Fairs and Markets

Since ‘The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair’ was forced to close after 75 years in 2009, the ‘Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair’ has taken up the mantle of the grande dame of London’s summer fairs.

Are the costs of running a gallery still necessary in the face of technology and a changing market? That will be the subject up for debate on Monday, June 10, at the Summer Olympia fair.

The rising stars and the long-established businesses of the antiques trade were both recognised at a double awards ceremony hosted by the Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair in Battersea last week

‘Masterpiece London’ has announced a link with Hong Kong’s ‘Fine Art Asia’ this year, with the incorporation of a Hong Kong Pavilion at the fourth edition of the London fair from June 26-July 3.

The Easter weekend is one of the busiest in the fairs and markets calendar and here’s a quick look at just 10 of the numerous events taking place:

TEFAF have announced that they are in discussions with Sotheby’s about the possibility of launching a high-end art fair in mainland China next year.

The hectic preview day of ‘TEFAF Maastricht’ on March 14 in the Southern Netherlands was, as always, a melting pot of the world’s curators, collectors and dealers.

This very rare Queen Anne gilt gesso dressing table, shown by Mackinnon Fine Furniture of London, has been voted Object of the Fair at the ‘BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair’.

The latest TEFAF market report values the global art market at €43 billion for the last year. The figure was 7% down the previous year, but the fall is wholly explained by a €3.5bn decline in sales in China.

Showing up at TEFAF Maastricht in the southern Netherlands with a stand cobbled together from stale, lacklustre stock is tantamount to professional suicide, the sort of nightmare that has dealers waking up in a cold sweat.

On the feast of the Epiphany, the Tsar, his family and the diplomatic corps traditionally watched the Great Blessing of the Waters on the Frozen River Neva by the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.

After more than 60 years of being operated by Southwark Council, Bermondsey Antiques Market has received a shot in the arm with the news that the famous Friday market in Bermondsey Square will be run by specialist antiques market operators Sherman & Waterman.

Dolphin Promotions have sold the long-running ‘Miami National Antiques Show & Sale’ to US Antique Shows, a division of consumer and tradeshow producers GLM.

The merry-go-round of regional antiques fairs around the UK continues and next up is ‘The Pavilions of Harrogate Antiques & Fine Art Fair’ organised by Cooper Events from February 8-10.

Heavy snow and ice at the Lincolnshire showground have led to the cancellation of the Lincolnshire Antiques & Home Show scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, January 28-29.

Clarion Events, owners of the ‘Antiques For Everyone Fairs’ in Birmingham, have announced that as of February 1 they will close their Birmingham office, thereby moving the management of the triannual fairs to the head office in London.

‘Masterpiece London’ has appointed Nazy Vassegh as chief executive with immediate effect. This is a newly created position at the fair and, according to a statement released last week, Nazy’s role will be to build and develop the fair’s brand both nationally and internationally.

In what were far from easy trading conditions, the UK’s top tier of regional salerooms enjoyed a largely positive 2012.

International and Collectors’ Fairs are going under cover – to launch a new fair to run four times next year.

A decision is due soon which could prove very significant for the future of Bermondsey Antiques and Vintage Market.