My treasures from the Arnhem Dollshouse september 2019

Hello my Friends,

I went to the Dollhouseshow in Arnhem last week. I enjoyed it very much as I do every year. Apart from seeing great new miniatures and dolls, it is nice to meet acquinted miniaturists and other friends again. And make new friends ofcourse. :-) This year I followed a workshop given by Chris Malcomson. I will tell you more about the workshop in a next post. This year I went a bit overboard with the number of miniatures that I purchased.

That is partly because Cocky Wildschut has decided to make this show her last to exhibit and sell her handmade and handpainted porcelain. Although I am relatively new to miniatures I have loved her work right from the start. And I have bought several pieces of her work in earlier Shows. But nothing lasts forever and this year she has decided that it is time to retire. So this was the last opportunity for me to acquire some more of her miniatures. I splashed out on a number of plates, salvers and vases as seen in the picture below.

1 Delftware plate, 1 with a Cinese design, and two Delft Majolica plates.

2 polychrome Chinese plates and 2 vases.

I was one of the first to enter the show and had her whole collection to pick from. In all honesty I have not held back and you could call me a bit selfish, but a House like Swinnendael needs a decent amount of period porcelain and Delftware. Apart from that, earlier this year I have followed two workshops for painting miniature porcelain given by Cocky. In he picture below you can see the result of my labours. I am quite pleased with the results, although it is obvious that I still have quite a lot to learn. (especialy when compared to Cocky's porcelain in the pictures above) :-)

Please do not brake

I just said that a house like Huis ter Swinnendael needs a fair amount of porcelain. And of course that is true. But in the kitchens and larders earthenware and stoneware are as equally important if not more so. In the post of my visit to Arnhem last september I bought several pieces of Keuls Aardewerk (Stoneware from Cologne) with its typical dark blue and light grey. They were made by elisabeth Causeret and she attende this years show. :-) This year I bought some more pieces. In the picture below you can see a large brown storage jar, a sieve or collander, a set of two green glazed Chinese ginger jars, a brown  storage jar with a wide opening  and two stoneware tankards. When you spent above a certain amount you can choose a little ceramic item as a present. I soon passed the limit and chose a blue glased vase. 

Utilitarian ware can be so beautiful! 

But a house needs more than plates and pots. I had asked Ilona from Miniumloon if she would make some of her famous tulips for me. She  was kind enough to do so and now I could collect them. 10 red tulips with yellow stripes and 5 yellow tulips with red stripes. aren't they gorgeous. Ilona had made more of these tulips and sold the rest in the show. I am sure that they sold quickly and easily. These tulips will get pride of place in my house.

So delicate!

Nowadays trade in ivory is banned an rightly so. But Ivory remains beautiful to see. Some miniaturists like Vonas stil make miniatures of ivory but use only old and reclaimed ivory from old billiard balls for example. Now those of you who know their work know how delicate it is. I bought only two small pieces. A seashell on an ivory stand and a handheld firescreen to protect a ladies face from the heat of a fire. This one is made with a delicate handle of ebony. 

Ebony and ivory... 

From the stand of Alison Davies I bought two of her new busts. I want to marble them with paint. But I have not yet decided what colours they will get. I think. The lady will remain white but with a coloured base. The Roman bust might end up in different types of stone like the busts in Versailles. But then again, maybe not.

I feel a bit bland, you? 

Fingers crossed. Not less detailed is this new plaster fireplace. In my opinion it is early Georgian but could also pass quite well as an example in the style of Louis de XIVth. It is intended for the diningroom. De decorations will remain white like carrara marble the base and large flat surfaces wil be painted to resemble grey and blue marble.

A bit of a grand affair...

Well my dear friends, it will come as no surprise to you that I totaly ignored budgetary restrictions this year. But I have no regrets of my choices. But that does means bread and water for the remainder of the month for me I'm afraid. ;-). 

It was a great show. Caught up with several friends I have made in our mini-world in the last few years. And there was so much more to see in the show, made by brilliant miniaturists from all over the world. I already have a little shoppinglist for the next fair... I know, dear friends, I am terrible. :-)

Untill next time, 

Huibrecht