News

Exciting Modern Labels

Styles Silver of Hungerford have commissioned a number of exciting modern labels from leading contemporary silversmith as part of British Silver Week 2010. Some of these labels are shown on their website at www.styles-silver.co.uk/acatalog/WineLabels.html and we thoroughly recommend viewing of the labels on their website or even better on a visit to Hungerford in Berkshire; and we applaud their initiative both in supporting contemporary silversmiths and bringing fresh visions to wine labels.

Meetings - Autumn Details Available

The Circle's Autumn weekend will be held on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October 2010  and will include on Friday a visit to Vintners Hall and a supper; and on Saturday a visit to Apsley House at Number 1 Piccadilly in the morning, then lunch, the AGM and a talk on crests on labels at the Rembrandt Hotel opposite the Victoria & Albert Museum in south Kensington. See the Meetings page for the full programme. Full details and booking forms will be included with the autumn Journal in mid September.

Circle Goods

The Circle is able to offer a number of items for sale at attractive prices, including the books "Wine Labels 1730-2003" and "Sauce Labels", booklets, supplements and 'Last Drop' wine labels. The list and prices appear on the Membership page.

Journal

The Spring 2010 Journal was mailed to members in the last week of March. The Autumn 2010 Journal is being put together now with planned mailing to members in mid September.

News From Auction Houses

On 5 October at their Knightsbridge, London salerooms Bonhams will sell the substantial collection formed by Circle members Adlen and Constance Lank. Lawrences of Crewkerne's next silver sale is on 12 October. Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury have their next quarterly silver sale on Wednesday 27 October.

Champagne Collectibles Book Planned

 We have had news from North America of plans for a book on champagne collectibles, to cover a wide range of such items. These will include Champagne and Soda Water Taps, Nippers, Grippers, Easers, Fixed Blade Champagne Knives, Bottle Re-sealers, Corkscrews with Wire Breakers – and Wine Labels. It is being organised by Don Bull and Joe Paradi in North America; Don Bull can be contacted at corkscrew@bullworks.net  and Joe Paradi at paradi@mie.utoronto.ca Several  members of the Circle have provided photographs for the section on champagne wine labels.

 Meanwhile Circle member Dr Richard Wells is planning a photo-catalogue of champagne wine labels and related artefacts. This will be designed much more specifically for labels collectors than the book outlined above. He outlined the project at the Spring meeting on 13 May.

Antique Fairs

After a quieter period over the main holiday months, there are numerous antique fairs in SEPTEMBER. We list below the locations of some of the major ones, headed by Tatton Park and Buxton in the north and by major fairs in London at Chelsea and in Berkeley Square. There are in addition numerous one day fairs.

 The North: 3 – 5 September Naworth Castle; 11-12 National Railway Museum, York; 24-26 Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire; 25-26 Buxton Pavilion Gardens, St Johns Road, Buxton. 

Midlands: 10-12 Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire; 17-19 Stapleford Park, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leics; 18-19 Prestwood Centre, Weston Road, Stafford; 25-26 Trentham Gardens, Trentham on Trent, Staffs; 25-26 Derby University.

South & South East: 4-5 Kent County Showground, Detling, Nr Maidstone; 4-5 Ingatestone Hall, Essex; 7-8 South of England Showground, Ardingly, Nr Haywards Heath; 10-12 Petersfield Antiques Fair; 11-12 Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester, Cambs; 13 Swinderby Fair, Nr Lincoln; 18-19 Cressing Temple Barns, between Witham & Braintree, CM7 9PD; 22-26 Chelsea Antiques Fair, Old Town Hall, Kings Rd, London SW3; 22-26 LAPADA Fair, Berkeley Square, London W1; 24-26 Stamford Meadows, Stamford, Lincs; 28-3 Oct Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Battersea Park, London SW11.

West & Wales: 17-19 Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet; 25-26 United Counties Showground, Carmarthen.

There are fuller listings and more details of fairs on two websites Antiques Trade Gazette and Antiques News and other fairs will be advertised in the local press; and it's always wise to check dates and times before travelling as these can change. There will also be many smaller, local fairs during the month which can often prove interesting.