There’s more folk, as Denzil stocks up for spring show
AMONG the many dealers whose shopping trips helped make the Bath Decorative Fair a success was Suffolk- based Denzil Grant. Doubtless Denzil was looking for a
few more eye-catchers for his Spring Exhibition, which runs from Friday to Wednesday, April 8-13. A regular exhibitor at London fairs
and a keen businessman, Denzil’s annual exhibition of art, antiques and folk art always attracts buyers to his Green Farm Gallery near Bury St Edmunds. However, this is the first time he will
also have a spring show presenting a typically eclectic stash. The show includes around 50 pieces
dating from the 17th to the 19th century, priced between £300 and £8000. Denzil comments: “Although pieces
with a little extra something are often difficult to find, it is immensely rewarding when you do.” The stock is married by a certain
folkish charm, a mix of the more usual country furniture alongside naïve pictures and other quirky curios. These include a large painted turret
clock face from a church in Rouen c.1850 and three, c.1790 sailor Valentines from the West Indies. There is also material of US interest,
including an archetypal example of American folk art in the form of six c.1825 Pennsylvania-German angel-wing, painted and stencilled chairs. As always at Denzil’s exhibitions,
animals feature prominently, from a set of five English hand-painted tole stable nameplates, for inhabitants such as Cavalier, Sunday Best and Hoor Roo (dated 1873-6), to a 19th century cast iron lion.
www.denzilgrant.com
collectors
Right: recent auctions have shown a particularly strong taste among admirers of Islamic textiles for Safavid silks from Iran. In her exhibition of Islamic Courtly Textiles, at her Dover Street gallery, London specialist Francesca Galloway will ask £65,000 for this early 17th century Safavid silk velvet of a mother and child which measures 11in x 10½in (28 x 27cm).
Far right: among the earliest examples of Islamic textiles at Francesca’s April 4-May 31 exhibition is this late 15th century silk lampas, depicting rampant lions and palm
leaves, which was produced during the Nasrid dynasty in Spain. Measuring 8½ x 10in (22 x 25cm), it is priced at £40,000.
Above left: while the sacred depictions of apostles and saints bear more serious expressions, a mischievous sense of humour is evident in the more profane subjects of some medieval church corbels. Denzil Grant’s Spring Exhibition includes just such a piece – this Baltic pine medieval roof corbel of an angel holding a shield, which bears a coat of arms in the form of a tree – probably the arms of a local family who supported the church. The corbel was made in Sweden, c.1560, and Denzil suspects that the impish face of the angel was modelled on a local, perhaps a tavern keeper or a blacksmith. The 21in (54cm) high corbel will be priced at £3500. Above right: according to Denzil, this hand-painted dolls’ house “has the benefit of vacant possession and is ready for refurnishing by a lucky girl”. She will have to be one very lucky girl, as this English, c.1840, piece has a price tag of £1650 in Denzil’s Spring show. But as it stands at 2ft 5¼in (75cm) high and has an entirely hinged front, it could also be used as a hanging cupboard. Below: this sailorwork whalebone carving of a fish was produced by a British sailor on a voyage c.1850. The 3in (7.5cm) long carving is priced at £1250 at the Suffolk show.
Q
Antiques Trade Gazette 29 10 uestions
ARNAUD DELAS Arnaud Delas Fine Photographs, Portobello Road
arnaud.delas@
yahoo.com Contact 07973 123398
1. What do you deal in? Fine 19th and 20th photographs, particularly travel, exploration, portraiture and nudes.
2. How long have you been dealing? About 17 years.
3. What fairs have you enjoyed most? Paris Photo at The Carousel du Louvre, where I exhibited for ten years.
4. Best thing about being a dealer? The privilege of buying and selling marvellous material to collectors and dealers from all over the world
5. And the worst? Very early starts and awful auction coffee.
6. What has been your best buy? A portrait of Arthur Rimbaud.
7. And your biggest mistake? Too little research and being too impatient.
8. One of your best attributes? A Frenchman’s skill at finding the best restaurant near the auction house.
A quiz with a touch of class
AT their gallery at 148 New Bond Street, London’s Fine Art Society are organising a charity quiz evening on Thursday, April 14 in aid of Samaritans, Severn Hospice and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. Think posh pub quiz – the evening will start at 6.30pm with champagne and canapés, followed by the quiz, conducted by quizmasters Simon Edsor and Cheska Moon, with a break for supper and finally the prize presentations. Tickets cost £35 a head or £220 for a table of seven. Guests are to bring their own
picnic supper and wine. For tickets to the evening, which is sponsored by Patterson’s Restaurant and Jeroboams, send a cheque (payable to The Fine Art Society) to: FAO Cordelia, The Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond Street, London W1S 2JT.
9. What’s your dream object? Samurai armour – swords and mempo. And my own collection of photographs from the Congo.
10. Guiltiest pleasure? Dining out and making my partner drive home.
If you are a dealer and would like to be featured in 10 Questions email
annabrady@atgmedia.com
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