OUR LAST STUDY DAY

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5th - "A CENTURY OF TOYS" PRESENTED BY HILARY KAY OF THE ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW

About 60 of our members enjoyed a charming and absorbing day with Hilary Kay, an expert on toys.  The morning was devoted to a survey of toys from the late 19th century to the present day.  After a 'picnic' lunch, much enhanced by some delicious toy-themed cupcakes baked by our celebrity baker, Valerie

Evening Society Special Interest Day

Members of our Society were invited to this Study Day in March 2017 on Antique Silver, organised by our sister Evening Society, at which the Guest lecturer was Ian Pickford of Antiques Road Show fame.

 '5000 Years of Glass' with Andy McConnell from BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4th 2016

Some 70 members of the Society were treated to a barnstorming day devoted to the world of glass, presented by Antiques Roadshow expert Andy McConnell.  It was clear after a few minutes that glass was a passion, and he had us all enthralled with his history of 5000 years of glass, taking us all over the world, including to one of his favourite places, Sweden, and Orrefors and Boda in particular.  The last session of the day was devoted to the examination of the various glass items that our members had brought in.  In his ‘no-holds barred’ manner he was by turns outrageously “scathing”, mainly about the layers of dust still clinging to these heirlooms – “don’t you have water and washing-up liquid in Windsor?!”, and delighted to come across 18th century claret jugs, and what he said was the largest collection of Lalique he had come across in one place.  It was clear that by the end of the session we, including him, had all had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Lars Tharp (from the Antiques Roadshow) delivered a cracking (!) history of English china “Rakes, Harlots and Crashing China”, followed by a session in which he told us about the various objects we had brought along for his expert opinion. No great revelations ... some disappointments ... but lots of fun!