The Winter Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair from 24-29 January, 2012 in The Marquee in Battersea Park, London SW opens with a full house of more than one hundred and forty inspirational exhibitors, dealers in unusual and practical period furniture for connoisseurs, painted pieces and country chic for relaxed living areas; fabulous lighting and mirrors; textiles and upholstered chairs, original vintage glass and ceramics as well as highly collectable named designer furniture of the 20th century.

The event has a loyal following of the best decorative dealers in the country including Christopher Edwards and Andrew Webb who trade from Core One Antiques in Fulham, dealing in an eclectic mix of carefully selected furniture, pictures, objects and sculpture and industrial lighting. Image shows a pair of Mark Brazier-Jones candlesticks c 1990 from a selection at their Core One Antiques showroom.

Two more Core One residents will be on show at Battersea – returning from the autumn fair will be Orlando Harris of JW Blanchard and making a debut Richard Steenberg who will bring a selection of country house pieces including a Howard and Sons deep-seated 'Henley' armchair, circa 1910, labelled and stamped,(shown).

Orlando is known the world over for its unusual mix of Continental, English country house and C20th pieces and will bring a selection from his eclectic stock including a set of four unusual French chairs in steel, having a nice old blue patination c. 1890 shown; and a spectacular pair of jardinieres, 21.50 ins h, fibreglass, USA c. 1950's also shown.

Lorfords Antiques, of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, is home to a number of high profile decorative dealers including David Juran of Magus Antiques who is the owner of The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair. Lorfords will bring their usual enticing selection of painted furniture and decorative accessories including a pair of Southern European glazed vases c. 1960, of grand stature, approx. 4t tall (shown).

Also hailing from Tetbury having recently added the Cotswolds town to their list of locations which include Kings Road Chelsea and Petworth, will be Brownrigg Interiors who will bring a a set of 4, (2 shown), late 19th century French cast iron statues of swans, originally part of a fountain.

For a full exhibitor list and times see The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair web site via TRADE INDEX

January 2012 sees a number of premier events getting the antiques fairs calendar off to a flying start including Tatton Park Antiques and Fine Art Fair 6-8; The National Antiques and Fine Art Fair 18-22 and The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair 18-22. The larger open air events are also on the calendar for January including Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair10-11; Shepton Mallet Antiques and Collectors Fair 20-22; Newmarket Antiques & Collectors Fair 15;and The Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show 30 – 1 February.

Within this busy schedule for fair goers and exhibitors comes a new and exciting addition to the successful Luxury Antiques Weekends concept fairs organised by Ingrid Nilson of The Antique Dealers’ Fair Limited at Harewood House near Leeds in West Yorkshire which will take place from 27-29 January 2012. To add to the glamour of the event, the fair is held in association with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester.

Organiser Ingrid Nilson, director of The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited said, “We organise these luxury events in attractive locations and offer a relaxed atmosphere for collectors, interior designers and members of the public, who welcome the opportunity to check out the finest art and antiques for sale from expert dealers and to find that special piece to enhance their home. Harewood certainly fits our criteria. There is ample free parking, as well as light refreshments and a restaurant with seasonal dishes prepared by Harewood’s chefs to make an enjoyable day out.”

There are over 100 acres of garden at Harewood, created by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, the family seat of the Earl and Countess of Harewood. This magnificent royal houses
the largest collection of Chippendale furniture in private hands. One of the specialist dealers exhibiting at the fair, BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Lennox Cato from Kent is
giving a talk about the 18th century designer Thomas Chippendale‟s work and has Chippendale furniture amongst the pieces for sale on his stand.

Fourth generation antiques dealers from Bedfordshire, S&S Timms Antiques will bring their normal stock of dining room tables, side tables, bureau bookcases, desks, mirrors, wine coolers and interesting accessories including this Elegant Regency Period Rosewood Breakfast Table (shown) a well figured oblong tilt top supported by turned central column and four splay base with original brass castors priced at £4950. Melody Antiques from Cheshire has a range of Welsh dressers, oak refectory tables and country furniture, including a rare mid 17th century oak juvenile wainscot chair by Tobias Jellileek, c1650, priced at £4,500.

Aberdeenshire dealer, Campbell Wilson, is bringing a pencil and coloured chalk portrait study of Mrs Ambrose McEvoy signed by Augustus John OM, RA (1878-1961) (shown) and selling for £9,500. Jewellery and objets d‟art specialist T Robert is bringing an Art Nouveau Gallé green and yellow cameo glass bowl, c1900, (shown) which is unusually decorated on the inside and outside, priced at £2,850. Plaza is bringing a wonderful selection of designer jewellery including South Sea pearl diamond and sapphire earrings by Tiffany, made in the 1960s, (£5,600), a pair of Cartier emerald and diamond earrings from the 1990s (£3,950) and a 1950‟s brooch and earclips (brooch shown) made by Garrard and set with diamonds, citrines and graduated cascading rubies (£8,000).

This new event features around 30 exhibitors, all members of either the British Antique Dealers Association or LAPADA The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers, the UK’s two professional bodies. These experts are bringing town and country furniture, contemporary and antique paintings, watercolours, drawings and sculpture, oriental rugs and carpets, silver, glass, antique and designer jewellery and objets d‟art.

For full exhibitor information see The Antique Dealers Fair Limited via TRADE INDEX

Stuart and Kiel of the hard to resist Fontaine Decorative emporium in Margate, Kent, have a frantic calendar of fairs ahead this year and an even more frenzied schedule of buying trips. Long time exhibitors at The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair - 24-27 January and again 24-29 April, they have decided to show at Olympia Antiques & Fine Art Fair 7-17 June 2012 for the first time.

The decision to exhibit at Olympia is a natural progression for the duo who have a fabulous eye and have been trading for around eighteen years having been bitten by the decorative bug while living in France. They say "Anything diverse and unique catches our eye, from naive 18th Century through to contemporary 20th Century."

The boys are delighted with their relocation from France to the Kent coastal town of Margate, which is enjoying a renaissance largely due to the largesse of the local authority regeneration pot available to many local businesses. Their large premises was once the town laundry and they have wrought an amazing transformation with a series of large showrooms with wonderful high ceilings, a perfect backdrop for their eclectic stock.

Images from a selection on the Fontaine web site via TRADE INDEX

We are delighted to welcome a contribution from the very successful blog (80,000 views a month and counting) of Michael Chappell of Chappell & McCullar - LAPADA members and specialists in fine English furniture in San Francisco.

