The fair is in good hands with member Jan Hicks as chairman. Not only is she a veteran of the quality fair circuit, but, after she put together Antiques and Audacity at Arundel Castle last summer, she is now a respected organiser in her own right.
You can certainly expect the quality associated with one of the wealthiest hinterlands and some of the top dealers in the country. But these TVADA fairs have also developed their very own relaxed, informal atmosphere enhanced by beautiful surroundings.
Although there are many dealers in traditional antiques on parade, the fair moves with the times.
On a number of stands you will be able to see how 20th century design and more quirky stock is making an impact on the market.
This blend of the classic and the quirky is an attractive, and commercially sound, element of TVADA fairs.
The former is represented by dealers such as Halliday’s, Summers Davis, The Clock Workshop and Alan Walker Barometers while the more whacky and decorative items are with Nettlebed Antiques Merchants, Marcelline Herald and Griffin Fine Art.
Edward Reily-Collins, director of Halliday’s Antiques of Dorchester-on-Thames and a founder member of TVADA, tells me: “This is a wonderful shop window for all our members.
“For example, my company will probably meet upward of 200 new local customers and we enjoy a similar experience in the autumn at Oxford where we meet new clients from the Midlands and surrounding counties.”
Admission is £5.
Trade help themselves from their own shop window
FOR some years now, the Thames Valley Antique Dealers Association has held two fairs a year, the autumn one at Radley College, Oxford and, for the past six years, the spring one at Reading Bluecoat School, Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire. The TVADA Spring Antiques Fair will take place at Reading Bluecoat from April 2 to 4 with a record 36 members taking stands.
