Page 9

Telephone: +44 (0)1225 742 240

CLICK HERE to e-mail us now
e-mail mail@antiquesnews.co.uk


Click on above banner to view advertiser's entire website


Click on above banner to view advertiser's entire website

 

 

 

Antique Hunting in Britain

Click HERE

 

Click Here for
PAGE 3

 

See and be Seen

Click HERE for details of how to advertise in this newspaper

 

FAIRS  PLEASE!  By  Barty  Trotter
 
I'VE known Harry for almost 30 years. He's always had bright ideas. When first we met he was filling containers with antiques and heaven knows what else for American dealers. He was doing very well.
Then as soon as the Common Market regulations made it possible, Harry was amongst the first dealers to drive to and from Continental Europe without hassle or customs checks exporting and importing antiques and objects d'art.
"You don't have to know the language, just how much something is worth in the country where you are selling it," he said. "Then you get out cash and offer to buy it for an appropriate price."
He did rather well out of that too.
Last year he turned up at a big showground fair with his van. It was a wet and windy morning. But with a flourish he unpadlocked the back roller shutter.
Whoosh, up it went and inside it was all neatly set out like a shop. There were shelves and showcases full of some very tasty stock at equally mouth-watering prices.
Steps were set in place and within minutes there was a queue. Another bright idea I thought.

London General Omnibus c.1935 by Viola Paterson exhibited at the London Original Print Fair by Scolar Fine Art
So when about a month ago Harry told me he had a new idea I was all ears. He had his eye on an old double-decker bus.
"You don't need a special licence to drive it," he said.
"It's just the job for a mobile antiques fair!
"Upstairs and downstairs, you'd be surprised how much stock can be accommodated. Half a dozen dealers can easily stall out. I've travelled to venues advertised as an antiques fair and only found about six stands, so why not?"
"The few places left in Britain that have never had an antiques fair can have one now, at least for a few hours, then we move on."
That's the trouble with Harry, always on the move. I never catch up with his latest bright idea until its too late to jump on the bandwagon. Maybe this time I'll catch the bus.