We love Michael's style and look forward to publishing regular extracts - see Features - The Hollywood Set

Woburn Abbey Antiques Centre is enjoying a solid revival following a concerted effort by the new management and PR team. A fresh influx of new and varied dealers together with a lively programme of talks has breathed fresh air into the centre located on the estate of one of England’s most famous stately homes.

Resident dealer and well known BBC Television Antiques Roadshow presenter John Bly, who recently enjoyed a five figure sale at the centre, will be giving a talk entitled “The Age of Victoria and the Great Exhibition of 1851” on Monday 13 February which is a morning event for a maximum of forty people followed by a Q&A session. Tickets can be bought via the Woburn Abbey Antiques Centre web site.

The regular talks by John Bly and antiques expert and publishing star Judith Miller have proved really successful with the public and the team have recently introduced a “by invitation” card for regular clients to fast track them through the parking and public entrance for the main house. Plans for 2012 include more visiting speakers and more art exhibitions.

Manager of Woburn Antiques Centre, Mike Prendergrast told Antiques News and Fairs: “We have been delighted to welcome back a number of familiar faces in recent months including; Acle Antiques (Malcolm and Vivienne Tuddenham) and Dome Antiques (Adam Woolf). Whilst we have seen a number of dealers returning to the centre we have continued to welcome new dealers such as Berrington Antiques (Roger and Mary Barnes) and Michael Baggott. At the same time, the centre is broadening the variety of tenants with Interior Designers Garry Cameron and Cecilia Neal taking space (Neal from February) which, when coupled with an in-house upholsterer, broadens the offering and appeal to the public. Nick Lury continues to have a significant presence with pictures; other wall space is now occupied by Derrick and Tina Rayment who have recently come to the centre with a display of barometers.

See Woburn Abbey Antiques Centre web site via TRADE INDEX

TV duo art sleuth Philip Mould and presenter Fiona Bruce are on the hunt again.

The race is now on to discover unattributed treasures or counterfeits currently languishing in the dimly lit corridors and turrets of Britain. With its rich and bloody history Philip Mould believes there are some wonderful works of art waiting to be unearthed that would benefit from Fake or Fortune?'s rigorous research.

After securing high viewing figures for a programme of fine art in the first series, Fake or Fortune?’ has been re-commissioned by BBC1 to set this crack art sleuthing duo on the trail of lost masters to provide the perfect ‘Whodunnit’ art crime scene for next year.

Is there a chance you have an unknown Rembrandt or a forged Leonardo? Filming in 2012 starts in January and runs through till March so time is definitely of the essence. Inclusion in the programme provides a unique opportunity to subject a work to the intense academic knowledge and scrutiny of Philip Mould, the gallery’s in-house art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor as well as a team of outsourced forensic experts.

If you have a painting that you think Philip and Fiona should look at, please Email Philip Mould

The prestigious 9th National Fine Art & Antiques Fair, supported by LAPADA, The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers takes place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from 18 - 22 January 2012.

A superb platform for specialist dealers from across the UK across a wide range of disciplines, from ancient works of art to contemporary paintings and sculpture, period furniture and clocks to exquisite jewellery, sculptures and silverware, European porcelain, glass, objets de vertu and all kinds of rare collectors' curiosities.

Among the art dealers exhibiting will be London based Paul Mayhew. One of the key exhibits for Mayhew Fine Art will be "Orange Blossom" by SOPHIE ANDERSON (1823-1903)Oil on canvas 14" x 12", signed. Region of £15,000 (shown).

The artist Sophie Anderson was born in Paris but spent much of her early life in America, where she met and married her husband, the English artist Walter Anderson. She exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1855 and 1896 and at other institutions. Her work is loosely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement and she specialised in genre painting of children and women. Orange Blossom became a symbol of fertility in the Victorian era. Queen Victoria herself wore a wreath of orange blossoms on her wedding day.

Sophie Anderson hit the press headlines in November 2008 when a world record price for her work of more than £1 million was achieved by Sotheby's in London for her painting "No Walk Today".

For a full exhibitor list see The National Antiques & Fine Art web site via TRADE INDEX

Nelson Events are not best pleased to announce that their flagship event Alexandra Palace Antiques, Collectors, 20th Century, Art Deco & Book Fair due to take place on Sunday 12 February 2012 will now have to take place on Sunday 18 March following an announcement from senior management at Alexandra Palace.

Peter Barrows, Chairman of Nelson Events Ltd told us that he had received assurances that their events would not affected following the decision to promote Alexander Palace as one of London's leading music venues. Peter said: "...unfortunately, it seems that this is not the case. Despite having 2012 dates agreed since last September and all of our marketing and advertising reflecting this since then, it seems that long term relationships do not count for as much as new money!"

Nelson events wish to apologise for the inconvenience caused to visitors and exhibitors.

See Nelson Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX for future dates.

The UK’s legislation implementing the EU Directive on artist’s resale right (ARR) on the work of living artists first came into force in the UK on 14 February 2006. From 1 January 2012, following the ending of the UK’s derogation, this will be extended to the heirs of artists who have died within 70 years of the date of sale, provided that the artist was of qualifying nationality at the date of their death. Dealers (and other art market professionals such as auction houses) are responsible, along with sellers, for paying ARR on all qualifying sales.

LAPADA and The BADA have provided a full summary of the situation which can be read via the excellent Art, Antiques and Luxury Design Blog

The London Ceramic Fair takes place on Saturday 14 January 2012 at Kensington Town Hall, Horton St, London W8 - just off Kensington High Street.

One of the first London fairs after Christmas the event offers collectors a chance to concentrate on a superb collection from a number of specialist dealers including Juno Antiques who will show a selection from their stock including this delftware plate, painted with a couple in a European landscape, c.1750-60. The sponged trees and subject suggest a Bristol origin.

Frieze co-founders Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover have both been named Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Even the Queen has taken notice of the seemingly unstoppable rise of the art world's hottest duo. "We have always hoped that Frieze would make a contribution to the visual arts in general, and we are honored that this has been recognized, particularly in this year of new projects for the company," Slotover told ARTINFO UK.

An OBE also goes to Mark Pemberton, the director of National Collections, English Heritage, and a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) to James Holloway, director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. John Jones, founder and chairman of the framing company of the same name, has received an MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire) as "master framer." Jones, who is about to open an arts building gathering all the company's services, studios, and a non-profit exhibition space, stated: "I feel truly overwhelmed to have been given this incredible recognition. The main thing I can say is how delighted I am that my children have continued my passion and are building upon what I started."

Read full report at: ARTINFO UK

Travelling around the South Coast a couple of years ago visiting a number of trade sources with one of my American clients, we booked ahead into Hotel Una in Regency Square, Brighton – described on the web site as a warm and friendly, elegant and fashionable boutique hotel.

