The Collectors
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Episode 42, Friday 28 November 2008
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Gordon visits a sensational, museum-quality private collection in Adelaide, which was on display at the Art Gallery of South Australia during June and July.
'Empires of Splendour', the life-time work of David Roche, includes a three-barrelled, richly decorated pistol belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte, and a ceremonial chair which belonged to Catherine the Great, no less. Simply stunning, all of it.
David bought his first antique when he was 17. This was the start of a long self-education in art, particularly in the decorative arts and above all in furniture and ceramics. His first purchases were relatively modest, but were developing and training the eye to recognize quality, beauty and most importantly, authenticity.
His advice? “Never buy anything just to fill in a spot, but wait until you find exactly the right thing. It does not matter if you wait years.”
http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au
