Tim Bowen Antiques, Carmarthenshire, Wales

New Wales Coastal Path

Tim — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:01:56 +0000

For those interested in walking, the countryside and our coast, may be interested to know that the new Wales Coastal path which opens on 5th May 2012, goes straight past Tim Bowen Antiques at Ferryside. If you were tempted of the coastal path for a detour to see us, we’d be delighted to see you…although do ring first. Other detours in the area could and should include the wonderful beach at Ferryside and if you don’t come on a Wednesday (because they are closed), lunch or supper at the Ferrycabin. Here are some Ferryside walks

Windsors At West Wycombe Exhibition

Tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:20:00 +0000

We are so looking forward to the Windsors at Wycombe exhibition at the National Trust’s, West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire between 6 and 31 May 2012. The opening times are Sunday to Thursday 2pm to 6pm.

This is The Forest chair of writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), one of the few chairs with a reliable provenance, which retains its original green paint (V&A Collection)

Also the early wheelback armchair circa 1780

Summer 2012

Tim — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:07:13 +0000

We’ve been busy preparing the catalogue for our 2012 Summer Exhibition. There are lots of exciting things in it. We have the most wonderful contemporary Welsh stick chair made by Chris Williams. We asked Chris if he minded painting the chair rather than varnishing it, and we think it is truly wonderful. Some other highlights include a rare and beautifuly figured elm cricket table, a small oak box settle, and early eighteenth century panelled back armchair. There are also some lovely pieces of treen including a knitting sheath and love spoon. The catalogue will be in the post from mid May and the exhibition will open on Saturday 2nd June and we will be open every day until Saturday 9th June. Everything will be available for sale immediately so to avoid disappointment do contact us straight away, if there is something you like. Below are the lovespoon and the table top coffer bach.

Plans for the garden

Tim — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:03:42 +0000

We have lived at our new home for little over a year and the garden, formally known as the jungle, during that time has been cut back and cleared (although not completely) of bindweed and the self seeded grasses which thrive in our estuary hillside location. The garden is set on a steep hill and was previously tended by someonee who knew something of plants. There are paths around large beds which are edged with small stone walls supplied mostly from the beach and probably the remains of the partially demolished mansion next door. The paths are mostly earth, although they may have been paved with stones in places, which sadly have now collapsed.

The garden is well shaded by a huge beach tree and several other smaller trees which have all been cut back in the past few months. A fantastically fragrant white skimmia dominates the top left hand corner and there are unusual varieties of rhododendron, azaleas (a particularly fragrant yellow one by the house) and the most enormous pieris.

My plans are still in their early stages but I hope to plant some yew and box to give the garden some form in the bleaker months, and plants lots of hellebores, primulas, cyclamen and hopefully a few Cardiocrinum giganteum (see image) which I fell in love with at Aberglasney gardens. Although I do love poppies and far too many herbaceous perennials to name here, I must be sensible and remember the maintenance.

My plant collection is growing rapidly and I can’t wait to start planting. However I know I will probably have to wait until the autumn, by which time, I hopefully will have got rid of the bindweed and more importantly, have had some chicken proofing built to prevent the girls from scratching up my well tended beds. Any gardening and planting advice is very welcome…

Hedd Wyn’s home saved for the nation

Tim — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:43:17 +0000

We were delighted at the news that the home of Hedd Wyn, the poet who won the chair at the National Eisteddfod in 1917 just a few weeks after his death on the First World War battlefields, Yr Ysgwrn in Trawsfynydd, and contents of bardic chairs has been saved for the Welsh nation. We were particularly proud that Tim Bowen Antiques were involved in the valuation of the contents including the bardic chairs. The house was secured with grants from the Welsh Government and the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), and will be looked after by the Snowdonia National Park Authority. The house is open by appointment.

Happy St David’s Day

Tim — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:34:26 +0000

St David’s Day is here again and we shall be celebrating this evening and tomorrow with a special St David’s dinner at the Ferrycabin here in Ferryside – lovely. This is our eldest daughter Morwenna ready for school this morning. She agreed to having her photo taken provided it would go on, what she calls, Mummy’s blob!

Her 19th century carthen (fringed shawl) is from the gallery and we are rather hoping it will still be on her this afternoon when we pick her up!!

Eggs at last!!

Tim — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:03:46 +0000

There has been a terrible shortage of eggs in the Bowen household. Our girls, last laid in late November and despite being pampered with tonic’s, handfuls of corn twice a day, naturally a good supply of layers pellets and the full run of our garden and its bountiful supply of slugs and worms, nearly three months have elapsed and I am still having to rely on inferior shop eggs! I am pleased to say that Fasnet and Finistere our two Speckledy’s, have in the past few days laid their first eggs of the year. Clearly I shan’t be relying on them for cake baking for a while, but at least we will be able to have some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday…well done girls and come on the other two!

A Quilted Bridge: The Amish-Welsh Connection

Tim — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:42:39 +0000

An exhibition of Welsh and Amish quilts is about to open from 10 March to 3 November 2012, at the The Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter. This exhibition is a rare opportunity to see and compare these two historic quilting traditions. Side by side are hung stunning antique American Amish quilts and the fabulous, strong early geometric flannel patchworks from Wales. Was the similarity influence or coincidence?

Rayburn hierachy

Tim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:56:53 +0000

When it is cold and wet outside everyone tends to congregate in front of the Rayburn. The rag rug which serves as a more comfortable surface than the slate slabs, may have a one year old clanking a wooden spoon against a saucepan lid, a couple of dogs, and of course the cat on it. The cat MUST always sit closest to the oven and be allowed adequate space to stretch the full length of the Rayburn for maximum warmth.

Arthritic Dog!

Tim — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:21:05 +0000

Guinness our nearly nine year old border terrier, who is featured every year on our Christmas card, has been finding it difficult to get up recently. Walks start off with enthusiasm, but soon he lags behind us with a questioning look as if to say “how far are we going?” He has visited the vet this week, his least favourite place, and the nice lady vet who puts up with his rather rude growl, said he had arthritic hips. I was quite surprised, after all he is only eight and a border terrier, who are notorious for being relatively problem free dogs. Anyway he is now taking cod liver oil, glucosamine dog treats x 3 daily and a daily squirt of Metacam anti inflammatory for dogs! Here he is in his more flexible days with a stick on Ferryside beach.