This turned out to be the start of a continuing love affair with this accurately described gem of a hotel where the staff seemingly have their own charm school somewhere in the basement! Owned by Bosnian architect Zoran Maricevic and his wife Elena, this hotel is located in the heart of beautiful Brighton with the rare to find parking right opposite.

Visiting antique dealers and their couriers know how hard a twelve hour day can be on the road and this is the perfect place to collapse afterwards with a glass of wine in their discreet little bar perfect for business travellers – particularly lone ladies as I know quite well, or just disappear upstairs into one of the contemporary river themed rooms (Una is a river in Eastern Europe) of which there are twenty to choose from with luxury toiletries, bath robes and high tech entertainment. Their breakfasts are irresistible – my favourite is Eggs Benedict served in the room!

Strategically located in the heart of very fertile antique hunting territory of East and West Sussex - Hotel Una is an affordable luxury with really good rates for mid-week travellers.

See Hotel Una web site via TRADE INDEX

Fair organisers! If you have not sent your 2012 dates please do so as soon as possible - this includes Europe and the US.

PLEASE NOTE: we can only accept content via the FAIRS CALENDAR - SUPPLY INFORMATION LINK

Galloway Fairs are excited to announce that they have been invited to return to organise an antiques fair at The Bowes Museum a high profile venue which has not been on their calendar for a number of years. The event will be called The Bowes Museum Antiques Fair and will take place from 13-14 October 2012.

Organiser Susan Galloway told Antiques News and Fairs: "The Bowes Museum is of course is an opportunity that we have grasped with both hands as we have very fond memories of our successful fairs there some years ago. Sadly these stopped due to a change of administration at the museum, this has now altered again, hence our invitation to return."

The Bowes Museum is a stunning French–style chateau nestling in the hills of Teesdale in the historic market town of Barnard Castle in the North East of England. The museum contains the largest collection of French paintings in the country, with great works of art by artists including Goya and Canaletto. The fair will take place in the Spanish and Italian picture galleries and will run in conjuction with an antiquarian book fair as well as a valuation service offered by David Harper from T.V's Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt.

For full details see Galloway Antiques Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX

Tatton Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair FROM 6-8 January will be the first major fair of the year and one of the premier fairs in Cooper Events calendar for the year.

Traditionally a very busy event, there will be a wide range of prices from the exhibitors on show who travel from across the UK to attend. Among them will be will be Church Street Antiques from Altrincham with fine period furniture and mirrors; John Newton from East Yorkshire, showing fine porcelain; Anderson Jones specialising in fine jewellery, Phoenix Fine Art
from Cheshire specialising in English watercolours; Richard Glass from Derbyshire with Old Master drawings, Parkstile Antiques from Lincolnshire specialising in fine silver; Brian Asbee from Bristol with small furniture, ceramics and paintings, Mark Seabrook from Cambridgeshire, specialising in oak and country furniture, and Art of the Imagination from Salisbury showing art and sculpture by contemporary illustrators and artists.

Images:
A pewter coupe with Clutha glass liner, designed by Archibald Knox, a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts movement, circa 1903. To be shown by Paraphernalia, the Arts & Crafts specialists from Derbyshire. £2,750.

Four pottery figures depicting the seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter – by the factory Neale & Co, circa 1785. £2,200. From Roger De Ville from Staffordshire, the early English pottery specialist.

See full exhibitor list and times on Cooper Events web site via TRADE INDEX

The London Silver Vaults, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1QS current exhibition The Cook's Kitchen - Culinary Silverware and Gifts for Epicures will showcase every manner of silver gadget and culinary flourish for food lovers, from the Georgian, Victorian and 20th century kitchen.

The display will span collectable Georgian silver pans and
nutmeg graters to basting spoons (used today as serving spoons) and Victorian paraphernalia such as asparagus tongs and carving sets. It will also include affordable gift ideas such as early C20th grapefruit spoons, pastry forks and cake slices. For practical yet beautiful cooking utensils to specialist cutlery and spectacular presentation dishes, The Cook’s Kitchen selling exhibition at The London Silver Vaults will serve up a wealth of culinary ideas for Christmas gifts and collectors alike and there will be time to take in this exhibition at a more leisurely pace following Christmas as the exhibition does not close until 28 January 2012.

See The London Silver Vaults web site via TRADE INDEX for more information on the thirty specialist shops at the London Silver Vaults (established 1953) offering the largest retail collection of antique and modern English silver for sale in the world, including jewellery and watches.

Penman Fair’s major new event for 2012, The Guildford Antiques & Art Fair at the ‘G Live’, Guildford, Surrey is almost fully booked with leading dealers from across the country taking stands.

More than forty-five dealers will be showing at this new event which will take place from 24 - 27 May 2012. Among the many well-known dealers already confirmed are furniture specialists H.C.Baxter & Sons from Eastbourne, jewellery specialists Anthea A.G.Antiques from London and rug specialist Farnham Antique Carpets.

Caroline Penman told Antiques News and Fairs: "The fair has been very well received. Everyone appreciates that Guildford and the surrounding area offers great potential. Many recall how the former Guildford fair was always a very special occasion. It will be so again."

Also exhibiting will be Garret & Hurst from Sussex, specialising in 19th century bronze sculpture, Richard Hoppé from Devon, showing glass, art dealers Alexander Gallery from Bristol, Baron Fine Art from Chester, McAllister Thomas Fine Art from Godalming and Cambridge Fine Art from Cambridgeshire, Antideluvian from Oxfordshire with pieces from the Grand Tour; Angelika C.J. Friebe from Dorking with antiquarian maps and prints and Pars Rugs from Hartley Wintney.

G Live is a new and prestigious venue built on the site of the old Civic Hall on London Road, home to the original Guildford Antiques Fair until the building was demolished in 2004.

For full details see Penman Antiques Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX

We hope all our customers and readers have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and successful New Year in 2012.

For Christmas 2012 we have donated to The Salvation Army and World Society for the Protection of Animals instead of sending Christmas cards. If you would like to donate to either of these very worthy causes please click on the links in red.

Cooper Fairs' Pavilions of Harrogate Antiques and Fine Art Fair was already bustling at 11.10, ten minutes after opening, on Sunday 4 December 2011 - the third day of three. Organiser Sue Ede, told our reporter: "We've been extremely busy throughout - would you believe that, so far, this has actually been our quietest day?

It has taken barely a year for Cooper's ownership, and strong stewardship, of this three-times-a-year event to reinstate it as one of the leading antiques and fine art fairs in the north. Exhibitor numbers of over 40 this December were three times what they had become during 2010.

