 Grand Glass Fair |
Our Grand Glass Fairs are currently held at: |
John Slade’s ‘Take Five’ biannual Grand Glass Fair will take place at the Woking Leisure Centre, Surrey, on Sunday 19th of March. This event promises a sparkling array of glass in all forms, from functional to decorative, antique to contemporary and with prices to suit all pockets!
 Glass from the 1950's and 60's |
Many of the Dealers exhibiting at John’s specialist fairs, do not necessarily attend his regular monthly Antiques and Collectables Fair, which are held on the second Sunday of each month. If you are a regular visitor you can expect to see many new faces, a varied, unusual and interesting selection of stock, not to be seen at the Fair being held on the previous Sunday!
A short time ago, on the 22nd of January, John Slade and Jo Talliss, organiser of the well established Talisman Fairs, joined forces to stage a Glass Fair in the West Country. Since this was something quite new to the area, with nothing else like it, the nearest being the major Glass Fair at Birmingham, there was a lot of interest and excitement. The visiting public knew exactly what they were looking for too! This new event was held at the historic 19th century Empire Museum Buildings, in the Brunel Train Shed adjacent to the railway terminus at Temple Meads, Bristol. Stallholders and visitors found themselves in a large and fascinating building, built in 1839, with a vast high expanse of ceiling formed with decorative cast iron arched beams.
 The Train Shed today and in the nineteenth century |
This building was designed by the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to originally house his big engines in the central tracks. During the First World War it was used as a military hospital for seriously injured soldiers. That area is now filled in, though the large stone slabs forming the platforms are still exposed and walked over! Jo remembers twenty eight years ago, when she first held markets within this building (before it was adapted and restored), the wind would whistle through the deep channel where the trains had been, and in the coldest conditions the frost almost settled on the multi layered winter woolies one wore to keep out the cold! Those were the days! |
 Blue April Showers Vase |
Dealers who specialise, often travel long distances to show their stock and the Bristol Glass Fair was no exception. At the time of going to press, John and Jo will be staging another specialist two day Art Deco and Art Nouveau Fair, which promises to be a very stylish occasion even though it is staged in this former train shed!!!
 At the Glass Fair |
The quality of the glassware and the variety of colourful and exquisite goods on display was a real feast for the eyes. Bristol Blue glass is world famous and there were quite a few examples on display, notably a fine matching pair of early decanters and goblets. There were some wonderful ranges of tableware, both cut and engraved, along with fine examples of drinking glasses through the ages. Decorative pieces from major glass manufacturers/designers such as Lalique, Baccarat, Galle, Daum, Loetz, Moser, WMF and Tiffany, including leading Scandinavian and Italian firms plus all the well known and popular home grown factories, such as Webb, Powell, Whitefriars, Nazeing, Monart, Gray-Stan, Davidson to name but a few. There were also stunning ranges of International paperweights covering all periods and qualities. Many fine examples of contemporary work was available, from glassblower/designers such as Siddy Langley and Peter Layton and also the popular Isle of Wight factory. Since a lot of jewellery is made from glass there were some lovely beaded necklaces and paste brooches including a modern limited edition Swarovski Swan brooch.
 Georgian Glass |
To view all these lovely objects under this hallowed roof was an unique opportunity, but many of the stallholders and their wonderful stock can be at seen at Woking on the 19th of March between 9.30am and 4.00pm.! The Woking Leisure Centre is easily located, it offers ample free parking and there is a licensed restaurant and coffee bar on the first floor, near to a gallery overlooking the main hall. Admission to the Fair is reasonably priced at £3 per person, so make a note in your diary now and don’t miss this glittering affair!
For more details please contact John on 020 8894 0218.
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