GAZETTEDISS AUCTION ROOMS - GAZETTE - EARLY SPRING 2015 - ISSUE 41

Stoney

pages4 & 5

Shiney

page 7

Springy

page 2

JewelleryPage 7

For those readers withenquiring minds whoare very technicallyable;Or others seekingdinner party topics forsharing round thetable:Here’s a seasonallytitled observationaloffering,

How to tell yourspring balancefrom yourbalance spring…

Spring BalanceA spring balance is adevice used forweighing and it worksby recording therelation between theapplied load and thedeformation of aspring. The spring’smovement is recordedby a pointer attachedto a pinion whichmoves proportionallyalong a toothed rack;

the weight is measuredoff a scaled dial.

The dial is graduated inscale units that dependon the stiffness of thesprings: the stiffersprings have largerscale units and higherload capacity. The mostfamous maker is Salter

Spring balances arefound regularly in ourBygones auctions. Theycome in a variety ofsizes (intended forspecific commodities)and sometimes thescale plate isrectangular with alinear pointer (e.g.silver scales) ratherthan circular dial. Theearliest examples tendto date from the 19th

Century. They arecollectable from ascientific perspective,but some are soughtafter because of the

maker’s or trader’sname they bear andthey are also soughtafter as decorativeobjects that hangeffectively in timberframed dwellings.

Balance springA balance spring isfound in a traditionalmechanical watch. Itis used to control theoscillations of thebalance wheel withinthe watch’smovement and

Springing to MindSpringing to MindSpringing to MindSpringing to MindSpringing to Mind

working out how todo this was animportant step in thehistory of timekeeping.It was English physicistRobert Hooke whofirst designed a watchincorporating a balancespring in the late1650’s.Watch out for ourClocks & Watchesauctions, this year tobe held on Thursdayevenings. See SalesCalendar for details.

Spring balance Balance spring Spring balance

I can hear it now “Why have you got a tea cup with a brokenhandle in the sale?” Well here goes. The little, brown, uninspiringcup, handle missing, sad and unused for decades, was made at theSt Ives pottery in Cornwall somewhere between 1922 and 1924,in the very early days of the Bernard Leach pottery; but whatmakes it interesting is that it was made by TsuronosukeMatsubayashi , the great kiln maker of the time.

Born into a family of Japanese potters stretching back to the 16th

Century, ceramics was in his blood. In 1922 Matsu was asked byBernard Leach to come over to St Ives and build what was to bethe first Japanese style kiln built in the west. This was after Leach’sown kiln failures of the previous year and the resulting Matsu kilnserved Leach for the next 50 years. He also potted; a skilledcraftsman and highly respected he had a great influence on theearly careers of two of Britain’s greatest studio potters, MichaelCardew and Katherine Pleydell –Bouverie.

Very few of Matsu’s works survive from that early period of theSt Ives factory and this is why the little cup is a featured lot on it’sown. Putting a handle on a teacup would have been quite alien tohim; was this a request from Bernard? Was he trying handlemaking out for the first time? Is this the only known handledteacup made by him? We shall possibly never know. It is a shamethat the handle is broken but for anyone collecting the work ofthe St Ives potters this must be one to go for.

Modern Design

In 1924 the kiln was a success and Matsu moved on to build a kiln for Pleydell-Bouverie the following yearbefore going back to Japan. During his time in England he gave talks at the pottery, divulging his immensetechnical knowledge of pottery and kiln making. Some of this was probably too much for the novices, evenLeach, but some, like Pleydell-Bouverie used his experience, making notes which helped her and Cardew

throughout their careers.

Sadly Matsu died young, sometime around 1938, but histeachings and kilns remained in use long after. The

cup is part of a good selection of Studio Potterywhich also includes the works of Michael

Cardew from the Winchcombe Potteryalong with examples from his son,

grandson and pupils at WenfordBridge, all in line with the Japanese

tradition and keepingMatsubayashi very much

alive.

Saturday 7 March, 10am

Modern Design - Saleroom 1

Saturday 7 March 2015

on viewThursday 5 March 2-8pmFriday 6 March 10-6pm& sale morning from 8.30amBidding via twgaze.co.uk orlive bidding via

Contact James Bassam

The next ArchitecturalSalvage & Statuaryauction will be held on14 February.These internationally-renowned sales havebeen an integral part ofthe firm’s auctioncalendar for 20 years.They continue to thrilland fascinate thosewho witness theassemblage of artefactsamassing in preparationor who attend thesales themselves, eitherto buy or to satisfy idlecuriosity borne of apassion in reality toobig to be housed.

