September 8, 2014
Keen antique collectors from all over the South Burnett, Brisbane and the Gold Coast converged on Kumbia Hall recently for the Kumbia Progress Association’s annual Antiques Roadshow.
This year the Roadshow was expanded from a single day to a full weekend, and moved from July to late August.
Organisers said the change had proved to be very successful, allowing guests more time to relax and enjoy the experience in warmer weather.
The Roadshow was led by retired Victorian antiques dealer and former ABC Radio presenter Ray Dalton.
For a small fee, guests could have up to two of their own items identified, discussed and valued while other guests looked on and learned.
Kumbia Progress Association president Stephanie Stevens said the variety and quality of antiques brought along to this year’s Roadshow was “staggering”.
“We saw many rare pieces, including some that aren’t often seen outside museums,” she said.
“There were beautiful solid gold and silver fob watches, silver and porcelain dishes, ivory beads and carvings, paintings, tapestries, carved teak and ivory tea caddies, jewellery, clocks, fine ceramics and porcelain, hand blown glass, brass, an Indian sandstone carving from the 11th century, two carved stone heads from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, hand written and illuminated books, a first edition of the complete works of William Shakespeare, a fleam (an old bloodletting instrument) and canteens of cutlery.
“There was also a magnificent violin made by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume around 1850. It still has a wonderful sound and its present owner even played it for us!”
Stephanie said the weekend had attracted approximately the same numbers as last year’s event despite running at the same time as the South Burnett’s rugby league and soccer grand finals and the Wondai Show.
But many of this year’s visitors were new “newbies” who were very keen to return to next year’s Roadshow, she said, and the feedback organisers had received had been wonderful.