Scarab Antiques found strong interest in a range of fine silver design pieces by Ottewill - Sue Poultney of Scarab is pictured discussing the quality of design and construction of their solid silver espresso coffee set.

Red Bus Art was there to attract interest from both the county set and the design conscious. Among their display was selection of sporting luggage and accessories and a gallery of original pop-art oils - the four album covers by Sarah Hood.

Red Bus Art will be making a debut Bath Decorative Antiques Fair in March 2012. They will feature in our Bath Decorative Antiques Fair preview in January 2012

See Scarab Antiques and Cooper Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX

Our friend in Berlin Toma Haines The Antiques Diva who takes buyers on antiques shopping trips all over Europe and now in the UK, has pipped us to the post with the account of her recent visit to the Kentish hotspot of Margate where Kiel and Stuart owners of Fontaine have recently opened their UK HQ. Their transformation of the former town laundry is a 3400 square foot domain of delights ... but we will let the Diva talk:

"Every once in a while you step into an antique store and feel like you’re coming home. It doesn’t matter that the store is on the other side of the globe located in a coastal England town a hop skip and a jump from the Chunnel crossing from France to England ... they ship - and I always say, “if there’s a ship there’s a way.” This feeling of coming home is created when the shop you’re entering has an aesthetic that feels just right – like the home you would create if you had access to an eclectic collection of great decorative antiques, object d’art and had a lifetime to trawl the treasures of France in your spare time.

This was my experience when I walked in the doors of Stuart’s and Kiel’s shop Fontaine in Margate, Kent England. To say I was smitten is an understatement. These chic boys had me hook, line and sinker.

If their collection feels collected over a life time, it’s because it is. One summer 17 years ago they set off in their Fiat Punto on an adventure to France with a couple hundred pounds in their pockets and spent it all at their first street ‘brocante’ in Pas de Calais. Since then, they haven’t looked back and their customers haven’t stopped shopping chez them.

Over the years Kiel and Stuart have increased their purchasing budget and bought from hundreds of different brocantes, antiques markets and auctions all over France, developing their knowledge of French decorative antiques and collecting quite possibly the best collection of French antiques seen outside of the Marche Paul Bert in the famous Paris flea market – and at a fraction of the famous Paris flea markets prices.

What’s in store? Anything diverse and unique that catches their eye, from naive 18th Century through to contemporary 20th Century.

Margate has been the subject of a huge regeneration project and Stuart and Kiel are working hard with the council to raise awareness of the charms and facilities in the town not least the presence of Tracey Emin and the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery."

See Fontaine and The Antiques Diva web sites via TRADE INDEX

The latest glossy brochure from Richard Gardner is now in circulation and there are many tempting objects suitable for a very indulgent Christmas present.

Richard Garner is a specialist in superb collectable objects - clocks, caddies, bronzes and glass and for this latest catalogue there are highly desirable pieces of glass just in time for the festive table.

We have selected just two from the vast selection on offer in the catologue which available on request from Richard Gardner Antiques, full contact details on the web site via TRADE INDEX

An English silver claret jug, c 1862 with a pierced silver top and very festive star decoration, price shown on web site.

A Val St Lambert, early 20th c Belgium, suite of decanter and glasses in harlequin colours, all labelled, price shown on web site.

There is always something for everyone at Bourbon Hanby Arcade in Chelsea. A traditional Continental "squeeze-box", currently to be found amongst the antiques is bound to be music to somebody's ears. This fine 1930s Italian accordion is offered for sale by partner Ian Towning in full working order, complete with original set of carrying cases. this instrument is just waiting for an enthusiastic buyer to squeeze Ian for a real deal.

For Christmas presents that appreciate whilst being appreciated antiques and in particular antique jewellery are hard to beat. The variety at this enticing boutique of antiques and collectibles in the heart of Chelsea ranges from a silver wine label at £30 to a magnificent coral and diamond ring in the four figure range. Everything is fully priced on the web site and the arcade is open seven days a week.

Image: a earrings from a wide selection at Bourbon Hanby Arcade

See Bourbon Hanby Arcade via TRADE INDEX

Dualco Promotions has been going for thirty years, now with father and son Phil and Stan Green at the helm. Currently running five venues in the north and one in the midlands, they are renowned for keeping their finger on the pulse - ever ready to explore new venues but never afraid to quit those proving unsuitable or no longer economically viable.

Dualco's flagship events for the fast few years have been Bolton Reebok Stadium and Doncaster Racecourse each with 300+ stands. A relatively recent addition, Wolverhampton Racecourse is next largest with up to 230.

But their latest acquisition almost matches the combined capacity of all three. Event City Exhibition Hall, Manchester has room for up to 700 stands, plus free parking for 12000 cars. The first event is scheduled for Sunday 5 February 2012.

Interest was certainly running high at Dualco's Halifax North Bridge Leisure Centre event on 27 November 2011 itself at full capacity on the day with around 200 stands. Stan Green told Antiques News and Fairs roving reporter Ivor Hughes: "You wouldn't believe the number of enquiries we've received. We've already had bookings from dealers in London and beyond - remarkable for a one-day event so far away. Early signs are very encouraging".

Image:

Shirley from Caldene Antiques Centre (in nearby Mytholmroyd) is a regular exhibitor at Dualco Halifax events; "It's handy for us, and is excellent exposure for my goods and the centre itself".

With three full time staff working on the Hemswell Antiques web site and with an average of three thousand images constantly uploaded, proactive owner Robert Miller (shown) has announced the launch of Hemswell Antiques its very own mobile phone "app" believed to be the first of its kind for an antiques centre.

Housed on a former RAF base and one of the largest centres in the UK, Hemswell is home to a wide variety of dealers, including a number of LAPADA members.

See our feature on the centre Hemswell Antiques

Yorkshire based David Hakeney (pictured) is a regular face on Dickinson's Real Deal and Secret Dealer. He's also a regular exhibitor at events as diverse as Dualco's Doncaster Racecourse and IACF International Antiques and Collectors' Fairs at Newark and a permanent exhibitor at Hemswell Antique Centre. So he's pretty much the real deal himself.

Richard told our reporter: "A picture for Antiques News and Fairs? Yes, sure. But don't get too much of the stand in - we've been flat out since they opened the gates and aren't properly set up yet."

Under the spotlight - David Hakeney during a morning's busy trading at IACF Newark on 1 December.

