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What A Carnival |
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 During the early 1990's David started to visit
shops and other functions so allowing collectors to meet him in person and to
have their purchases signed. Up until this point David had always kept a low
profile but with the many awards being given to his pieces and the ever growing
Guild members and Collectors Clubs being created David found himself thrust
more and more into the limelight. The first of these events in the United
Kingdom was on 22nd October 1990 at the Collectors Guild day at Frimley Green
in Surrey. Here collectors had the opportunity for the first time to meet
David, have their cottages signed as well as having their photo taken. As these
events became more frequent special annual "David Winter Appearance Pieces"
were also created. The first of these was Birthstone Wishing Well in
1992.
This piece was only available for one year and was
retired on 30 June 1993. Collectors purchasing this piece had the opportunity
to choose, depending on their month of birth, one of twelve special base labels
and a gemstone, which was placed in the wishing well, as well as having their
initials added and David personally signing the cottage. So popular was this
piece that it was instantly replaced by Birth Day Cottage in 1994. Again
this piece was made available for just one year and was personalised this time
with metal plaques depicting the collector's birthday. Birth Day Cottage
was also given an alternative title Arches Thwonce. It inherited this
name because of it being a house built on a single bridge spanning a river and
is similar to another special cottage Arches Thrice which, as its name
implies, is a group of buildings built on a bridge with three arches.
Arches Thrice was just one of two very unique special
cottages exclusively created for two very special events for collectors.
Arches Thrice was made available in America for just five weeks during
David Winter's 1993 tour while the second special piece called Castle
Cottage of Warwick was released in the United Kingdom at the David Winter
Cottages Carnival 93. Both pieces were only available in their respective
countries during these special events and so proved to be very popular with
collectors. The event in the United Kingdom was held over two days in October
in the grounds of Warwick Castle. As well as obtaining a Castle Cottage of
Warwick, and having it signed, visitors were able to visit Warwick Castle,
watch casting demonstrations, partake in a raffle and a Provencal Treasure
Hunt, purchase special carnival merchandise while being entertained by jesters,
minstrels and medieval knights.
This carnival was to prove a huge success and
became the first of many annual "Carnival" events with special pieces being
made. The following year the Carnival returned again to Warwick Castle and
coincided with the opening of the new Kingmaker Exhibition hence the title of
the special piece The Kingmaker's Castle. In subsequent years the
Carnival moved to Windsor and then Rochester before returning to Warwick (This
time at Warwick Race Course) for the very last Carnival in 1997. The rise and
the subsequent demise of the annual Carnivals was just one of many changes
happening to David Winter Cottages. |
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