A Festival of British folklore at Christie’s art auction house? Seems a strange mix. As was the exhibited photos, costumes, books and sculptures on display – and throw in some live folk dancers and balladeers performing in its Long Gallery for good measure. The venue lost its stuffy image as Mother Shipton lookalikes with shrubbery coming out of their witching hats strolled among the visitors. Any remaining semblance of stuffiness evaporated as Irish balladeers bade you form a circle and sit right there on the gallery floor to listen to their sweet warblings about a Celtic age gone by. What else? Morris dancers, good ole pearly kings and queens, Guy Fawkes – whatever had a bit of Brit folklore behind it was there.
