Display of Antiques For Centennial Year

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 2

Display of Antiques For Centennial Year

“ The excellent response to an appeal for exhibits for the centennial antique display, to be held in March augurs well for the success of that venture,” said Mrs J. Starr, convener of the committee for this exhibition, in a recent interview.

Mrs J. J. Purdie well-known Dunedin connoiseur of antiques has undertaken to investigate the athenticity of all articles submitted, to classify them, and to arrange that they are displayed to the best advantage in the Pioneer Women’s Hall.

Nothing of a later date than 1830 is being accepted, but there are already several hundred pieces which can be classified as genuine antiques. Indeed, some of the exhibits are nearly 300 years old, the earliest, so far being a Jacobean chair of about 1650.

bright and gay as they were 120 years ago. A lovely fine Paisley shawl is another attractive piece in this section. There is, of course, a large collection of needlework, such as samplers and bead-bags, all of the finest workmanship. This display will include several cutlery urns, one, an Adam urn, inlaid with holly, box and satinwood, being particularly beautiful. As these are considered to be somewhat rare, Mrs Purdie was surprised that five, of varying designs, were offered. Among the larger pieces are an attractive boudoir writing desk and bookcase combined, an unusual mahogany corner washstand with tambour front, a William and Maty wainut table, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and a Dutch marquetry chest dated about 1670. Several Chipendale mahogany tables and chairs, Hepplewhite chairs, and grandfather clocks are included m this section. Among the china, noteworthy exhibits will be part of a Derby tea and coffee set, each piece decorated with a different view, and some Chelsea Derby, and Derby porcelain from Mrs Purdie’s own collection.

Many of the exhibits are associated with famous people. Included in these are a canteen belonging to Sir John Moore, of Corunna, several pieces of the Duke of Wellington’s furniture, a Chelsea dish, which was once the property of the Duke of Leinster, and a saucer, with an emblematic design, once owned by Lord Nelson. One can only conjecture as to what romantic circumstances might have led to the reappearance of these articles in a land so far from their origin.

One particularly attractive exhibit is a patchwork quilt, hand-sewn throughout, and containing more than 1000 hexagonal “patches,” each about the size of a halfcrown. The backing is made of that old standby of our grandmothers, “ turkey twill,” and the dainty chintzes used are still as