Internationally recognised diamond industry expert, Laurie Wickwire, has over 35 years’ experience in the diamond industry across all sectors: mining, sorting, grading and brokering  the world’s key rough stones. Laurie is a GIA Certified Diamond Grader, an IGI Certified Pearl Grader, a graduate of the DeBeers Institute of Diamonds and a Crown Jewel Specialist.

The British Crown Jewels

The British Crown Jewels are an unchanging jewelled anchor, whilst everything around us changes.  Delve into the history and beauty of the Crowns, Sceptre, Orb and other royal jewels used during the coronation ceremony. We take a seat in the front row of the coronation with details of the diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls used in the newly crafted royal regalia used by Kings & Queens since 1661. Secrets and mystery abound within these priceless jewels, seen by millions, worn by one.

The Cullinan Diamond

When the Cullinan Diamond was discovered in Pretoria, South Africa in 1905, it raised so many questions..."who will own it, where will it be kept, can it be divided into numerous gems, how much is it worth?" Join the journey as we experience the stress on Joseph Asscher as he attempted to cut and polish this historic gem. We travel from Rock to Royalty, where our priceless 3,106 carat diamond rough was tossed out of the sorting room window before being 'popped in the post' on its way to King Edward VII. it was not believed to be real!

DeBeers Diamond Cartel

Learn how one company came to control the world's flow of diamonds into the marketplace for over a century.  The De Beers Diamond Cartel convinced diamond miners & traders only  buy or sell via their single market channel, forming a bond so tight it was impossible to move diamonds without them. At one time, De Beers held 40,000,000 carats of rough diamonds in a 3 story basement vault in London- a 20 year supply of gemstones. De Beers took the jewellery market by storm with the slogan "A Diamond is Forever" voted the advertising slogan of the century.  Come learn how De Beers really did "Romance the Stone".

Following the great success of the February 2024 Special Interest Day led by Marc Allum from The Antiques Roadshow, we have decided to offer a similar, but distinctly different day for 2025, with an invitation to Mark Hill also well known from The Antiques Road Show. However the emphasis this time is not on tales from the show and it’s great discoveries but in-depth studies of mid 20th century glass and ceramics.

Mark will give two lectures:

The first is “Hot Stuff” The Birth of Studio Glass. Although glass has been around for centuries, the 1960s saw a revolution in the way that it was made, opening it up to artists across the world and allowing glass to be used as a true medium for art. Mark will examine the work of six key glass artists from the US and the US including Dale Chihuly, Sam Herman and Peter Layton. The lecture is illustrated with some previously unseen photographs taken at the time.The second is “Mid 20c Modern Italian Ceramics”. Stylish and colourful, these ceramics reflect many developments in design and modern art of the period. Although made in large quantities and exported across the world, until now, little has been known about the companies, designers and the influences behind them. Major makers from Bitossi to Fantoni to the many factories on San Marino are covered, and the identity of an important, yet forgotten, factory is revealed.

Mark will conclude with a third session who concept will be familiar - a mini identification and valuation event for items that we bring from home. However, Mark has asked that this supports his lecture theme only and there he asks that you stick to 20th Century Glass and Ceramics.

Express your interest in attending this event by completing the form that opens when you click here. The price is £35 including a light lunch. We will be in touch

Marc Allum is a freelance art and antiques writer, broadcaster, consultant and lecturer. You will know him from The Antiques Roadshow, where he has run the miscellany section! 

Programme for the day:

9.30 am Doors open for coffee/tea and biscuits. 

10.00 am First lecture: “Behind the Scenes at the Antiques Roadshow and its Great Discoveries”  

11.00 am Coffee/tea break   

11.30 am Second lecture:  “Auctioneers’ Tales” 

12.30 pm Lunch - a light lunch with soft drinks.   You are welcome to bring your own wine and wine glass. 

1.30 pm ‘Roadshow’ style discussion of objects you have brought together with objects from Marc’s own collection. 

3.00 pm Finish.

Maria Chester will host a Special Interest Day on Tuesday 15th February in The Blackbourne on the subject of "The Mayan Civilisation"

Programme:

9:30 am                 Arrival

10:00 am               Introductory Lecture - "Maya. Children of the Corn"

11:00 am               Coffee

11:30 am               "Bonampak Murals"

12:30 am               Lunch: Please bring a picnic

1:30 pm                 "Maya, The World of Clay"

2:30 pm                 Questions and Discussion

3:00 pm                 Finish

This programme is open to all members of an Arts Society. We anticipate that the cost for the day will not exceed £30. Please email us (info@theartssociety-westsuffolk.org.uk), as soon as possible, if you would like to come.

Today's talk focussed on The Art of Rabindranath Tagore

Today's talk focussed on Imperial Calcutta: Arts and Architecture

Today's talk focussed on Images of the British Empire

3 one-hour morning sessions, starting at 11am, Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th and Friday 12th February.

A journey through time looking at the Imperial Wardrobe (costume and accessories) during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

A virtual tour of Theatreland treating you to historical vignettes and anecdotes about some of our famous theatres. Discover how theatre developed from the Elizabethan playhouses of Bankside and Shoreditch, through the rise of restoration drama in Covent Garden to  the West End’s Edwardian and Victorian theatres. Bringing things up to date we’ll discover the birth of the Fringe, Off West End and socially distanced performances!. The illustrated talk will include anecdotes about theatrical personalities, superstitions and traditions. 

From Downton to Gatsby - recreating opulence and glitter, 1890-1920

At The Blackbourne (Community Centre), Elmswell, 10am - 3pm.

£18 fee;  bring your own lunch.

Please click here for an Application Form.

Fifty years of British Sculpture.

Click here for details.

Guests are also welcome to attend this event

Christopher has invited membersto bring along a small piece of furniture for the valuation session after lunch- no dining tables please. 

info@westsuffolk-dfas.org.uk

Please click here for further details and to download a booking form.

info@westsuffolk-dfas.org.uk

Pease visit the Documents section under About Us for further details and to download a booking form.

Contact: info@westsuffolk-dfas.org.uk

It has long been acknowledged that the worlds of the visual and aural arts link with extraordinary power when one medium inspires the other.  This study day, which spans over 600 years of the arts, analyses and discusses a range of related works, bringing together the music of Martinů with the frescoes of Piero della Francesca, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus with Respighi’s Trittico botticelliano, Böcklin’s Isle of the Dead with Rachmaninoff’s symphonic poem, and Piet Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie Woogie with the piano playing of Albert Ammons.

The study day is presented with digital images, video, recorded music and live examples sung and played at the piano.

Programme for the day

Coffee

Part 1 will feature the Music and Paintings of Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov and Respighi and will finish with a short discussion.

Part 2 will focus on Martinu, Liszt, Field, Chopin and Whistler.

Lunch

In Part 3, Peter will talk about the music and paintings of Von Schwind, Leighton, Kandinsky and Mondrian.

Peter is a presenter, scholar, bass-baritone, harpsichordist and pianist.  He studied singing and early keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. We look forward to his illustrated lecture, together with his own singing and instrumental examples to enjoy