With the first day of September heralding the beginning of ‘meteorological’ autumn, there is always hope to catch those golden blasts of sunshine dispelling the early morning mists that are so evocative here in our Cotswold valley.   And so, with memories of summer fading it is probably apt to start this latest stock update with Pierrot . Pierrot (Little Peter) always pining for his beloved Columbine, often in the Commedia dell'arte spurned for Harlequin leaving him only to gaze wistfully at the moon. As a lead figure or sculpture in general, this is a rare subject beautifully handled by a not well-known sculptor Gertrude Knoblock, though she has had some public commissions and works exhibited at the Royal Academy in the early 20 th century.


Keeping with sculpture, a demure portrait of a young woman by the better but still relatively unknown Herbert Palliser . Possibly one of the Avico Sisters this portrait, provenanced to the family, is, with her eyes closed, a model of serenity combining a captivating presence with contemplative beauty.
Beauty, here seen in a different light with this rustic Arts and Crafts or is it Folk Art? sheep. The Cotswold Lion is the name for our local breed (and there are lots of them!), slightly quieter this wonderfully carved sheep raises the spirits with its sheer joyous heft and mildly startled presence. Carved from three chunks of Cotswold stone, he, or is it she, has already been in many photo opportunities - especially beloved by small children riding (I've decided) 'her' back.
Cotswold stone also for a nicely carved pair of Tazza or cup-shaped urns, as opposed to Campagna, which is an inverted bell shape. 

Istrian stone is often described as marble as it is as hard as it is dense, here used for a large Byzantine style planter – heavily carved with rope twist foliage and wild beasties, a lion rampant on the one flat side and a pair of opposing stylized gryphons to the front (or is it the back). This planter is a late 19 th century ‘copy’ quenching the thirst for all things Italianate around the turn of the last century.
More stone and more troughs as always, with a marble table thrown in for good measure.
The last word must go to the De Vere House Ceiling , most likely installed in 1476 this ceiling comes from a house with a rather colourful history. In current times, the house is featured in one of the Harry Potter films - Deathly Hallows. How, one must ask, does a ceiling come to be not in the house to support the floor above?  The house, still standing?, yes, but one name answers all – Randolph Hearst. His rampaging architectural acquisitions around Europe became so extraordinary that it took an Act of Parliament in 1929 to halt the demolition (for wholesale removal) of De Vere House. The ceiling, however, as reported in the Times, was removed and was what Hearst was always after! And now for sale again as part of our unique architectural heritage...
SHOWS
We are out and about this autumn season with two shows back to back in early October.

BRITISH ART FAIR (Thursday 3 - Sunday 6 October) Saatchi Gallery, London
W e return for the second year to this prestigious event showcasing the best of British art. Our stand will feature fine examples from our inventory specialising in sculpture and drawings by modern British sculptors. We are on the first floor, stand number 28. Invitation to the fair to follow...

DECOREX INTERNATIONAL (Sunday 6 - Wednesday 9 October) Olympia, London
W e return to Decorex, t he must do show for the interior design industry, now moved from the slightly hard to get to Syon Park to the eminently central location of Olympia London. We have a large main aisle stand and will showcase our copper planters alongside other examples from our classic garden ornament range and fine antique garden ornament inventory.


I very much look forward to hearing from you and to possibly seeing you at one or other of these shows.

With best regards

Alex