Held from August 24 to 26, the fair was substantially larger than last year’s launch and the 10,726 visitors all greatly appreciated the look of the event.
The preview evening was especially well-received, very busy and a lot of business was achieved. Perhaps it was the fact that a second staging does not have the novelty value of an inaugural event, but some of the English standholders felt the fair was not quite as busy as last year.
There were, however, few complaints and the Scottish dealers did particularly well on their home ground. Ian Whitelaw, the Auchterarder furniture specialist, said: “Last year was a good start and I always thought this year would be better, but the fair has vastly exceeded all my expectations.”
Whitelaw & Sons’ good sales at the preview continued throughout the fair. Like last year, and in keeping with Scottish tastes, Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau in all media enjoyed brisk sales.
Decorative Arts at Doune, specialists in the field, had one of their best fairs on record and sold 35 items at the preview. And the English dealers in this area also scored. Organiser Fran Foster has not just successfully transported her Birmingham NEC formula to Glasgow, she has also taken one of the NEC’s main strengths to Scotland, the keen market for ceramics. Some of the china dealers who had found business slow in Scotland in recent months made up for the shortfall at this fair.
On the whole, sales among the picture dealers were satisfactory rather than spectacular although there was steady business in the £1000-5000 range and bronzes proved popular.
A number of Scottish visitors at the fair raised their eyebrows at some of the period furniture price tags. But they will just have to get used to the kind of prices now paid for furniture down South.
At the close Mrs Foster commented: “I am pleased with the growth and development of this fair in such a short period of time. “Two years ago many people in the trade doubted that a vetted and datelined fair of this size would ever take place in Glasgow.
“Now we have a strong event that has quickly established itself as a major high point in the calendar of the Scottish antiques trade.” Few would argue with her own assessment.
Practising the new-found art and craft of selling in Glasgow
AT the second outing Antiques For Everyone – Glasgow confirmed its status as Scotland’s top fair and certainly enough business was achieved by enough of the 170 exhibitors at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre to indicate a secure future for this new fixture.
