Events & Online Exhibitions

FESTIVE ENTERTAINING IDEAS FROM CADA

#ATableIsNotJustForChristmas

George III mahogany extendable pedestal dining table, circa 1820, £28,500 with eight George III mahogany Hepplewhite chairs (£9,850 from Moxhams Antiques, Bradford-on-Avon (www.moxhams-antiques.co.uk)

Extending cherry wood French farmhouse table, circa 1840, £3,650 from Prichard Antiques, Winchcombe (www.prichardantiques.co.uk)

Brown furniture often gets a bad press, but for entertaining, whether it be Christmas or any other celebratory event, the table is often the key to bringing everyone together. With COVID-19 in our midst, festive entertaining and the Christmas meal may be rather depleted this year, but a table is not just for Christmas, it can see families through generations of fun and entertaining and with antique tables has already done so.

The antique furniture dealer members of The Cotswold Art & Antiques Dealers’ Association (CADA) are sharing their entertaining ideas on Instagram @cadaartandantiquesassociation and on the newly updated website at www.thecada.org all through the month of December.

Even if there are just two of you this Christmas, Moxhams Antiques (www.moxhams-antiques.co.uk) from Bradford-on-Avon shows us that George III mahogany pedestal dining table, circa 1820, which can be extended with three loose leaves (£28,500), can be just a perfect fit for two at one end. Moxhams Antiques has topped its table with a few pieces from its extensive early 19th century ironstone dinner service, comprising 114 pieces (£2,850) and surrounded it with a set of eight George III mahogany Hepplewhite chairs (£9,850). Alternatively, utilise the extensions on a table to keep you socially distanced.

Prichard Antiques in Winchcombe (www.prichardantiques.co.uk) has a fabulous extending cherry wood French farmhouse table glowing with warm honey tones. When closed, it seats six, but doubles in length with chestnut leaves allowing for wider spaces between you, circa 1840 (£3,650).

Rare mid-18 century mahogany oval breakfast table from W.R. Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd in Witney (www.wrharvey.com)

A table setting offering a bit of fun for all when visiting the Picton House galleries of Haynes Fine Art in Broadway (www.haynesfineart.com)

W.R. Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd, Witney (www.wrharvey.com) has embraced the small table challenge packing this particularly rare mid-18 century mahogany oval breakfast table with its one piece solid mahogany top, not glued together planks (£4,500), circa 1760, by packing it full of festive treats of fruit, mince pies, Xmas pud, biscuits, chocolates, nuts, stollen and lebkuchen for two to enjoy sharing over the holiday. Why not add a special pair of antique toasting glasses (£2,200 the pair) from Mayflower Antiques (www.mayflower-antiques.co.uk)?

Joining in with their own take on dining for two is specialist art dealer Haynes Fine Art (www.haynesfineart.com) that likes to make sure that there is fun for everyone to enjoy when visiting the extensive galleries in the picturesque village of Broadway.

24 piece silver cutlery set by William Hutton & Sons Ltd, London, 1899/1901, from Howards Jewellers, Stratford-on-Avon (www.howardsjewellers.com)

One of a set of six jelly glasses, the bell bowls with rib moulding cut with notches, circa 1780, £300 from Delomosne & Son Ltd (www.delomosne.co.uk)

Of course, there are other important items to bring the table to life and add a little decorative glamour in these restrictive times such as an impressive 24 place setting silver cutlery set made by William Hutton & Sons Ltd in London, 1899/1901, which comes in its original canteen from Howards Jewellers in Stratford-on-Avon (www.howardsjewellers.com). Enjoy just using two place settings for now and bring out the full set for all to use when restrictions ease.

Add a fine pair of Baroque silver candlesticks (£18,000) or collectors may be particularly interested in two Charles I silver dessert stands by Thomas Maundy (£37,500) from Mayflower Antiques.

Rare set of six engraved English flutes with OXO borders on diamond cut facetted stems with centre swelling knops, circa 1770 from Delomosne & Son Ltd, North Wraxall (www.delomosne.co.uk)

Use a couple of flutes from the rare set of six engraved with OXO borders on diamond cut facetted stems for the champagne from Delomosne & Son Ltd in North Wraxall, near Chippenham (www.delomosne.co.uk); they will sparkle in the candlelight (£2,600 the set) and some of the set of six jelly glasses, circa 1800 (£265 the set) for dessert. Someone with a small appetite may enjoy the straight sided custard cup, circa 1820 (£55).

A fine quality George III period mahogany and brass bound hexagonal wine cooler with carrying handles and lead lined interior, circa 1780, £2,950 from W.R. Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd (www.wrharvey.com)

For the wine connoisseur or FOMO hosts W.R. Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd suggests a George III period oval or hexagonal mahogany wine coolers (£2,950 each) to save having to leave the room to get more cold drinks from the fridge.

A Persian Tabriz vase carpet, circa 1880, in the region of £5,000 and a Persian Yazd silk ikat panel with a cypress design on the table, £1,250 from Legge Carpets from Summertown (www.leggecarpets.com)

Legge Carpets (www.leggecarpets.com) from Summertown, Oxford has plenty of textiles to act as table coverings amongst which is a late 19th century Persian Yazd silk ikat panel with a cypress design, backed on fine printed cotton of the period measuring 178 x 107 cm, (£1,250) and, of course, there is their extensive range of carpets and rugs on which your table could sit adding more colour to the room.

When we are are able to entertain all the family and friends again, extendable tables will come to the fore – W.R. Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd, Witney (www.wrharvey.com)

If you are fortunate to have other members of family or friends at the table, you can even create games like ‘guess the age, maker or country of origin’ all centred around the table display. More festive entertainment and ideas can be found from all The Cotswold Art & Antiques Dealers’ Association members on Instagram @cadaartandantiquesassociation and on the website at www.thecada.org.