Sam Sparrow, 13, left, with his mentor for the day, silver dealer Mark Nelson Griffiths checking on hallmarks with a customer at the August antiques and collectors’ fair run in Hingham, Norfolk by Hingham Antiques Fairs. Would-be silver dealer Sparrow said “the highlights of the day were spending time with the experts, who were amazing”.
Still at school, Hurst has created and marketed his range of marble doorstops, made from offcuts found at marble yards. His branding skills are impressive as the doorstops are marketed as T.O.M, Totally Original Merchandise.
In Norfolk, fair organisers Claire and Philip Crosthwaite have acquired some ‘antiques young guns’ of their own at the long-running Hingham Antiques Fair with five young local dealers, all under 30, standing regularly at the events.
Keen to encourage even younger dealing talent, the Crosthwaites hosted two teenagers, Sam Sparrow and Charlie King, at their August fair to “come and experience the nuts and bolts of the fairs trade,’’ said Philip Crosthwaite.
