Image: National Trust
Elaine Ward, the house and collections manager for Coleton Fishacre, saw my previous post about the Art Deco interiors there, and she has now sent me these images.
Image: National Trust
They show some of a group of Art Deco artefacts from the collection of James Bellchambers. The pieces were purchased from the antiques trade in Totnes, Devon, during the last ten years or so.
Image: National Trust
Mr Bellchambers is a furniture conservator who has worked on National Trust projects throughout south-west England. He was involved with opening Coleton Fishacre to the public and has previously lent items for display there.
Image: National Trust
He has now very generously decided to donate these pieces to Coleton Fishacre.
Image: National Trust
Some of the objects may go on display quite soon. It is being investigated whether further areas of the house can be opened up to the public, and some more of these objects will be shown when that has been achieved.
Image: National Trust
March 28, 2010 at 14:10 |
Art Déco has long been greatly underrated. These pieces would make a great addition to any collection. They may be a little less “light” in design than the most famous pieces of Art Déco but they are very interesting in their own right nonetheless. Glad the National Trust was gifted those pieces.
http://davidikus.blogspot.com/
April 8, 2010 at 13:40 |
An interesting dilemma, isn’t it? You have a gorgeous pile built in the middle-late 1920s which you might expect to be Deco-ish inside and out. I haven’t seen the interiors myself, but from the objects you have here, the Deco interiors must be lovely.
But have a look at the outside. Arts and Crafts perhaps with a heavy suggestion of country cottage rural retreat? Perhaps the family just couldn’t bring themselves to commissioning a rather austere Deco exterior. Ten years later and it all might have been different. Or not.
April 8, 2010 at 14:04 |
Yes it is an interesting contrast. The architect Oswald Milne was an assistant to Lutyens before he set up his own practice, and he was inspired by the Arts and Crafts tradition (as you spotted). Nevertheless he did use ‘moderne’ elements as well, and he was commissioned by D’Oyly Carte to design the up-to-the-minute ballroom wing at Claridge’s. The choice for a relatively traditional look for the exterior at Coleton seems to have been influenced by the fact that this house was to be a country retreat.
You can see the interiors by clicking on the ‘Coleton Fishacre’ link on the right and going to the earlier post.