Wine barrel recraft

Reclaimed item of the week

For 2008 'barrel art' initiative Glenfiddich whisky asked the london-based design consultancy Johnson Banks to interpret the length of time it takes for Glenfiddich single malt whisky to mature in barrels. Michael Johnson and his team decided to focus on the ‘jobs’ that each part of the barrel have to do over the different lengths of time the five different whiskies mature. the shortest length of time whisky is in a barrel is 12 years, the longest is 30.





Above: The whiskey barrel relates to 1987 - 'for 21 years we take a share', over the course of 21 years, nearly half a barrel of liquid will evaporate. legend has it that this is the ‘angel’s share’.



Above: The whiskey barrel relates to 1978 - 'I will wait for 11,000 nights - I will wait for 11,000 days', the whisky that takes longest to mature, the 30 years, is represented by the moon and the sun etched and charred onto the lid of a barrel.

Haute Nature Wine Barrel art

Designboom

Johnson Banks

Elephant lobby target Portobello Road again

Above: Elephant grave yard drawing on Portobello Road at the weekly Saturday antique market [pict. Antiques Trade Gazette]

Portobello Road Market, London

A chalk drawing of an 'elephant graveyard' appeared at the entrance to the Portobello Road Market on Saturday, January 10. The three-dimensional pavement art depicting an elephant carcass was the work of representatives for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), who in recent years have singled out the weekly antiques market in its campaign to curb the illegal trade in modern elephant ivory.

Since 2004, IWAF have carried out investigations into the ivory trade in the UK, focusing their attention on eBay, car boot sales, curio shops, flea and antiques markets where, they claim, "worryingly large quantities of ivory items are being sold illegally."

In the much publicised Elephants On The High Street report of 2004, IFAW were highly critical of the ignorance of traders at some of the UK's best-known antique markets. Portobello Road received a particularly poor press.

Although the Portobello Traders' Association make it clear that their members must be aware of the rules around the items they are selling, the report found some dealers at Portobello unaware of the legislation surrounding the ivory trade and others who encourage purchasers to flout the law when exporting ivory. The emotive findings of the report has largely ignored the input of the legitimate antiques trade and appears to have provided the impetus for the latest publicity stunt.


Elephants On The High Street report of 2004

IFAW

The 17th century survives in miniatured

Among the very first sales of the New Year was that conducted by advertising and bottle specialists BBR of Elsecar, South Yorkshire on January 4. The annual auction is held alongside the winter fair organised in aid of the Coddswallop Bottle Museum, a collection currently housed at the Elsecar Heritage Center.

Among the highlights was this miniature shaft and globe bottle in dark olive green glass, a 3 3/4 inch (9.5cm) vessel probably used for pharmaceutical purposes c.1660-70. Discovered undamaged on the banks of the Thames in London within the last decade, it has acquired a vibrant coloured patination and iridescence. Particularly unusual for its diminutive proportions.

It sold above estimate at £3300. The buyer was the same Midlands collector who had purchased the recently dug Charles II handled shaft and globe or decanter bottle that had sold for £21,000 at BBR's sale in July - a record for 'black' glass.

[Article taken from Antiques Trade Gazette 24th January 2009 Issue 1874]


BBR

Newark stand offers

Newark offers cut-price stands

Cut price outside stands are available for the forthcoming Newark International Antiques and Collectors' Fair. Following the poor weather that hit numbers in December, organisers DMG Antiques Fairs are offering a limited number of outdoor pitches in a central location at the February 6-6 fair for £75, compared with the usual rate of £117. The stands, which will be allocated on arrival, must be prepaid.

Contact 01636 702326


Newark Antiques Fair

Van De Wouwer Decor. coming to sf09

Caption: sf08 browsers surrounded by the buckets, baskets, tubs, and cans of Van De Wouwer's from Belgium


JEROEN from Van De Wouwer Decorations, Belgium has booked Salvo 2009, saying that he had 'a lovely response' to his collection of architectural and garden salvage, and that he is 'collecting interesting items for this summer's fair, including lots of tulip boxes used for drying bulbs.'
This week also saw bookings from, amongst others, Salvo Fair stalwarts Cox's Yard, Mongers, and Olliff's Architectural.

Book and pay before Jan 31st for a discount on pitches over £100. Call Ruby on 01225 422300.

Salvo Fair

Germans book Salvo Fair 2009!

TWO members of the Historiche Baustoffe have booked a jumbo pitch at Salvo Fair, Knebworth this summer, taking advantage of the discounts Salvo are offering on stands booked and paid for by the end of January. Christoph Freudenberger visited the fair last summer with represents of nine businesses that belong to Unternehmerverband Historische Baustoffe, which is the German trade association for architectural salvage dealers. They spent three days meeting the trade and soaking up the atmosphere at Salvo 2008. Having a contingency of European exhibitors adds a bit of spice to the fair, and we look forward to seeing what they bring along.

To book your pitch at Salvo Fair 2009 download a booking form from www.salvo-fair.com or call 01225 422300.

Historiche Baustoffe website

Garbage Lighting

Reclaimed item of the week

French design studio Garbage Vpot are the recycled designs of very creative Gilles Eichenbaum. He repurposes household goods and antique kitchen implements turning them into unique lighting.





Haute Nature


Garbage Vpot