Christina and Paul Bishop of Specialist Glass Fairs are launching a new glass fair in September at Ickworth House in Suffolk.
This fine Georgian Italianate ‘palace’ near Bury St Edmunds is now owned by the National Trust, which describes the mansion as “the flamboyant conceit of the 4th Earl of Bristol”.
The Bishops run two other glass fairs: at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire and the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
Paul said: “We have decided to hold a glass fair in Suffolk because of the loss to the East Anglian market when we had to abandon our long-standing glass fair at Chilford Hall, near Cambridge, after their Tudor barns burnt down in 2012.
“We had built up a good following among collectors for this fair, particularly in East Anglia, and are often asked why we haven’t looked at other venues in the area. We hope that Ickworth House will be the solution.”
The event will be held in the gallery in Ickworth’s west wing. Although it will be a slightly smaller event, Paul adds: “We are sure that visitors will find a great selection of antique and contemporary glass here from all periods in a really lovely setting.”
It takes place on Sunday, September 23, and details of exhibitors will appear nearer the date.
