Tim Bowen Antiques, Carmarthenshire, Wales

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.

Early Oak

Tim — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:32:46 +0000

Although we love early oak and always want to have some to sell, it is difficult to source. The lovely oak desk box circa 1680 is one of the few early items we have in stock at present. In the past we have sold some joint stools, early coffers, various bible boxes and other early oak. We are trying hard to source some more early items. It is always a delight when we see a dated item beginning 16… that it is still around and being used.

Life’s little nessesities

Tim — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:20:22 +0000

In these austere times it is only natural that we should ask ourselves whether a weekly subscription to Country Life is entirely necessary!

I have asked myself, and found that my weekly copy of Country Life is essential. It keeps me informed of new books, plays and exhibitions I never have time to read, see or visit but I argue that at least I know what I am missing. The houses and even the antiques are mostly too grand and rich for my taste and my budget. Where else would I read about a palace for a plutocrat, the privilege and burden of inheriting a historic family home…you never know! There have been some excellent recipes over the years which have become adapted and now part of my standard dishes. I remember reading Christopher Lloyd’s gardening section when I was still in twenties and before I had my own garden in my thirties. However, I still like their advice. My favourite reason for spending £3.20 per week, is the wonderful Carla Carlisle’s Spectator column and of course Tottering by Gently which never fails to raise a smile.

Now all I need is my husband to read this, and hope he agrees that economy should not deprive us of this little pleasure.

New Folk Art Book

Tim — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:27:06 +0000

British Folk Art by Robert Mills has been published recently. Our copy arrived shortly before Christmas and I haven’t managed to prize it from Tim’s grasp yet for a good read. However, it is full of interesting pictures, good appendices and lots of definitions of the term Folk Art. Robert Mills website is worth a look at too. Happy reading

Antiques Trade Gazette – 7.1.12.

Tim — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:17:51 +0000

We are featured in the 10 Questions in this weeks ATG’s section on Anna Brady’s section page 21. Download PDF by clicking ATG2022DD – bowen

Christmas heirlooms

Tim — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:26:53 +0000

Christmas with children means the whole of December is taken up with lots of decorating and preparation’s. The Christmas tree has been up for nearly a fortnight and the windows of the advent calender are almost all open. Our Christmas angel for the top of the tree was one of our eldest daughters creations and as it is nearly three years old she (the angel) has been a bit bashed about and has lost an eye as well as a fair amount of glitter.

Exhibition – Artisan Painters

Tim — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:20:25 +0000

We braved the weather yesterday to visit the excellent Artisan Painters exhibition at Plas-Glyn-Y-Weddw in Llanbedrog, Pwllelli on the Llyn Peninsula. The exhibition has been organised by Peter Lord, (whose great wealth of work on Welsh art is worth exploring if you haven’t already) who has brought together a collection by this “little known story of the artisan painter and their middle class patrons” (introduction by Peter Lord to the catalogue from the exhibition).

The exhibition only runs until the end of December. Peter Lord explains why the profile of the Welsh Artisan Painter has been neglected whilst in the United States the work of the American artisan painter was appreciated from the 1920′s. As a result their work is exhibited far more widely and is highly valued by collectors.