Fairs and Markets

A rare Sampson Mordan gilt-mounted porcelain scent bottle features at the next Galloway Antiques Fair, which takes place at The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate from January 4-6.

The two-day Big Brocante held at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, near Maidstone in Kent, is organised by Katrina Palsager and her family who also run the well-regarded 150-dealer annual Firle Vintage Fair at Firle Place near Lewes.

The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair takes place at Battersea Evolution in the new year, offering a wealth of objects from early oak furniture to fine art to 20th century design.

The 'London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair' (LARTA) is held alongside the 'Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair' at the beginning of the year.

Organised for more than 20 years by aviation enthusiasts Dave Sutton and Alistair White in conjunction with the Croydon Airport Society, the annual Croydon Aviation and Military Fair is run on a charity basis aiming to keep the history of Croydon aerodrome alive.

“What’s the death on this snuff mull?” asks Tom Hurst, a dealer in African and Oceanic art attending Newark to buy for his online shop and in preparation for his first stand at Tribal Art London in 2019.

Mark West deals in 18th, 19th and 20th century glass designed to be used. He will exhibit at The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair from January 10-13, 2019.

At the height of winter across one week, IACF mounts two fairs catering for different audiences. Noelle McElhatton visited the events at Alexandra Palace and Newark to see what brings the punters out in hail, wind or rain.

Though IACF Newark markets itself firmly as a trade fair, it ensures the public has access too, in particular die-hard collectors who similar to trade buyers, know the dealers they want to visit.

“There are great fairs and brocantes in France but this is special, not least because of the venue.”

It’s been a packed year with new fairs starting up as well as relaunches.

Staged in the early days of the new year, The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair is a chance to do little personal shopping after a frantic season of gift buying.

Though the organisation IACF is best known by its acronym, it’s hard to forget what the initials stand for. AA road signs guiding drivers into the Newark showground emphasise the word ‘international’ and the fair is known for its ability to attract overseas trade buyers.

MADAM – As someone who has been dealing in early furniture for over 50 years and who has served on vetting committees for the Grosvenor House and BADA fairs as well as having been a consultant for Sotheby’s, I find TEFAF’s decision to exclude dealers from their vetting is frankly bizarre.

Keith Richards Antiques brings a selection of early 20th century silver modelled on historic pieces to the first 2019 staging of The Cotswolds Decorative Antiques & Art Fair at Westonbirt School.

When Natalie Smith opened the Woodbridge Antiques Centre in the pretty Suffolk town 11 years ago, she said she was given a great piece of advice: never compromise on quality and presentation.

Doom and gloom surrounds retailing in the UK but in the trade plenty of antique centres are bucking the trend. Here we bring you a short focus on a few of them – ideal places to buy a variety of stock offered from a number of dealers in one spot.

A regular stallholder at Arthur Swallow Fairs is Liam Woodgates, director of the Hopkinson Vintage Antique and Art Centre in Nottingham, where a corner display is pictured below.