Antiques

September’s here again!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Wow! Autumn feels as though it really is here now as the dampness rises from the fields in the early evening as a wonderful magical mist. However, this is making the evenings cooler, so if you get a chance, call into Bibury Antiques Fair this coming Sunday, 4th September, we are open from 10am to 4pm. My breakfast this morning was Trout, with bread and butter, and Bibury has the oldest Trout Farm in England, and I can recommend it! So, there’s food to buy in Bibury, as well as antiques this Sunday, and if the weather is good, there’s the option of just sitting on a wall and watching the world go by whilst enjoying a coffee from the cafe Twig, or lunch at The Catherine Wheel, or checking out one of the many venues in the area for a future wedding or party! Lots to do near here, and some of the short walks do go through interesting villages nearby, some have pubs along the way too! Naturally, an item from our fair could be a wonderful gift for yourself or a friend, and could bring many happy memories of the day for years to come, so I hope you find something! We are coming to the end of a Bank Holiday weekend, but “Other weekends are available”! Regards, Andy.

A stall from earlier this year.
Selection of treats to browse and buy!
A little old Oak Chest!
One of the wonderful items from this summer, bought from Bibury Antiques Fair.

Summer Calls!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Hello again folks!

The sound of summer in parts of Britain can be heard by certain birds, well, here is a vintage, (most likely Victorian), bird call. Made to be used in one hand, holding steady, whilst twisting the round wheel with the ratchet to mimic a Corncrake.

This is an interesting item and was photographed by myself a couple of years ago, but the birds will be around again soon, I hope to hear them again, and I say that in hope as today I saw the first grass-snake of the year for me, the summer is looking better!

Ah yes, talking of better, our fair in Bibury returns this Sunday June 2nd. Pop in and see how we all are. Our dealers who were away in May are back. We open at 10 am and I look forward to seeing you! Bye for now. Andy.

Feeling Cornered? Shelve it in a Cabinet!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Wow! What a find, I love it, but what does everyone else think?

I think here I have saved a potentially fabulous, mostly Elm corner cabinet from, the  1760’s (ish), from the fire! Why? Well, simply because I like it! Is it worth the effort? No most likely not! But……. I like wood, and this is great! When finished, if it was in a posh antiques shop it would be a stunning price, but still wouldn’t sell in a rush, so I get the pleasure of tidying it up, and enjoying it, please follow me on the journey (should enough people want me to, we can have a “Cabinet Meeting!”  just send me an email and I’ll do one for this project!). 

We can then see what can be done. I hope to use this as an advertising item, as it’s bigger than I thought when I saw it, and a good weight, also heavier than I thought! (So not that keen on taking out everywhere!). Here it is today, and I have just bombed it with woodworm killer, he signs were old, but just in case! The interior was covered in fabric, maybe added in the 80’s, as underneath was the original paint! In the current market, I could spend a month working on it and raise the value to nearly £70! (AUCTION?). Only true country furniture folk would buy this! The labour involved is huge, and so I am gambling on a possibility I may be asked to work for someone to repair something for them, by  appreciating the work and materials that go into this!

Please ask about my restoration business or pop along to Bibury Antiques Fair (April 7th!), in Gloucestershire to discuss anything you may wish me to do for you! I do try to please!

Thanks for looking, and here’s the cabinet!

Regards, Andy.

 

Elm Corner Cabinet Front
Elm Corner Cabinet Escutcheon
Elm Corner Cabinet Interior Door
Elm Corner Cabinet Painted Shelf

 

Sweet Valentine

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Happy Valentine’s Day Folks!

Some of you may not know that St. Valentine is one of Beekeepings patron Saints, there are several!

St. Ambrose, St. Benedict, St. Gregory, St. Bartolomew, St. Gobnait, St. Kharlamii, St. Dominic also called St. Modomnoc,  and St Valentine. There are undoubtably others!

So whilst the bees around the country are stirring, responding signs that the weather is getting warmer, the days longer, so too are some of our dealers for Bibury Antiques Fair getting ready for our first event of the year on April 7th. See you there perhaps? Other antiques fairs are available, more news soon!

Regards, Andy.

btr

It’s a summer-var stand!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Well, strictly not, but as ever I can’t resist a bad pun!

Recently I have tidied up a small stand for a client and to their delight, I called it a Samovar Stand, possibly the prettiest one I have ever had to improve, and so I hope you like it too.

Despite the heat and a chaotic summer, I am still restoring furniture, and keeping bees, and I’ll have a few photographs of my work on show at Bibury Village Hall this Sunday, August 5th, between 10 am and 4pm. Yes, refreshments are available, so pop in and say “hi” over a cup of coffee or tea!

Regards, Andy.

Elegant Samovar Stand
Decorative top, too good to have anything on don’t you think?
Samovar with cup support open
Elegant Samovar Stand

 

June is about to be! Time for tea?

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

I’m pleased to say our next Bibury Fair is this coming Sunday, 3rd June!

Why not splash about and pop by the River Coln, find us near the church, opposite end from The Trout Farm and Swan Hotel, but near Arlington Row. Inside the Village Hall will be a selection of antiques, and vintage items, including jewellery, silver, brass ware, glass, ceramics, and even a little furniture, and maybe a  few rugs too!

Refreshments will be served from just before noon, including some sandwiches and home made cakes, tea and coffee goes nicely with them in the sun outside, or on William Morris table cloths inside, depending on the weather!

Look out, we open form 10 am, close at 4pm too, as we may be seen sitting by the river looking for kingfisher or seeing how much the cygnets have grown since last month!

See you there?

Regards, Andy!

Liptons Tea Caddy 1924

Time for tea anyone?

One year ago!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Hello! Here is a photograph of the river and The Swan Hotel in Bibury, and behind me the river runs next to the road and goes past The Village Hall, where Bibury Antiques Fair will be on show on Sunday April 1st! Please call in and peruse the lovely show we will have. Maybe a late Easter present for a friend could be found? There will be several Classic Cars on their way for coffee just down the road too, follow one and see where it goes! Happy motoring!

Regards, Andy.

DSC_0198Hello, I have just found a photograph of a stall from last April, and here it is.

 

Just Ask!

/ Bibury Antiques Fair & Andy Briggs trading as Echo Antiques / Leave a comment

Hello, and with just a week to go until Bibury Antiques Fair returns we are are busy and hoping the weather will be kinder to us than it was in March.

Amongst the dealers stock exhibited, one may well find this, a sign which just says all it needs to…….

Michelle Howitt Bibury 2018 b

So, please ask there is anything I can help with, we open at 10am and close at 4pm, from noon, refreshments will be available. Please call in and enjoy the fair.

Regards, Andy.