Phrases such as “It’samazing where it allcomes from”, “I’vebeen searching forsomething like this foryears – it’s justperfect”, “I wish myhouse was big enoughto accommodate this, Ithink it’s absolutelygorgeous”, “Now I’vebought it I shall have towork out where I’mgoing to put it” and“Where does it allcome from?” areregularly heard said byvisitors and customers.The truth is itemsarrive for sale from allover the British Isles.Thanks to the DueDiligence Policy TWGaze operates inassociation with thepolice and the salvageindustry’s own

a conservation orbuilding project.

The magic is that onenever knows whateclectic mix will greetyou and every sale isvery different. Items areoften unique and theoption to buy mayrepresent a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Onecan source elusivematerials to satisfytesting criteria forlisted propertyprojects or happenupon a characterfulpiece to add a charming

By Elizabeth TalbotRomancing the Stoneregulatory systems,buyers can be confidentthat pieces are sourcedcorrectly andlegitimately. Vendors maybe demolishion expertsand salvage specialistswho havedeconstructed a publicbuilding such as aVictorian school,hospital or countryhouse or a privateindividual selling gardenfeatures such as statues,fountain or urns priorto moving house, orindeed people who haveleft-over materials from

finishing touch to ascheme.

However, the conceptof salvaging buildingmaterials from oneplace and redeployingthem elsewhere ismillennia old. Buildingsthat have been besiegedor have fallen intodisrepair have been fairgame for thriftyrecyclers since the dawnof mankind’s ability toconstruct. Thealternative to re-usingmaterials, especiallystone, is to quarry somemore and this hasalways been anexpensive activity.Subsequent settlershave tended to pillageprevious inhabitants’structures andreconfigure thebuildings to satisfy theirown needs in their ownstyle. Some cultureshave embracedarchitecturalreclamation as anintentional designelement; Romanemperors, for example,were renowned fortaking features fromearlier edifices to workinto their ownextravagant buildingprogrammes. Medievalbuilders areacknowledged to havebeen great scavengersand many of their castlesand churches reusedremains of Roman ruins

nearby. In turn, parts ofMedieval buildings havebeen redeployed insubsequent generationsof developers andarchitects.

During the 18th and 19th

Centuries the affluentand the educated wereembarking upon “theGrand Tour”; anopportunity to traveland see historical placesof interest that hadbecome so well thoughtof and lauded byinfluential artistic,scholastic and politicalfigureheads of theRenaissance. An expressaim of thoseundertaking thismammoth cultural tripwas to return ladenwith cultural treasuresand architecturaltrophies includingstatues, columns, stone,marble and mosaic,carvings and wall friezes;that they could beincorporated into thedesign schemes ofcountry estates –houses and gardens - asa display of learning,cultural appreciation,adventurousexploration, andultimately of wealth.

In the 18th Century’s eraof Neo-Classic revivalthe romanticism of ruinsinfluenced architecturalfeatures such as folliesor pseudo-ruins, oftenbuilt in the grounds oflavishly landscapedgardens and parkland. Inturn, such images were

the 1950’s. Forward-thinking imaginativedemolition contractorsbecame specialistsalvage experts,amassing items in vastquantities that wouldotherwise have beenlost forever; fromcomplete porticos andedifices to boundarywalls and palatial gates,from baths, taps andtiles to panelling, beamsand servants’ bells, fromstaircases, windowcasements and fireplacesto roof tiles, bricks anddoor knockers.

The auction in Diss willinclude most of theabove plus roomtimbers, wall tiles, lightfittings, garden furnitureand carvings. Stone willalso be wellrepresented in the formof troughs, flooring,sinks, urns, millstones,staddle stones,birdbaths, sundialcolumns and firemantels.

By the 1980’srefurbishment

fashionably reproducedon expensive paintedand printed porcelain ofthe day, engraved asdecoration onto silverand were included in theart works of popularartists; casual backdropsto avant-garde portraitsand landscapes.

The same influences areborrowed throughoutthe Victorian age, forexample, seen in clockcases “of architecturalform”, case furniturewith broken pedimentsor the predominance ofmarble and Parianstatuary, often afterClassical subjects.By the 20th Century thesupply of architecturalpieces in the UK wasfuelled by changes insocial structure and thedecline of the landedgentry. Instead of itbeing the domain only ofthose who could affordto source items fromabroad or commissionarchitects and craftsmento produce the best forthem, it becameaccessible to everyone.

After World War IImany grand houseswere closed, clearedand demolished – hencethe proliferous trendfor “Country Housesales” which are fondlyrecalled – and vastnumbers of Georgianand Victorian buildingswere raised to theground as part of inner-city regenerationprogrammes starting in

incorporatingreclamation was bigbusiness and furnishingfirms such as LauraAshley activelyintroducedarchitectural salvage asa fashionable elementof interior design.Increasingly the buyingpublic has becomemore informed aboutbuilding conservation,but has also learned tobe creative, andintroduce vintage andantique elements totheir surroundingshowever modest ornewly built.

