The successful three-day course on September 8-10 was led by Harrogate-based LAPADA member Chris Wilde, a dealer in early oak, walnut, Georgian and Victorian furniture for 22 years who trades at Hemswell Antiques Centres. Chris lectures on a wide range of antiques subjects, focusing primarily on Georgian and Victorian furniture.
“You can’t really learn about antiques from books and pictures,” he said. “You need hands-on experience. On the course we give a complete overview of all the period styles using the extensive stock of the centre to show students what they should be looking for in order to appreciate antiques and spot alterations, downright fakes and copies. There’s nowhere else in England that I know of teaching about antiques in this way.”
Courses are limited to a maximum of ten people and cost £125 for three days. Chris Wilde’s next antiques appreciation course at Hemswell is scheduled for December 8-10; the same weekend as Lincoln’s large Christmas market. Telephone Hemswell Antiques Centres on 01427 668389 or email: enquiries@hemswell-antiques.com
BY JOAN PORTER
Antiques centre educates customers
LAST month at Hemswell Antiques Centres in Gainsborough, north of Lincoln, whose website proclaims it to be the largest antiques centre in Europe with 300 dealers in three buildings and 1000 antiques available online, ten of the centres’ customers were offered the opportunity to learn about antique furniture from an experienced dealer.
