AVID antique collectors are sharing their passion and enthusiasm for antiques by establishing a Windermere Antique Fair (WAF) at Windermere Centre.
The fair, the brain child of faithful shoppers and antique aficionados, Stavros Anthias and Helen Clementz, is held on the lower level of the mall on the first Saturday of every second month from 8.30am to 3pm, starting on Saturday, 3 March.
“The aim is to bring something new to the centre and revive interest in antiques. There used to be many antique shops in the Windermere area but these have closed and moved on. We want to bring antiques to the youth to encourage their interest in them,” said Helen, a former teacher, who admits to having a serious addiction when it comes to collecting antiques and says it has become a full time passion.
“I have an old house and for the past 30 years I have visited fairs and auctions to pick up pieces for my home. A house with antiques never looks dull or boring, antiques conjure up a bygone age and I have a wonderful house full of my eclectic collection of interesting objects!” she said.
Helen said the opportunity arose for her to get involved at an antique fair at La Lucia Mall where she has been involved for a while.
“Stavros and I saw the improvements made to Windermere Centre and felt the atmosphere lent itself to a fair. We hope the youth visiting the centre will realise old items are unique and not ‘throw aways’. They are everlasting and we encourage young people starting their homes to be unique and different when decorating,” she said.
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Stavros, a property lawyer by trade, is passionate about collecting antiques.
“My parents taught me about antiques and I have been interested in them since I was a teen. Durban had two markets in the 80s and I started trading at Shepherds Market in Essenwood and also sold at the former Buxton Centre. Margaret Winter and Ros Sarkin formed the Amphi Market in the 80s and I was one of the founding traders. I traded for 20 years before giving it up for 14 years. I’m now coming back to the fold, so to speak,” he said.
Stavros said he loved beautiful things and especially the style, quality and craftsmanship of antiques. He has a large collection of antiques, however his favourite piece is a solid silver loving cup from the 1700s.
“There used to be around 12 shops in Durban and now it is down to only three. Helen and I started talking about the market last year and decided to give it a bash,” he said.
Frank Chemaly, who has become an expert on silver and metal, will also be one of the traders at the fair. Frank, a journalist, has been interested in antiques for the past 15 years.
“My interest started when I bought a Victorian house and was trawling auctions to find items to decorate it, to keep with the style of the house. I started finding items which I thought other people would like and to fund my own collection. It has become a fun pastime,” he said.
Frank sells at markets when he can and also started off at La Lucia Mall.
“I encourage people to come to the fair and see the collection we have on sale. Antiques are tactile, people need to see them and get an idea of their beauty,” he said.
A minimum of 10 stall holders with an eclectic array of traditional fine smalls and other such like will be on display and available for purchase at the fair on Saturday.
Each person who purchases an item will get a discount of 15 per cent off a bill for meals and breakfasts for R100 or more at Fortunes from 3 to 11 March.
The markets for this year will be on 5 May, 7 July, 1 September and 3 November.
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