Marking the end of summer and heralding the London’s busy September/October design and art season, the Autumn edition of The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, 3-8 October 2023, enjoys a special ‘back to business’ energy generated by dealers, trade buyers and public alike after the summer break, and coincides with the start of new projects for the interiors world.

Battersea as it is known affectionately by the trade and regular visitors, is frequented by international designers, discerning private buyers and collectors eager to discover the wealth of extraordinary, beautiful, distinctive and useful pieces on offer, displayed with flair and inspiration. Around 150 exhibitors take part, who seek out the very best furniture, lighting, mirrors, textiles, decorative objects and works of art to bring to the Fair.

Specialist dealers offer finely crafted designs of all periods and styles from the 17th century to the 1970s; art and sculpture on sale includes contemporary as well as classical works.

A unique asset in central London, the Fair is easy to get to, with courtesy shuttles from the Sloane Square Hotel every 20 minutes. With so much on offer, it is possible to decorate an entire house - and garden - from top to toe. The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair excels in every respect; with exciting surprises around every corner, it brings the wow factor to interior shopping.

New exhibitors taking part at The Decorative Fair this Autumn include: Spitalfields House, dealing in fine period furnishings, objects and design inspired by the houses of 18th century Spitalfields; and Schmid McDonagh, with 20th and 21st century objects, furniture, jewellery, art, design and books.

Rococo design will be the theme of the Fair’s foyer display, celebrating all the exuberance and light-heartedness of this style that rose to prominence in France during the early 18th century, in the late Baroque period, as an act of nature-inspired, asymmetrical ‘rebellion’ by craftspeople and designers against the strictness of classical architectural order. It has continued to flourish, and fascinate the design world on and off ever since.

An elegant style identified by profuse decoration featuring sinuous natural forms, rococo takes its name from the French rocaille, which means rock or broken shell – natural motifs that often form part of the designs, along with fish and other marine decorations, flowers and ribbons. The acanthus leaf, or rather a heavily stylised version of it, is also a signature motif.

Rococo made its way around Europe; Swedish, Italian, French and English examples are typically found for sale at the Fair. Thomas Chippendale popularised the style here through his pattern-book The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director. He created a trademark fusion of rococo style with Chinese and gothic elements, which was the basis of 'English' rococo.

The Autumn Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair opens at mid-day on Tuesday 3 October and from 11am daily thereafter. Get inspired and follow on instagram @decorativefair.

Admission: £20 p/p on opening day and £10 p/p on subsequent days; Free entry daily from 4pm.

For tickets and more information about the fair visit the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair