We are delighted that Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill has agreed to design our stand for this year’s Masterpiece Fair. Our theme is the ability of art to transcend cultural and geographical borders. Great craftsmanship can be admired by everyone with an appreciative eye, regardless of the traditions in which they have been raised. Once new influences have been assimilated into existing cultures an exciting fusion of ideas can take place. 19th century Europe, thanks largely to the series of International Fairs, the increased ease of travel, the development of photography, as well as the opening of Japan to the West under the auspices of the Meiji dynasty, was a fulcrum forjust such transitions. We have exhibited a magnificent cabinet by Gabriel Viardot who was an early exponent of ‘Orientalism’, silvered porcelain dragon vases in the Japanese taste but made in France, Chinese plates made for the Dutch market showing Cape Town and Italian commodes from a country house in Somerset. In this catalogue we have a Japanese lacquer, wood and textile table, in itself a fantasy, reputedly made for the Great Exhibition in 1851. There is a pair of monumental pagodas made in France to showcase a set of Japanese gold lacquer panels. In 1888 the Dutch royal family commissioned Louis Majorelle, a French master craftsman to furnish the palace of Het Loo and we include a mirror from this suite. Fascination with ancient Egypt is represented by two English pieces, a Regency mirror and a bust by John Adams Acton of Pharaoh’s Daughter. Finally furniture made to English designs in the Far East out of exotic timbers complete the list. The creation and distribution of 19th century furniture flowed around the world thus making the acquisition and appreciation of beautiful objects a truly international pursuit.
Fusion and Fantasy Fusion and Fantasy double spead
Wick Antiques was established by Charles Wallrock in the early 1980s. Having grown up in the Antiques world Charles developed an extensive wealth of knowledge.
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