See IACF Ltd and Hemswell Antiques web sites via TRADE INDEX

Our reporter tracked down Richard Burgoin, co-director of Arthur Swallow Fairs at the Lincoln event last week and he told him of excitement news for next year: "I'll be glad when the New Year comes. Although there has been a lot of interest about our two new architectural salvage fairs in Ripley (May) and Knutsford (August), Home, Restoration and Salvage Shows, they will both become more of a reality when that corner is turned. I'm pleased to be able to say that we have agreed co-promotion for the new events with Thornton Kay of Salvo. Until now, their annual summer fair has been the only one dedicated to reclamation.

Other news from Arthur Swallow Fairs is that the popular Arthur Swallow Fairs event Donington Antiques Market moves into the Exhibition Hall for 2012 with a relocation of the popular Donington Park event from the Tarmac Lake and Launch Pad to the newly refurbished Exhibition Centre and surrounding hard standing. Richard continued: "The Arthur Swallow Team is really excited about the move as the new venue allows stallholders to have the same generous pitch sizes but with the added benefits that a building can offer away from the elements of the great British weather. The event will still retain its drive in format with stall allocation on arrival but with a slightly later start to trading of 7.30am, signalled by a blast of the airhorn!

See Arthur Swallow Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX for dates and times for 2012.

Thousands of exhibitors and buyers at the big fairs at Lincoln and Newark last week were thankful that, unlike last year, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire weren't covered by six or more inches of snow. And so was Reef TV - busy filming another series of Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is at both events.

With production (and post-production) costs of tens of thousands of pounds per filming day, mistakes for commercial TV production companies can prove very costly. The ongoing presence of various TV programmes' crews at both events is hard evidence that they see them as a safe bet.

Eric Knowles, pictured taking a short break in the Arthur Swallow Fairs Lincoln Showground event restaurant with a Put Your Money crew, told Antiques News and Fairs' reporter Ivor Hughes: "Good event. Spent a bit among the outdoor pitches, glad to be heading indoors to find more. Mind you, the one thing that irritates me - at all events - is when I am automatically tarred with the same brush as some of the characters on other shows. I am not in the habit of offering some derisory amount when I've already been told the best price. It's not my way, never has been". So there."

Images:

Eric Knowles and the Reef TV crew taking a break at Arthur Swallow Fairs Lincoln on 28 November 2011.

Value My Stuff, the online valuation service founded by former Sotheby’s Director, Patrick van der Vorst, has launched a new agency service.

The website, which launched in 2009, works by customers sending in pictures of any items they want valuing and within 48 hours one of over 60 experts will respond with a description and valuation. Now, any customer who receives a valuation of over £1,000 and wishes to sell that item will have access to the VMS agency service to guide them through the process.

The agency service works with the customer to find the best possible selling option for their item. This may be placing it in an auction house or working with a private dealer. In the initial phase, Value My Stuff has consigned 300 items at auction to the value of £724,000.

The agency service will undertake such tasks as negotiating how much space in the auction catalogue an item will receive, what images are used, the description of the item and the lot number. Value My Stuff’s team will also use their knowledge of the market to place items in the right auction house and within the right market.

VMS take 10% commission on all items sold through their service, which also includes the auction house commission.

Van der Vorst says; “When I started Value My Stuff in 2009, my inspiration for the website was to make the expertise that are held by a few, accessible to a far wider audience. Auction houses, and the art world in general, can be a daunting place to those who are unfamiliar with it, and Value My Stuff provides people with a friendly and easy-to-use alternative.

“The agency service is an extension of the same thing. Even when you are confident in the valuation of your item, it can still be difficult to know how to take that item to market. I found that more and more people were asking Value My Stuff for advice on how best to sell their items, so we decided to supply that advice.”

Value My Stuff’s agency service has recently helped to sell such items as a Keith Tyson painting which sold for £35,000 and a bronze sculpture of Auguste Rodin’s Etude pour ‘Le Secret’, signed by the artist, which sold for £55,000

For more details see Value My Stuff web site via TRADE INDEX

We urgently require 2012 listings for our top ranked Antiques News Fairs Calendar

We can only accept copy via our email link on the Fairs Calendar Page - see "SUPPLY INFORMATION" link in the "Advice to Organisers" section.

Please contact us about live links for your event!

Behind the scenes in the antiques trade an army of shippers and movers manage the movement and delivery of the weird and wonderful and the valuable and fragile objects and works of art that are bought and sold in the antiques trade every year.

George Johnson Lady Kentmores Antiques has been talking to some of them and has written an amusing insider account for us in Features - Moving Antiques

When the Pavilions of Harrogate Antiques and Fine Art Fair opens from 2-4 December, 2011, Christmas will be less than one month away and the exhibitors at this flagship Cooper Events fair will be enticing the visitors with some irresistible examples of jewellery, decorative arts and paintings perfect finds for an indulgent Christmas shopping list.

An important bronze statue of Anya Linden Sainsbury, the prima ballerina,(shown) by the leading international sculptor Enzo Plazzotta will be a major attraction. Bearing the Plazzotta studio seal and thought to be one of only two in existence, this life size work of art dates from 1970 and goes on sale for £45,000 on the stand of Balmain Fine Art from Cleveland, dealers in fine art and sculpture.

Newcomers Whittle & Draper from Lancashire will be showing a painting “Girl with Ducks” (shown) priced at £6500, by Annie Paterson who was a member of Glasgow’s Society of Lady Artists in the 1890s. She exhibited regularly at the Royal Glasgow Institute, Royal Scottish Academy, Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and had a one-woman show at the Baillie Gallery in London in 1910. She also exhibited at the Royal Academy and Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.

A regular exhibitor at Cooper Events is glass specialist Richard Hoppe who will bring a spectacular gilt metal Betjemann patent scent bottle Tantalus for Tiffany & Co., (shown) with ornate floral and foliate engraved decoration enhanced by a band of champlevé enamels. The Tantalus contains a pair of crystal bottles, etched on two sides with the same design as the champlevé and there is engraved small plaque to the front for “Tiffany & Co. Union Square” with a charming engraved dedication “Mand [or Maud] to Mabel, December 17th 1884. Price at £1,850.

Furniture will not be forgotten with veteran Cooper Events exhibitor and country furniture specialist Mike Melody of Melody Antiques of Chester who will bring a fine selection of tables and dressers and sets of chairs to cater for the large family gatherings.

For full exhibitor list and times see Cooper Events web site via TRADE INDEX

Just a few weeks to Christmas and The International Antiques and Collectors Fair at Newark organised by IACF Ltd from 1-2 December 2011 offers fantastic opportunities for a green and Vintage Christmas. Emma Last, Communications Manager for the event organisers told Antiques News and Fairs: “What could be better than giving a gift this Christmas no one else will have thought of? Vintage items allow you to give someone special a truly unique gift. You won’t find the items for sale at Newark on the High Street …”

Meet some of the dealers and get a flavour of the event by viewing one of the videos of the fair, the largest in Europe IACF Newark on You Tube

The fair opens at 9 am on Thursday 1 December and continues on Friday from 8 am. For tickets and more information see IACF Ltd web site via TRADE INDEX

Image show "Tin Man Michael Saffell, WEADA member and regular exhibitor at Newark.

