Dear Reader, welcome to Gloriously Vintage, if you are visiting for the first time do say hello!
I am excited to share with you the wonderful day at Antiques for Everyone at the National Exhibition Centre (N.E.C), near Birmingham in the UK.
We have been going regularly to this Antiques Fair now for a number of years and look forward to meeting Exhibitors that we know and also finding out about new things. I love to meet new people and of course for me, it is the treasure hunting that I adore so much!
That frisson of excitement is a wonderful feeling and definitely helps to impart a healthy “glow” to the complexion!
The last post was about the outfit I wore. It was comfortable and the colours made me feel happy and uplifted.
One of my favourite scarves tied in the “Elizabeth Drape” was the starting point for the styling.
Since starting this venture with Gloriously Vintage, the 60th year of my life has just got better and better with every passing month! Experiences are somehow sharper as I am thinking more about what I am doing, how I feel and appreciating more joy. It has given me a “brightness” that I experienced in flashes before. I would actually say this new decade has brought a sense of a greater engagement with each experience. Life is good!
I decided to ask some Exhibitors if I could photograph some items on my “Wish List”. Treasures I would buy if money were no object. This was fun and something I will do next time we go.
The hare was the first thing I spotted when we came in on the stand for Callaghan, Fine paintings and Contemporary Bronze. He was cast in bronze and cost over £17,000! I would have loved to take him home and put him on display in a large conservatory surrounded by leafy plants.
My other wish list item was this amazing gold bracelet, from Markov.
In gold and rose gold and set with 52 diamonds I was immediately drawn to it because of the unusual shape and design. It was so different from others displayed with it in a beautiful case. The value was over £2,000. It felt comfortable to wear – I so enjoyed trying it on.
There was also a pen and writing instruments exhibition. This was very interesting because I enjoy writing with a fountain pen. My journey to characterful handwriting has been hard work. I am left handed and was not taught sympathetically at school when very young. I taught myself cursive italic for calligraphy in 1989 and then developed the handwriting style I have now. That experience started my love affair with fountain pens and ink.
I do not know about you, dear Reader, but for me writing with a fountain pen is a sensual experience. The smoothness of the nib contributes to this of course and the colour of the ink makes a difference too. My usual choice is black ink as it photocopies easily and is a strong statement and the second choice is dark blue. Your handwriting says so much about your personality and character. I am sad that modern life puts so much emphasis on the printed word.
It is another of my life goals to own a Parker Duofold Fountain pen one day. The Duofold was first designed in 1921 and is iconic! I sat and tried out some pens by Lamy and enjoyed them. I actually own a Lamy Safari Pen in black and I have since got it out and started using it more! A post on Gloriously Vintage will follow in the future about writing with vintage fountain pens. I have a number of pens but only one is really vintage. It is a darling Summit Ladies pen in a pink and black marbled effect that Glenn bought for me 2 years ago at Antiques for Everyone. I use it to write my Christmas cards.
In this jolly photograph I am with Diane Ashman and her friend Liz who was helping her on the day we went.
I met Liz at the last Fair and it was great to meet up again. You can see from the background that Diane always has a wonderful stand. Every Fair I look forward to seeing Diane because there is so much to explore! Talking with her is fascinating as she has so much experience of period and vintage clothes. She has clothes on a rail and cases full of the most marvellous items. It is possible to come into her stand and have a really good look around. I have bough many of the most precious pieces in my vintage handbag and jewellery collections from her. Her stand is a treasure trove! Drinking in all the items in the glass cases, rummaging through her vintage buttons – sheer delight!
I settled on a Jane Shilton handbag with an optional chain handle.
As you know dear Reader, I do love clutch bags and this one is a good size and has gold coloured fittings, which is my preference. Here is it paired with black suedette “Emie” Shoes from Dorothy Perkins. It will look good with plain black leather courts too.
Now we are into August I am starting to prepare for A/W2 2016 – certainly thinking about it as the trends are now out in Vogue!
It is all about the matching and pairing what new items I see, with what I know I have in my wardrobe and collections, that I find so stimulating and satisfying.
I found this dear necklace with pink and pearl stones and this sweet pink toned pearl bracelet, and a brooch that caught my eye. You know I always try to make “sets” when picking out jewellery and here, dear reader is a pink one! The stone in the centre of the brooch is very unusual. The pearls in the brooch will match other pearl pieces I have.
