuhn, (c.1970 ). Royal Copenhagen Porcelain vase  and cover, early 20th Century (Keith Baker).
Tips:
20th Century design continues to show the largest growth area in antique and collecting market & the distinctive Scandinavian Modern style is proving to attract great attention due to its diversity,  refined & bold forms, quality and meticulous craftsmanship. 
 Whatever age & period of design, condition is a consideration & as per previous 'Tips'  fundamental disciplines still apply;
  • check the condition  - any restoration already carried out? Existing damage can be difficult to restore and, if it includes exotic materials, expensive. 
  • Not all glass manufacturers necessarily Id . However, most Scandinavian glass manufacturers do use forms of signature systems to identify glass types, date codes, manufacturer & designer/makers signature marks. 
  • Glassware e.g. vases - avoid heavy water damage or  scaling - scaled vases can be very difficult to clean.
  •  scratching and fine wear to the base is not only to be expected, but can provide a good indication that an item of glass is genuine. 
  • Avoid buying glass with chips and check for cracks. Depending on the damage, this will effect the  value.
  • When buying jewellery ask the dealer about the materials used - have stones been replaced, are they natural not synthetic, is there a makers mark.
  • metalworks -  Scandinavian silver such as Georg Jensen pieces are continually in demand and for collectors will find jewellery for men and women, cutlery and an extensive range of hollow wares. The rarer early pieces, from 1904 to around 1914, are particularly sought after. They include brooches, earrings and buckles, and incorporate the shapes and motifs (pods, flowers, fruits) favoured in the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau styles.
  • Generally speaking, with silver, look out for 'marriages in which two pieces have been combined to make a single item e.g. old base with a later handle.
  • N.B. Consider continental hallmarks / makers marks.
DORKING HALLS ANTIQUES FAIR DATES FOR 2017
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Any queries visit us on our website / Facebook / Antiques Atlas
or 07952 689717 

We look forward to seeing you on

SUNDAY 23rd April 2017
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