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SAADA Franschhoek Fair 2025

The South African Antique, Art & Design Association presents The very best Antiques, Art and 20th Century Design on offer at an intimate, boutique-style affair by South Africa’s Premier selection of accredited Antique, Art & Design dealers.

Antiques and Art worthwhile articles

Art brings hope to South Africa in troubled times

The art market is a beacon of hope in these troubled times for South Africa, but those who want to be part of the success story need to prepare now by Ivan Macquisten One moment, it was very much a man’s world, the next it is women coming to the [...]

Corkscrew collections – by Jeremy Astfalck

Collectibles By Lisa Witepski Dictionary.com describes collections as “a group of objects or works to be seen, studied or kept together.” That rather sterile definition gives no hint at the passion collectors feel for their prized goodies, or the unadulterated joy when they find a potential newcomer for the group. [...]

Article from the Collectables column of Business Day on the 10th May 2005 – by Jeremy Astfalck

THE sale of a collection of corkscrews at a Stephan Welz auction in Johannesburg again highlighted collector interest in these items, which offer a wide variety in size, shape and design. Jeremy Astfalck of The Old Corkscrew in Franschhoek says interest in corkscrews has taken off in the past few [...]

Antique silver – by Jeremy Astfalck

Most countries at some time or another have had silverware produced within their borders, either for religious purposes or for domestic use.  Silver along with gold has always been at the base of most economic systems since earliest times, due to their nobility, rarity and ability to be shaped into [...]

How to Value Silver – by Jeremy Astfalck

When confronted with any piece of silver there are various factors that contribute to its value.   The first and most obvious factor is the age.  Generally speaking, the older the piece, the more valuable it will be, as it has survived periods of war (where it could have been melted for currency), changes [...]

Silver collecting – the art of acquisition by Jeremy Astfalck

From early times the wealthy upper classes used silver at home to display their wealth, since along with gold it was seen as the ultimate store of value. Silver was the preferred metal for the manufacture of utilitarian items as it was lighter than gold and easily worked due to [...]

Silver Hallmarks by Jeremy Astfalck

A brief history of the hallmarking system and how it works. Hallmarks Generally speaking a hallmark is a letter, number, picture or combination of these, that allows one to be able to distinguish that what you are looking at is silver that conforms to the purity standards set in that [...]

Castle Tops by Madden Cole

COLLECTABLES CASTLE-TOP WARES were the souvenirs of the day when railways were introduced in the UK, encouraging people to take excursions to beauty spots where engraved or repousse-topped silver boxes were on sale. Castle-top boxes were so named because famous castles, stately homes, cathedrals or monuments were depicted on their [...]

Caddy Spoons by Madden Cole

THERE are two main reasons why the traditional design of caddy spoons is based on a scallop shell. One is romantic; the other more logical. According to the Collectors Cafe website, the more romantic reason is that shells often were found in tea chests exported from China, and this inspired [...]

Baby rattles by Madden Cole

BABY rattles were mentioned in inventories as far back as Elizabethan times, and developed into a fine art over the years, especially in Birmingham, once known as the toy capital of the world. Possibly one of the earliest records of the baby rattle was made by one William Horman, who [...]

Antiques from Africa #43

London in June is the place to be as the summer art and antiques fair season offers up the best available from across the world. Celebrating its 43rd year the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair, billed as London’s original art and antiques fair offers a wide choice of high [...]

Antiques from Africa #42

Divine intervention, coincidence or deliberately planned maybe, but for me this 42 is more likely the “Answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything”.    A little over a year ago I started this column and it has slowly taken on a life of its own. The [...]

Antiques from Africa # 41

Summer is here! The weather forecast predicts temperatures moving from 16 with rain, to 22 with sunny intervals, by the weekend in central London. As the weather warms and tourists flock to the capital the Fair Season begins. First up is the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair which is [...]

Antiques from Africa # 40

Last weekend in Johannesburg Olive’s parents went under the hammer. This story of an African auction is just like the book by Olive Schreiner The Story of an African Farm , as it had all of the ingredients to make it a bestseller.  Last weekend in Johannesburg Olive’s parents went [...]