I have these amazing pink gloves that I bought from Chronically Vintage Etsy Shop, and I am keen to style a summer outfit with them. So the jewellery will go well with that outfit. I am trying to make the most of the summertime that we have left!
These pink “tweed” shoes will certainly feature!
Of course, there is a scarf involved. Watch out for the outfit coming soon!
Diane had an exquisite Este Lauder Art Deco style compact that was unused in its original box. It was over my budget, so she will keep it for me for the next Fair in the Autumn.
It was made for the Portuguese Ballet. She wore it with an Edwardian top. It was so original and looked amazing on her. Kitty’s stand is full of the most wonderful costume jewellery and special items.
Look at my happiness looking through a large box of earings!
I espied these darling earings looking down in to one of her display cases.
They are hand painted and are from the 1940’s.
I fell in love with them because when I tried them on…
They went so well with my Anniversary scarf! I have a brooch that I know will go with them, so want to hurry up and wear them soon before the summer ends!
I also saw this marvellous 1930’s clutch bag.
It is in dark brown, buttery soft leather.
Kitty explained that the bag had been thought to be 1940’s , but the lining silk and small purse on a chain was definitely from the 1930’s and I agreed with her . I have some bags that are that old and there are similarities in the linings.
Kitty also had a most interesting observation about this handle on the back. I thought it was another way to hold the bag. She thought it was to put your gloves through when you took them off as they would d not fit easily into the bag. Gloves would always be part of the ensemble in the 1930’s and it is a good idea to use this space for gloves. I am going to try it this A/W! Leather gloves are much heavier than the cotton gloves o the S/S! This is a bag I will treasure, use carefully and greatly enjoy.
So I bought the two items at a good price. It was wonderful to share with Kitty how much I loved the Schreiner demi parure and the bracelet I bought from her previously. I had the Shreiner for my Birthday this year and the bracelet wore on Boxing day last Christmas! Wonderful jewellery is wonderful to wear and for me enhances my life greatly.
I visited Steven Bristow and found this Trifari bracelet and earings. The earings are un marked but go well with the texture on the bracelet. Trifari jewellery has a particular style that I like. I am able to recognise it more as I am gaining experience as a collector.
We also invested in a 3 arm chandelier 1900 brass light fitting with three glass shades to put in our lounge. It is on ongoing project to have Antique/Vintage lighting in our home and it is coming to an end as we now have three light fittings to use in the lounge!
Gemma has a wonderful website which I regularly visit. Her stand is so elegantly set out that visiting it is an experience. Feasting my eyes on cases filled with beautiful named costume jewellery that shines and twinkles back at you is a little piece of heaven for me! If money were no object I would buy many, many pieces from her. Gemma selects pieces in pristine condition for the serious collector and lover of named costume jewellery.
One piece in a case caught my eye and really set my heart aflutter. It was in the case behind me in this photograph.
You can see how beautiful everything is! It was a very special brooch, for me , set with turquoise and diamante. It was the original design in “a jewellery mystery” that I took to expert Lisa Lloyd at the Antiques Roadshow at Baddesley Clinton.
Here is my brooch by Sphinx. I love this brooch and bought it about three years ago from Diane Ashman. My brooch has pink, blue and diamante stones and I wear it in the A/W usually on a dark jacket. It always makes the outfit look wonderful and works it’s magic as only lovely jewellery can.
Looking on the internet as I do, researching my jewellery pieces I came across my exotic bird brooch by Marcel Boucher! Mine is marked Sphinx. Knowing the design was a Boucher changed everything!
Here is a quotation from the post
“My brooch is marked Sphinx but I have found on the internet the same bird brooch by Marcel Boucher with different stones marked Boucher. Lisa confirmed that Sphinx did not make for Boucher but it is a copy of the bird design, maybe made from the same mould. She also told me my brooch was almost too good to be by Sphinx as it is a higher quality than a lot of their pieces.”
Gemma explained that she had bought the brooch in France. She joked with me that it was meant for me, that day. I think it was.
When I saw it in the case, I knew immediately what it was. I asked to see it and put it back and walked away, but I knew in my heart it was one of those special moments when there is a choice. Leave it, walk away, probably never see one again and always regret leaving it or go back and buy it. So I did. A real treasure, to treasure, always.
