PRESS RELEASE MATFORD FEBRUARY 2008

DEVON COUNTY ANTIQUES FAIRS

VALENTINE GIFTS THAT LAST A LIFE TIME

Devon County Antiques Fairs next fair in 2008 will be held at the Matford Centre in Exeter on Saturday 2^nd February

This event which is the largest Saturday only event of its kind in the country offers visitors the opportunity to see 230 inside stands and numerous outside pitches, weather permitting, and with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, this fair is the perfect place to purchase the unique present for your loved one.

With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, the Matford Centre Antiques & Collectors Fair is the ideal place to find the perfect gift to display your ever lasting affection for your loved one. Whilst roses are beautiful they inventively die but antiques last a lifetime and what ever your interests are, you are sure to find something to suit at Matford with exhibitors offering everything from Furniture, Clocks and Barometers to Jewellery, Silver, Porcelain and Ceramics as well as the more unusual items this fair is well worth a visit.

Regular Devon Exhibitors on Stand O08, will be bringing a wonderful selection of antique & Collectable Glass & Ceramics. One of the many items that will be found on their stand this weekend is a 1930’s Charger in the Manchu design depicting a green and orange dragon priced at £320. This charger was designed by Charlotte Rhead who is one of only three great lady Art Deco Designers of our time. Home taught artistically, Charlotte studied at the Fenton Art School, Stoke-on-Trent, England, just south of Myott’s Hanley pottery, followed by a number of positions held within various factories as a tube-liner and enameller. Tube-lining is an intricate decorating technique, whereby liquid clay is piped from a rubber bag via a glass nozzle on to the pottery piece. Later this method of design became one of Charlotte’s trademarks. In 913 Charlotte and her father, Frederick Alfred Rhead (in the capacity of Art Director) moved to Wood & Sons. Burgess & Leigh was the next step, and this is where Charlotte’s tube-lining skills came in to play until 1931 when the firm of A.G. Richardson became her next employer. Another wonderful example of Charlotte Rhead’s earlier work available at the fair is an Ewer Circa 1920-1930 it has a blue on white design which may have been designed in conjunction with her father. This piece is priced at £360.

If you are looking for exceptional items of glass, then a visit to Stand K03 is a must. ArtiusGlass run an independent collectors group for enthusiasts who are looking for early, retired and special items of Isle of Wight and Mdina Glass. It has been set up by Ron and Ann Wheeler who gained their knowledge of the genius who is Michael Harris through Ron's involvement as a freelance agent with Isle of Wight Glass from the early eighties.
Ron and Ann are considered to be the foremost authorities on all aspects of Isle of Wight Glass and of the influences of its founder, Michael Harris. Amongst many of the wonderful items on display will be a stunning Isle of Wight square perfume bottle, this design is called Firecracker due to the beautiful Red and Gold colour of the glass and is priced at £175. Another exquisite example of Isle of Wight Glassware is a Michael Harris signed Vase from Artius Glass’ own private collection, it is from the Moonscape collection and priced at £2000.If you are looking for a smaller item of glass then the Jazz Globe priced at £300 will be worth taking a look at.

Early Entry to the Matford Centre Fairs is from 9am – 10am at £4 with General Entry from 10am to 4.30pm at £3 with Children under 16 Free.