Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair: the best bits
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 5:50 PM
It's held three times a year and it's one of the AboutProperty team's favourite places for hunting down quirky, one-of-a-kind pieces of antique furniture and homeware: it's the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.
Running from today until January 23 at the marquee in London's Battersea Park, the fair is a thrice-yearly event for collectors and decorators looking for the perfect antique piece to complement their home. Around 140 dealers are on hand, each with expert knowledge of their unique wares - and this afternoon I headed down to check out what was on offer.
(Oh, and it turns out I wasn't the only one - I also saw Davina McCall snapping up a piece for her home. The woman's got taste.)
So, onto the goodies. There was everything from furniture and lighting to artwork and accessories, with some slightly odder pieces thrown in for good measure (think a standard-issue drinks trolley from an aeroplane or a whole stuffed deer and you'll get the idea).
But as well as the fabulous range of items for sale, the nice thing about the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair was that every single person I spoke to was both lovely and extremely knowledgeable - which isn't always the case at these sorts of events.
Anyway, let's talk goodies. Here are my favourite pieces and collections:
1. Black and white prints, Quindry
These prints all have different origins and can be bought from £170 each (when I was there, a woman next to me was considering buying the entire set - they do look fantastic together).
Quindry.net
2. Vintage toy boats, Puckhaber
The 32 toy boats here were made sometime around 1950 are being sold as a set for £1,150.
PuckhaberDecorativeAntiques.com
3. Indian table, Robert Barley
Apparently, the inscriptions adorning this table tell the tale of two women talking to the brother of the prophet. Note the numbers on the right-hand drawer - they denote the year in the Islamic calendar when this was made. The piece originates in Hoshiapur, India, c.1840, and has an asking price of £3,300.
RobertBarley.com
4. Victorian scrap screen, Patricia Harvey
Scrap screens were very popular in Victorian homes: families would collect scraps and pictures and slowly build their screen themselves. This unique piece, which was made c.1880, costs £1,100.
020 7262 8989
5. George III gilded armchair, Serendipity
This beautiful chair is in very good condition and has an asking price of £3,750.
Serendipity-Antiques.co.uk
6. Aluminium trunks, Martin D Johnson Antiques
These classy polished aluminium trunks were made in the 1920s and cost £395 each.
MartinDJohnsonAntiques.co.uk
7. Cases of butterflies, Lee Wright
This stunning collection of butterfly cases is available for £5,500.
LeeWrightAntiques.co.uk
8. Antique mirrors, On Reflection
There's something for every taste at this stand, with art deco, gilt, Venetian and modern styles.
On-Reflection.co.uk
9. Georgian dining chairs, Hilary Batstone
These dining chairs originate in Sweden and were made some time around the 1920s. A set of eight costs £8,500.
HilaryBatstone.com
10. Clocks, Lascelles Antiques
Little, large, classic, quirky - there's a clock for every taste on this lovely stall.
RogerLascelles.com
If, after seeing these gorgeous pieces, you're keen to get a piece of the Decorative Antiques & Textiles action, head down to the marquee at Battersea Park in London between January 18 and 23. The fair is open from 11am-8pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 11am-7pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday. A free shuttle bus operates between the Sloane Square Hotel (next to Sloane Square tube station) and the marquee. Tickets cost £10.
For more information, call 020 7616 9327 or check out DecorativeFair.com.
The next Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fairs are on from 3-8 May and 27 September-2 October 2011.
By Ele Cooper
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Tags:
- antiques ,
- furniture ,
- interiors shows