So, if your Springproject is likely toincorporate somearchitectural salvage,make it a date to visitDiss on 14 February(we also sell veryimaginative StValentine’s Day gifts!)

See twgaze.co.uk forviewing and catalogues.

twgaze.co.uk

Coinciding with the completion of thisissue Carl Willows announced that hewould be retiring on 28 March 2015.

With over 20 years impeccable servicewe wondered what memories he wouldbe taking with him...

The days of 1500+ lot auctions…The daysof no fork lift….The Liverpool schoolfrontage….The French cemeterypieces….Record breaking prices for Yorkstone….Robbie knocks down (notliterally) marble figure for £29,000…Thedecade of the Private Bygonecollections….The London Museum clearout….off in a puff of smoke.

All the best Carl from everyone atTW Gaze and beyond. Taking the helm ofthe Architectural Salvage & Rural Bygonessales will be Robert Kinsella whom Carlhas mentored over several years.

Announcement

Give us a ringJewellery with AntiquesFriday 13 February

Rings have been exchanged for over 6000 years. Over milenia the meaningsbehind the exchange and wearing of finger rings has varied depending onthe time, but one constant has been the exchange of rings as gifts, and as weall know, gift buying is hard. Especially if the gift you have chosen has someunwritten meaning based on its design.Using our Jewellery auction (13/2/15) we have constructed this mini guidefor some names of ring styles that may help.

Cameo RingIn the purely decorative category; a miniature carving, often in shell,mounted on a hoop of varying design. Lot 618….plain hoop with carvedcameo.

Wedding RingSometimes called a wedding band due to the simple band design. Made ofgold or other precious metal. Simplicity of design directly opposite tothe significance – you are married. Lot 548….22ct wedding band.

Solitaire ringA large single set stone generally exchanged at the time of engagement.Traditionally worn from that day forward to demonstrate commitment.Is there a more difficult purchase? Lot 415…. diamond solitaire ring, in fourclaw mount 1ct approx.

Half hoopA ring with only half the hoop set with decoration. Mostly worn for decorationwith freedom of choice on stones and ring material Lot 459…. half hoop ring thecentral square cut sapphires flanked by four round cut diamonds to each side

Signet ringA ring containing a seal or signet. Recently this has taken the form ofinitials which some would consider make it unique for that person. Lot616… 9ct gold gent’s signet ring, monogrammed

Cluster ringThe most expressive of rings, asetting with multiple stones ina variety of combinations. Lot386…. An 18ct white gold rubyand diamond cluster ring

Eternity ringOften given in lieu ofengagement rings, a ringsymbolizing eternity with apartner. And not as I was told“you will be paying for that foreternity”Lot 517… two silver eternity rings

Gem stone/mount/setting

BezelShoulder

Hoop/Shank

618

548

415

459

616

386

517

G A Z E T T EIssue 41/winter’15

Diss Auction Rooms, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4LN01379 650 306 auctions@twgaze.co.uk www.twgaze.co.uk

It doesn’t take much toget TW Gaze DirectorMike Sarson on stage;just some props and acostume or two! Thisis something we haveknown for some timebut on Saturday 17January it was all in agood cause as Miketook to the exquisiteMaddermarket stage tosell a range of eclecticitems in aid of theirongoing refurbishmentwork.

The first of severalsignificant offsiteproductions for TWGaze in 2015 thisauction was a uniquechance for people toown a small piece ofthe theatres history,whether that was a late19th C settle, a pinespinning wheel or ananimatronic chicken!Most had appeared onstage before overmore than 50 years ofproductions right up tothe Christmas 2014show, The Borrowers.

Some knight’s armourand a green ChristianDior coat were twoscene stealers – bothselling for £300.A 20ft flag pole (£250),a William Shakespeareshield (£50) and theaforementionednovelty chicken (£70)were amongst thesupporting cast, whilst aStrand theatreuplighter was possiblythe show stopper at £420.

With the 80 lotauction combining toraise nearly £7000, thecollective effort of allinvolved promptedcreative director StashKirkbride to declarethe Gala event a “trulyastounding result”.

We would like tothank Stash and hisco-director Pete Beckfor inviting us to beinvolved and givingMike the opportunityfor his performance.

Chances of an encore?You try and stop him!

MikeSarson

£300

£300

Gala FundraisingAuction

The auction washosted in association

with local charityBreak, some of themoney raised going

towards thecompletion of

The Maddermarketsexcellent

Shakespearean Dragonwhich will form part ofthe Go Go Dragonstrail around Norwich

later this year.

News on TW Gazesinvolvement coming

very soon.