Voting is still live on NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK and Homes and Antiques until 30 November.

There have been nearly 3000 nominations but you still have a chance to vote for your favourite shop, specialist dealer, antiques centre, vintage or mid century shop or your favourite antiques auction house with a chance to win a wonderful prize!

For thirty-five years Alfies Antiques Market has attracted serious collectors, interior designers and celebrities with its diverse collection of antiques and collectables. Since opening in 1976, Alfies has become home to the best dealers of 20th Century design and is London's largest centre for antiques and vintage fashion. Alfies dealers are experienced specialists and source their stock from all over the world; so many items cannot be found elsewhere.

On Thursday 8th December Alfies is inviting their customers to come along and celebrate Alfie’s Antique Market's 35th anniversary with some Christmas shopping and festive entertainment. From 5pm-9pm Alfies will be hosting a spectacular birthday party with cocktails, canapés and vintage fun for all its customers.

Alfies Bond Street sister - Grays Antiques will hold their Christmas Shopping Party on Thursday 1 December from 5-8 pm.

Grays has long been known as a source of fine and designer costume jewellery together with decorative accessories and has recently welcomed a new exhibitor, Christopher Hodsoll, who also has a showroom at Core One Antiques in Fulham.

For details of all dealers see Alfies Antiques Market and Grays Antiques web site via TRADE INDEX

We are delighted to announce that the lovely Kirstie Allsopp has decided to join us at Winter Olympia Antiques and Fine Art Fair on 14 November 2011 for a photo call to promote National Antiques Week.

The National Antiques Week stand at Winter Olympia will host the voting for Britain's Best Antiques Shop and members of the public are invited to come along and vote on the stand.

Kirstie Allsopp, the darling of a number of prime time property shows on Channel 4 television – including “Location, Location, Location” is also a very firm supporter of the antiques world having grown up around the trade – her father is a former chairman of Christie’s and her mother in law Gretchen owns the wonderfully eclectic Kensington Church Street shop The Lacquer Chest.

We are delighted to welcome Kirstie and look forward to working with her Mark Hill and BBC Homes and Antiques editor and deputy editor Angela Linforth and Natasha Goodfellow on the judging panel for this year's awards which so far have generated nearly two thousand nominations on the web site!

Kirstie has been talking to BBC Homes and Antiques, our partners in this year’s campaign. She said: “I like things with history, there’s an element of romance ... I don’t like the idea of too many things in my home that have been a drain on the environment. Antiques are unique in that they hold their value in a way that much modern furniture does not. While I never regard antiques as investments I know that if everything went belly up tomorrow, I could sell the contents of my house for considerably more than I paid for it – and that’s something I couldn’t say if I’d bought new."

National Antiques Week 2011 takes place from 14-21 November and as always the main focus it to raise awareness of the antiques trade and to encourage a younger audience to visit antiques shops. BBC Homes and Antiques have joined us this year and we are working together to promote the event with an easy to enter Britain's Best Antiques awards scheme for the trade in five categories:

*BEST ANTIQUES SHOP
*BEST SPECIALIST ANTIQUES SHOP
*BEST ANTIQUES CENTRE
*BEST MID-CENTURY/VINTAGE SHOP
*BEST AUCTION HOUSE

which will be voted for by the public at either BBC Homes and Antiques or National Antiques Week

Nominators can win one of 10 great prizes, each with a value of at least £200, but the prizes for the winning venues are far greater. Not only will they be able to claim to be ‘Britain’s best’ (with all the media opportunities that presents); they will also receive a feature in the May issue of Homes & Antiques and further publicity via from us at Antiques News and Fairs and National Antiques Week.

For more information on how to take part see Trade Roundabout

To vote for your favourite antiques shop or auction house and see a list of fantastic prizes and more useful information see BBC Homes and Antiques and National Antiques Week

The title of the 2011 annual exhibition at Christopher Clarke Antiques in Stow on the Wold – “Lieutenant Wilmot’s Bungalow” is taken from a watercolour in the exhibition (shown) which shows a number of soldiers relaxing in a bungalow in India with their feet up resting on the arms of their campaign furniture. It’s a typical scene illuminating how the British liked to ensure they enjoyed some luxury, no matter where, by taking their own furniture.

The exhibition takes place during National Antiques Week and the Clarke brothers will be supporting the charity Walking with the Wounded by giving away some desirable pieces from their collection: a mahogany balloon back campaign chair by Ross of Dublin, circa 1855; a pair of brass Brighton Bun travelling candlesticks, circa 1900 and a mid 19th century mahogany campaign mirror with a combined value of over £800 sterling.

For each donation of £5.00 to the charity they will give a ticket to go into the draw on the 28 of November 2011. Generous donors of £15.00 will have three chances of winning. Donations can be made online at Just Giving or at Christopher Clarke Antiques Stow on the Wold in The Cotswolds.

Sean Clarke of Christopher Clarke Antiques told Antiques News and Fairs “We are particularly proud of this exhibition as we have been able to find several rare and unusual pieces which we have not seen or published before. A task that is becoming increasingly difficult in our specialised field. Of special note are two pieces of China Trade furniture which would have been made in Canton based on English Regency designs for sale to the European export market. The first a Davenport and the second a Pedestal Desk. Both are stylistically similar and made of amboyna wood with ebony with ivory stringing and distinctive brass flush handles. Both are priced a little under £ 10,000.”

Images
1 Watercolour of Lieutenant Wilmot's Bungalow. Circa 1885.
2 Very Small Sized Anglo Indian 3 part Campaign Chest. Early 19th Century.
3 Amboyna wood Chinese Export Davenport. Circa 1830.

As part of National Antiques Week Welsh furniture specialists Havard & Havard have decided to
share their love of things Welsh in a small but special exhibition that demonstrates those very special qualities of Welsh furniture.

Wales is rightly proud of the Welsh dresser, but Wales’ craftsmen produced some fascinating pieces; this time they have chosen Chairs, Coffers and Cockerels. The chairs include a rare 18th century oak Preacher's Chair; the chair looks rather odd having an exceptionally high back, on top of which is a small book ledge. It was customary for preachers to visit the homes, to conduct services. The congregation would hear the preacher speak to them stood on a box behind the chair; he was then able to use the ledge as a pulpit.