Antiques from Africa # 39

A funny thing happened at the dinner table tonight. It has been suggested that woman may get the vote, can you believe that!  A funny thing happened at the dinner table tonight. It has been suggested that woman may get the vote, can you believe that ! This conversation would have taken place just over a [...]

Antiques from Africa # 38

For anyone with a sweet tooth the addition of sugar to our morning tea or coffee is a great way to start the day.  For anyone with a sweet tooth the addition of sugar to our morning tea or coffee is a great way to start the day. In fact [...]

Antiques from Africa # 37

Tea grown in the Far East notably China has been imported into England since the 1600’s. In those early days when the tea chests arrived one can imagine the delight for those, who upon opening them would have discovered a scallop shape sea shell within.  Tea grown in the Far [...]

Antiques from Africa # 36

Ever since the arrival of tea into Britain from the mid 1600’s it has evolved its own traditions.    Ever since the arrival of tea into Britain from the mid 1600’s it has evolved its own traditions. Originally drunk in Coffee houses and first served as something of a curiosity [...]

Antiques from Africa # 35

This thoroughbred auction house with a gentleman at the helm is at the forefront in the South African auction scene.  This thoroughbred auction house with a gentleman at the helm is at the forefront in the South African auction scene. Established in 2004 in Bree Street Cape Town, Rudd’s Auctioneers [...]

Antiques from Africa # 34

The old saying ‘Knowledge is power’ is especially true in the antiques and art industry. The old saying ‘Knowledge is power’ is especially true in the antiques and art industry. Being able to recognise something more in any item gives you the edge when buying as a dealer. I have [...]

Antiques from Africa # 33

He was a ghost designer, in the shadows and unrecognized during his life. The name Archibald Knox and the designs he did for Liberty & Co, the famous London store will be out for all to see. He was a ghost designer, in the shadows and unrecognized during his life [...]

Antiques from Africa # 32

Fake‘n Forgery !! They are part of our industry, pieces made to deceive and con you out of your money. They are part of our industry, pieces made to deceive and con you out of your money. When you first see it and it looks the part you lay down [...]

Antiques from Africa # 31

Show me anyone eating biltong and you can bet the farm he or she will have a penknife close at hand. Growing up in South Africa most kids soon learn the value of a simple tool like the penknife. Show me anyone eating biltong and you can bet the farm [...]

Antiques from Africa # 30

These dealers are at the cutting edge of the art and antiques trade in South Africa. The South African Antique Dealers Association (SAADA) was established in 1963 and today represents 53 specialist dealers nationally. In 2013 it celebrated its golden jubilee and this weekend, the 8th and 9th of February, [...]

Antiques from Africa #29

  Sometimes, something pops up that leaves us flummoxed. One of the most frequently asked questions in my antique shop is where does all of your knowledge come from ? A good question that makes us look more impressive than we really are. The short answer is research and when [...]

Antiques from Africa #28

A blind man walks into an antique shop and asks “Can I have a look around”… .. sounds like a very bad bar joke and totally politically incorrect, but this happened to me recently. In the hour he spent there I was humbled as to how he had not only [...]

Antiques from Africa # 27

As for predictions in the year ahead I think it will be a lot like looking into a crystal ball. 2014 has arrived and as usual in January I contemplate the year ahead and begin to plan what antique fairs I will be doing. This year is fairly full with [...]

Antiques from Africa # 26

Between 1640 and 1666 when the Great Fire decimated London a cache of jewels was buried in a cellar in Cheapside. For the first time since its discovery a century ago the entire hoard is on view at a special exhibition in the Museum Of London Between 1640 and 1666 [...]

Antiques from Africa # 25

They look like real Krugerrands but they are fakes- worthless as they contain no gold whatsoever. Made to catch you out but the Antique Plate Committee at Goldsmiths Hall in London is your guardian angel.           Today when out shopping we all recognise branded merchandise. We [...]

Antiques from Africa # 24

As an antique dealer I am often asked how we value many of the pieces we sell. Most of the time the formula is pretty straight forward but sometimes the “The Oprah Effect” comes into play. As an antique dealer I am often asked how we value many of the [...]

While on the run I saw this