Western Morning News (Saturday)
What do you think?
Wmnletters@westernmorningnews.co.uk
Is the monarchy safe in Prince William’s hands? Join the debate by emailing and including your name and address
SPRING is in the air at The Brownston Gallery in Modbury as it looks forward to opening its Spring Exhibition featuring the prestigious South West Academy.
Founded in 2000 the Academy is the leading association for fine art practitioners in the South West and this annual exhibition is a wonderful showcase for the huge artistic talent we have in the region.
This year’s selected Academicians have come together to present a truly impressive collection of work. From the striking, bold colours of Jo Dixon and Geoff Shillito, to the atmospheric landscapes of David Norman and Judith Cummings and Ken Cosgrove, from the expressive abstracts of Zoe Hyde and Sam Boughton, and the gentle floral still lifes of Ken Cosgrove and Adrian Parnell to the characterful farm buildings of Phil Creek and Philip Clayton, all beautifully enhanced by the glorious ceramics of Laurel Keeley.
The exhibition opens online on March 19, then to the public on April 12 and will run to the end of April.
All works are available to purchase and can be viewed on the gallery website.
Please contact the gallery for any further information on 01548 831338, email art@brownstonart.com or visit www.brownstonart.com.
IT is remarkable, yet purely coincidental timing that the Penzance Auctioneers David Lay’s should be selling an extraordinary collection of personal letters written by Diana, Princess of Wales whilst her younger son Harry and his wife Meghan should be so much in the spotlight.
The vendor’s desire in selling these letters, is that the wider public should know the warm, witty and affectionate character of the Diana that he knew and loved, rather than accepting recent media portrayals of her as historical fact.
The letters are being sold in aid of four cultural organisations that the recipient and Diana were affiliated to, such as the English National Ballet and the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra. The letters are now fully illustrated on David Lay’s website and they really are worth browsing through; they are funny, charming and entirely uplifting to read and they do great credit to their author.
The letters form a very small part of Lay’s next antiques sale. David Lay Auctions has been a great success story of the pandemic, as they have adapted their business into an entirely online service and have been rewarded with hugely successful sales. So much so, that this will be their first ever three-day antiques sale.
A huge sale, with over 1550 lots, it contains a fantastic selection of fascinating items, from the beautiful, elegant and extremely valuable to the curious, bizarre and weirdly wonderful. The sale includes sections of furniture, clocks, garden statuary, textiles, ceramics and glass and a very large section that Lay’s simply call ‘Metals and Miscellaneous’ which encompasses a vast range of objects.
The most valuable is a late 19th century 4-inch equatorial refracting telescope, by Grubb of Dublin with a £3000-5000 estimate but one will also find many lots of good quality Newlyn copper, musical instruments, tribal artefacts, shop signs, antique and designer lighting, in fact, it is an interior designer’s paradise.
All lots are beautifully photographed on Lay’s website and from each lot it is easy to request a condition report or further information. The exciting sale will be live-streamed and you can bid live online, book a telephone line or leave commission bids. Be sure to tune in when the Diana letters are sold as there is much worldwide interest and they should generate some spirited bidding.
Lay’s has a packed calendar of monthly specialist sales ahead, plus its popular and regular household sales which are now held as online timed auctions, similar to eBay. View the online catalogues and future sales via www.davidlay.co.uk.
AN array of beautiful diamond rings, bracelets and necklaces are coming up for auction in Plymouth next week. With estimates starting at just £100 rising to several thousand there is something for every taste and budget. Catching our eye was lot 9, a platinum solitaire ring, set with a 1.20 carats diamond of good colour and clarity, finger size K, this carries a guide price of £2000.
More traditional is the Edwardian three-row ruby, sapphire and diamond set ring, size O at £500 - £600.
One of the headline lots is the stunning diamond fringe necklace set in 18ct white gold which could be yours for £2500 to £3000.
The watch section includes an almost new ladies Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, with mother of pearl, diamond dot dial. It was purchased in December 2020 so is complete with all boxes and paperwork, a very smart timepiece!
All lots can be viewed online now at plymouthauctions.co.uk. Bidding starts at 6pm on March 17 and further details on 01752 254740.