Also on display will be a quartet of Coffor Bach, this is a rare group which were made about 1760, on the Gower in South Wales. They share the similar design motif of tulips and birds, the last time as many of these rare pieces were seen in the Swansea Museum in the early 1950’s.

And The Cockerels? These creatures are featured on the delightful Llanelli Cockerel Plates, made up until 1935 these distinctive plates are very desirable and have such a vivid naive look.

The Exhibition is open from 10.30 on Saturday 12 until 5.00 on Saturday 19 November 2011. (Closed on Sunday)

Some of the items on show will be for display only. There is no charge for entry but we would ask that a donation to TY HAFAN, our local children’s hospice, be made.

See Havard and Havard web site via TRADE INDEX for more information.

Silver dealer Daniel Bexfield trades from Burligton Arcade - where individual shops thrive, providing discriminating British & overseas visitors with hand-picked, hand-made items of distinction urgently needs help from the trade and clients alike.

There is a planning application proposing to exclude art and antiques dealers from renting shops in the arcade, so that big brand names can take over. So Daniel needs our help!

He needs individual objections to the planning application, so please send an email to Central Planning Westminster Council objecting to the applications ref: 11/08786/FULL, 11/08787/LBC, 11/08791/FULL, 11/08792/LBC, 11/08794/FULL, 11/08795/LBC .

You do not need to give a reason for your objection, but you need to give your name and address (anonymous comments will not be considered)

Objections must be received before Nov 8th 2011 so there is just time to lodge your appeal on his behalf!.

We are very sad to announce the sudden death of respected arms and armour dealer Garth Vincent of Lincolnshire.

LAPADA and CINOA member Garth was a well known character on the fairs circuit and a specialist in his field.

The funeral will be taking place at Alderton Church, Alderton, Near Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP2 3BB on Friday 18 November from 2pm.

In spite of changing fashions and trends, when it comes to craftsmanship and quality, the traditions and standards of glassmaking have remained remarkably consistent over the years. The National Glass Fair which takes place on Sunday 13 November 2011 at the National Motorcycle Museum near the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, will be a magnet for collectors and trade alike when a host of top dealers will be displaying antique 18th century drinking glasses and Victorian decorative glassware, through to Art glass, paperweights and the work of contemporary glass artists.

Glass enthusiasts will be greeted by respected dealers with an eye for quality who are very good at sourcing fantastic rarities and this fair will be no exception including M & D Moir Mike and Debby Moir of M & D Moir specialise in fine examples of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glass and they will be bringing along some choice pieces of glass by Lalique, Galle and Schneider, and Jo & Nick Mullins of Hearts of Glass who are renowned for their quality 20th and 21st century contemporary glass, including work by highly regarded glass artists Bob Crooks, George Ponzini and Petr Bures.

Visitors will be also be able to enjoy an in-fair exhibition of Whitefriars glass. The exhibition has been put together by Ben Cooper, the great grandson of William Butler. Butler is one of Whitefriars' best known designers and he was responsible for the popular 'Butler Bowl' design - a high sided cup-shaped footed bowl, produced in various colours and decorative effects over the years. The exhibition will mostly focus on Butler's designs, including an extremely rare prototype vase, but it will also feature examples of Whitefriars glass collected by Ben Cooper's father.

Images:
1. Selection of Whiterfriars Glass that will be featured in the Willaim butler exhibition.
2. Bowl by Adam Aaronson who will be exhibiting at the fair
3. Vase by Laura Birdsall who is exhibiting at the fair

For times and further information see The National Glass Fair web site via TRADE INDEX

One of the main events of the winter season, The Winter Olympia Antiques and Fine Art Fair opens from 14 - 21 November 2011. Working in conjunction with National Antiques Week the event offers buyers a chance to meet and buy from some of the most prestigious dealers across a broad panoply of specialities.

Traditional paintings are always a draw at Olympia and with Christmas just a few weeks away there are some charming seasonal winter subject paintings on sale together with some irresistible jewellery and bijouterie.

Olympia regulars Willow Gallery will show “At Bay” oil on canvas by Arthur John Elsley, (1861-1952)(shown) and “Ice Skaters” oil on panel, signed by Luigi Loir, French (1845 – 1916). Sarah Colegrave will show a signed watercolour “Skating by Moonlight” by Ronald George Lampitt (1906-1988) (shown) and Haynes Fine Art will show “Winter Landscape with Skaters near a Castle” by Frederick Marinus Kruseman (1816-1882)(shown) and “When the West with Evening Glows” oil on canvas by Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935)

See Features - Winter Olympia Wish List for a preview of some irresistible finds at this year's event.

For full exhibitor list and times see Winter Olympia Antiques & Fine Art Fair web site via TRADE INDEX

The Arthur Swallow Lincoln Antiques and Collectors Fair and IACF Newark International Antiques and Collectors' Fair weeks in April and October are always pivotal to a large number of overseas buyers. This October, Lincoln was itself pivotal between Bob Evan's Peterborough Festival of Antiques and IACF Newark - slap bang in the middle of the two. Perhaps it was the proximity with the latter that kept it very busy on the Tuesday - the second day of the event and the day of our visit.

Making another appearance this year was local auctioneer Golding, Young and Thomas Mawer (Grantham and Lincoln) - pictured in the showground's Epic Exhibition Centre. The display included entries in their forthcoming sale in Grantham (9 November 2011). Their return confirmed what they had told our roving reporter in April - "This event presents us with an excellent opportunity to connect with a wider audience of trade and public, buyers and sellers - both domestic and overseas".

ASF has already announced the Lincoln dates for 2012, with competing priorities at the Showground pulling their June and August events back to the Friday/Sunday. Their Donington dates are due to be announced shortly so please check our Fairs Calendar for up-dates.

See Arthur Swallow Fairs web site via TRADE INDEX

October's Peterborough Festival of Antiques fell immediately before Arthur Swallow's Lincoln Antiques and Collectors' Fair.

Started in 1972, Bob Evans Fairs used to run as many as eighty events each year and their twice-yearly Peterborough Festival was started in 1999. Now it's their only event.

The Peterborough event remains as strong as ever - the (correctly) forecasted heatwave pushed their October exhibitor numbers up to 1850, a little higher than the usual 1700 (Bob Evans Fairs doesn't take casual bookings). The Showground's incremental approach to improvements has upgraded the popularity and quality of the event. concrete car park makes life much easier for visitors and the exhibition centre, added three years ago, attracts exhibitors previously deterred by marquees and open-ended cattle sheds.

The next Peterborough Festival is on Friday/Saturday 23/24 March 2012.

