| Calling all art and antique aficionados |
|
|
|
| Written by Makoena Pabale | |
| Friday, 18 July 2008 | |
|
Are you more Monet than Madonna? Admire the pieces, meet the experts and expand your personal collection at this year's National Antiques and Decorative Arts Faire. 
The National Antiques and Decorative Arts Faire takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from today
FROM Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July, the Sandton Convention Centre will be buzzing with the who's who of the art and antique collecting community. This year's National Antiques and Decorative Arts Faire will showcase some of South Africa's finest arts, sculptures and antiques. These proudly local, and some international, pieces will be on display for the observers, and on sale for avid collectors. However, the antique and art sale is not the only attraction at this year's faire. Art-lovers can look forward to competitions and informative talks. Moorcroft Pottery, one of the world's most famous art potteries, has launched a South African Design Competition. Eight winners, four adults and four children, will be selected. There will also be an overall winner, who will walk away with a cash prize of R5 000. The four winners in each category will have their pots made by prestige painters and tubeliners at Moorcroft. The winners will each keep one pot, while the other will be kept for a public auction by the popular TV personality and the BBC's Antiques Roadshow expert, Eric Knowles. The proceeds of the auction will be donated to the Johannesburg-based charity, Twilight Children. The charity provides street children with shelter and outreach programmes, including training in pottery and art. Emma Bossons, a ceramic artist and designer for Moorcroft Pottery said: "Whilst several Moorcroft artists have, in the past, designed South African flora and fauna vases, it is wonderful to see truly South African interpretations of both nature and culture". The informative and entertaining Tea-and-Talk event will be taking place on Friday from 11 to 12pm. The entrance fee is R80 per person, which includes the entrance fee to the faire, a cup of tea and delectable cake. Clyde Terry, co-organiser of the faire, will host the talk and guests will include BBC television personality, Eric Knowles on Moorcroft and Louise Irvine, UK author and expert on pottery art. Other guests include local experts of The Home Channel's The Collector Roadshow, Jeremy Astfalck on silver, Jeremy Stephen on glassware, Michael Prior on books, prints and maps and Vanessa Prior on jewellery. Seating for this talk is limited, so pre-booking is essential. For bookings contact: 011 482 3266. Visitors to the faire can enter the Antiques Competition and stand a chance of winning antiques worth R60 000. This exceptional prize includes a Victorian Mahogany Chaise Longue, an Edwardian Fruitwood inlaid side table, a Royal Doulton figurine of The Moor and a painting by Lucky Sibaya. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that no serious antique collector would want to miss," said co-organiser of the faire, Guili Osso. Entrance to the faire is R50 per person and parking is available at the Convention Centre (entrance on Alice Lane).
Related stories: |