Look how beautifully my purchase was presented to me. All this attention to detail made this treasure hunting so special and a great pleasure.
I cannot show you this – yet. My mother is going to give me some money for Christmas and yes, you guessed correctly, I am giving it to myself, with her for Christmas! So it has been put away, until it will appear under the Christmas Tree!
I am taking time to savour these new treasures and to work them into my collections. It is always fun to plan outfits and to create opportunities to wear the treasures too. Thank you for joining me on this post. Do chat in the comments, I would love to hear of your special finds.
The photographs in this post were all taken by Glenn, thank you.
One of my favourite television programmes is “The Antiques Roadshow” made by the BBC.
Have you seen it? It is possible to go and take precious items of all sizes to be valued by antiques experts. Earlier in the year, before my Birthday and writing posts on Gloriously Vintage, I checked out their website and saw to my delight they were coming to film a programme at Baddesley Clinton, a beautiful old moated manor house not too far from my home.
“I would love to go”, was my first thought and “what could I take” was my second.
Welcome dear Reader to this post about a really big adventure for us – going to the Antiques Roadshow with some of my Corde Handbag collection and also some lovely named 1950’s costume jewellery.
History of the Antiques Roadshow
I am not sure if you have seen the show where you are, dear Reader, but in the UK the Programme is rather an institution! It started in 1979 and has developed, with different presenters over the years into the very entertaining show we enjoy today. It is usually shown on a Sunday evening at about 7.30 pm – 8.00 pm and is on for an hour.
I watch regularly and am often amazed by the wonderful items and stories they feature. Indeed I have been a fan almost half of my life! The idea is a collection of antiques experts gather together and members of the public take items to be valued. Occasionally stories come up of finds from a car boot sale of an item bought for 50p, that turns out to be made by Faberge and worth thousands of pounds!
The venues have gradually become more adventurous and interesting as the programme has moved from inside places to outside often visiting historic houses. Programmes are often hosted by properties belonging to the National Trust in the UK. So there is an opportunity to see a lovely location and the interesting programme together. It adds up to a very successful format that is popular and always stimulating.
The Current Presenter
Fiona Bruce is the current presenter. Do have a look at this link to see her and find out more about her. She is always very professional and looks as though she is having a marvellous time! Her natural enthusiasm for the antiques and the whole ethos of the show is a big part of its success, I think.
We saw her – not too close up -and were totally charmed.
Fiona Bruce has her back to us and is wearing very clean, new looking trainers!
Do you see those wooden banded trunks? I used to keep my dressing up clothes in one like that in our Third Bedroom, when I was a child.
The Experts
This link will tell you about the experts that participate in the programme. As it is a very big team it is just luck who is there on the day. All the experts are familiar as they are beamed into our homes regularly over so many years. New experts are added to the team, but some have been like old friends, on the programme for many, many years.
Decision To Go
We did some juggling with our work commitments to be free on Wednesday 8th June. Once we had made a firm decision it was a case of getting organized and sorting out a picnic too. We took the precaution of buying a second large umbrella so there would be one each, should the weather be inclement.
I decided to take 7 of my Corde Handbags and some 1950’s named jewellery for valuation and advice.
I contacted the programme and submitted my story of the first Corde Handbag and said what I wanted to bring, on line. A phone call to the production team confirmed my application had gone in. Sadly, they did not select me to be filmed and on television, but I was able to see an expert who gave me some excellent advice to help me in my future collecting. As it is necessary to queue I wanted to present my handbags and if possible to present the 1950’s jewellery as well but only if we did not have to join a second long queue!
Have you ever been to the Antiques Roadshow somewhere? Do tell me in the comments.
What to Wear?
Well dear Reader, you can imagine my third thought was
“WHAT am I going to WEAR?”
I did a lot of thinking and styling in my head as I narrowed down just what to wear on the day. Comfortable shoes were a must that would be fine walking on grass. I wanted to use my cream handbag and Fox’s Umbrella too.
This is the outfit I styled.
Outfit Details
Cream twist front flat shoes New Look
Light Green Viyella Pleated Skirt Oxfam on Line
Soft Peach Square neck top Kettlewell Colours
Christian Dior Scarf with green and peach in the pattern Bought recently at an Antiques Fair (The hand rolled edge is on the top, CD and Hermes do this, I have learnt)
1950’s Cream framed Handbag Bought at a Vintage Fair
Cream and gold “everything” Bag Oxfam on Line (a bargain as it was £6!)