Images:

The low October sun played tricks with the light in some of the cattle sheds at Lincoln.

Summer had turned to winter in less than one week.Temperatures pushing 30 degrees on the preceding Saturday had dropped to single figures by the Thursday - the first day at Newark Showground. The chill wind was joined by heavy rain before lunchtime, demonstrating the clear advantage that Newark Showground has over other venues with far fewer hard sided buildings.

One beneficiary of the wealth of sheltered exhibition space was Tessa Bennett. Travelling from southern France, she and husband Jim are permanent fixtures at IACF Newark; "Yes, I know that there have been other large events in the past week, but there is a limit to how much we are able to stretch ourselves and our stock. Newark always works for us. We have a large dedicated clientele. notably Japanese, and Newark is undoubtedly the best place to connect with them. Mind you, I don't know whether to laugh or cry this morning - one Japanese buyer has bought all our display shelving, leaving us scratching our heads about what to do with what was on them."

Robert Thomas, co-director of IACF "This morning we tried a new streamlined admission system for sellers - checking their credentials once only, on the perimeter, rather than at every stage. Early days, but encouraging results."

See IACF web site via TRADE INDEX

Their was an air of anticipation on set-up day at this Autumn's Harrogate Antique & Fine Art Fair (30 September to 2 October 2011). Glass dealer and author Mark West (Surrey) is pictured next to a 22" 1930s Venini vase.

Paul and Angela Hardy of Burlington Paintings, London spoke to our roving reporter Ivor Hughes: "Angela and I always enjoy Harrogate - such a friendly event, and so well organised. This fair and Palm Beach are the only two at which we exhibit".

Organiser Louise Walker reported strong sales on the opening day, with over three hundred guests attending the gala evening. The next Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair takes place from 3 to 7 May 2012.

Ingrid Nilson of The Antique Dealers’ Fair Limited has announced two new venues for the successful “Luxury Weekend” concept fairs.

The first new event will be The Capesthorne Hall Luxury Antiques Weekend and will take place in the Pavilion adjacent to the impressive Capesthorne Hall at Siddington, an attractive Jacobean style house with delightful gardens near Macclesfield, Cheshire over three days from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 November 2011.

The fair will be limited to select band of just twenty-seven exhibitors drawn from the membership of LAPADA and BADA including Butchoff Antiques from Kensington Church Street, London and local dealer Mike Melody,in addition to a clutch of well known dealers from the area - Church Street Antiques and M & N Oriental Rugs.

To reinforce the luxury feel of the event, Bentley Manchester is displaying its latest range of cars outside Capesthorne Hall for the duration of the fair. There is also an opportunity to win a chauffeur driven Bentley Mulsanne for an evening in the north-west. Capesthorne Hall has kindly donated a family ticket for ‘Christmas at Capesthorne’ in November, for those who enter the prize draw at the fair.

The new year will see the next exciting new venue when the first Luxury Antiques and Fine Art Fair at Harewood House will take place from 27-29 January 2012 where thirty-five stands are available in the purpose built Harewood Pavilion. Organiser Ingrid Nilson told Antiques News and Fairs: “Harewood House near Leeds is a magnificent location with a rich and royal history, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The Luxury Antiques and Fine Art Fair at Harewood House adds a new dimension. Our team is putting together a strong marketing plan, drawing upon experience and working with the venue to encourage the right calibre visitors keen to surround themselves with exquisite art and antiques. This new event replaces the Luxury Antiques and Fine Art Fair at The Mere for 2012, since the Cheshire venue is undergoing major alterations, including the building of an 81 bedroom hotel. The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited returns to The Mere Friday 25 – Sunday 27 January 2013.”


Images:
Harewood House, Leeds

Hampton Antiques - Stapleford Park: Pear tea caddy, c 1790, £3,850, Melon tea caddy, c 1800, £7,500, a rare Georgian fruit wood tea caddy, in the shape of a squash, c 1790, £8,500, Apple tea caddy, c 1800, £3,650.

Peter Bunting Antiques - Stapleford Park: Portrait of Princess Eliza, 1639, oil on canvas, English School, £18,000

T Robert - Capesthorne Hall - A blue zircon and garnet flower brooch with enamelled butterfly, c1940, £775

For a full calendar of events see The Antique Dealers' Fair Ltd web site via TRADE INDEX

Lifestyle Blogger Cathy Barrow on the Washington Post has been sampling the delights of Antiques Diva expert tours with owner Toma Clarke Haines in the Paris Flea Markets:

"On Saturday, I met up with Toma Clark Haines, a thirty-seven year old American expat who lives in Europe and blogs at Antiques Diva.

Given a little more than 30 hours in the City of Light, jet lag was ignored and a whirlwind trip to the famous puces, or flea markets in Paris was a must. Toma made the most of my brief stay. Her boutique business offers private tours to visitors to Paris and six other European countries...

The whirlwind shopping day never could have happened without Toma’s help. She came well prepared and rapidly sensed what I was looking to find. I appreciated her well-trained eye and her advice about how to bargain.

For details of Antiques Diva tours in Europe UK see
The Antiques Diva via TRADE INDEX

Hemswell Antiques Centre, near Lincoln, houses an amazing three hundred and thirty dealers in three large two-storey former Royal Air Force buildings and is a regular pitstop for visitors to any of the growing number of events in the Midlands. In mid August, and with nearby Arthur Swallow Lincoln Antiques and Home Fair being pulled back a day (to Sunday-Tuesday), travelling buyers were given more time on the Wednesday - in preparation of IACF New International Antiques and Collectors Fair at Newark on the usual Thursday/Friday.

Owner of Hemswell Antiques Centre, Rob Miller (pictured) was anticipating brisk trade when we visited Hemswell on the Sunday: "2011 has been good for us. The recent extension to Building One and our investment in state-of-the art IT and website are all paying off - the enhanced search engine optimisation is drawing enquiries, and visitors, from all over. And, yes, we expect the forthcoming Wednesday lull elsewhere to make us busier than ever.

Although we've just celebrated our 25th anniversary, we have a continuing programme of consolidation and improvement. For example, in addition to the automated sliding doors recently installed in Building One, we've just installed furniture-friendly outward opening doors in Building Three".

See Arthur Swallow Fairs and IACF Fairs web sites via TRADE INDEX

Alfie's Antiques Market in Church Street, Marylebone, London NW8 has been a well known and loved destination for antiques and vintage lovers for thirty-five years.

With the interest in mid century design at its zenith in the current market, we thought it was time for Alfie's to tell us about some of the specialist dealers at this favourite haunt for antiques and design. See Features - Mid C Mod at Alfie's