Fox’s Umbrella/Parasol (used here as a parasol)
3 Rows of pearls
Trifari Pearl and gold earings
Trifari pearl and gold bracelet
Napier twist bracelet
Ted Baker Sunglasses
The Experience
Dear Reader, it was a great experience! Firstly it is very rare for us to have a Wednesday off together, so that made it special to start with. The sun was out; it was warm so I did not take a jacket.
Bobbi Brown lip pencil Red + Revlon Red + Bobbi Brown Parisian Red
Baddesley Clinton is approached from the road by a long drive. We made our way slowly and were waved into the overflow carpark by a NT Steward wearing a high visablility jacket. Another steward then waved us to a parking space. We had arrived.
I am standing at the entrance to Baddesley Clinton, by the gateway into a courtyard where the Tea Rooms are, the shop and also an area where there are plants for sale. The three people in front had come from Australia to be there.
The queue very slowly progressed through this courtyard, passing this sculpture that was for sale for £150. I like it and thought it would look interesting in our garden!
So glad to have to use my parasol!
The queue moved on to the grassy area just in front of the house. That is a BBC van behind me.
There were a lot of BBC vehicles and equipment of all sizes around.
This 1930’s bus was something to go and see. The camera on the long arm was impressive and the two men had to man handle it around the gardens filming the back ground shots. We may be in some of them. Have a look at the fence. This fence is a good example of the fencing that was used to surround an estate in the past. It has weathered to a silvery grey and blends into the fields beyond very well.
Can you see the red chairs? They are antiques Roadshow chairs. There were small groups of these chairs all over the gardens. A welcome opportunity to sit down!
At the Reception desk we were given a blue ticket, for Miscallaneous Objects and directed to the Walled Garden to queue again!
The expert we were able to see was Lisa Lloyd who specialises in all things vintage including jewellery.
She praised my collection and valued them on average at £100 each. Her advice was to always buy in tip top condition and to go on collecting them! You can read the story of finding my first Corde handbag here.
I love these bags and use them – especially for dinner dates and special occasions. It was marvellous to talk to Lisa about these darling handbags.
As we had waited a long time to see her she looked at my jewellery too! So we only queued once. I took my Pennino jewellery and the Schreiner demi parure, a 1930’s unmarked brooch and earings I wear as a “Set” and a bird brooch that is rather a mystery.
My brooch is marked Sphinx but I have found on the internet the same bird brooch by Marcel Boucher with different stones marked Boucher. Lisa confirmed that Sphinx did not make for Boucher but it is a copy of the bird design, maybe made from the same mould. She also told me my brooch was almost too good to be by Sphinx as it is a higher quality than a lot of their pieces.
Lisa is looking at the Pennino jewellery here and I am holding the Hobe Bracelet that I had for my 60th Birthday from Glenn. These pieces are so precious to me.
It was wonderful to have this time with Lisa who confirmed I had pieces in good condition and that I had not paid too much for them!
I now have a Gloriously Vintage You Tube Channel. This is our first video – they will get better!
Lisa told me about Alfies in Marylebone , London and encouraged me to go and see what I could find there. Oh yes, dear Reader, another adventure …?
Joining the National Trust
We have rejoined the National Trust at Baddesley Clinton and are so happy about this. We had been members for many years up to 2009 when we just did not have time to visit any properties due to work commitments and new responsibilities following the death of my father.
I am looking forward to sharing with you dear Reader, some wonderful places near my home through the summer months!
Picnic
The day ended with a tasty picnic beside our car, before setting off for home. Dear Reader, do you agree that food tastes much nicer when eaten out of doors? I do not know why, but it does! The raindrops started as we were eating our fruit, so we packed everything away and left, both agreeing it had been a great day.
Go Again!
In September The Antiques Roadshow is in Cornwall at a lovely NT House called Trelissick. It would be lovely to go again. Cornwall is a very beautiful part of England in the South West. That would be another adventure to look forward to.
This passion for collecting is making life so sweet dear Reader, and sharing these wonderful times with you on Gloriously Vintage is making being 60 years old an exciting decade, so far with so much to learn. Thank you for coming by today, do drop me a word or two in the comments.
As always a big thank you to Glenn for coming with me and taking the photographs.
Gloriously Vintage 