Staged from October 3-6 at the Harrogate Convention Centre, the ‘boutique-style’ event is the town’s longest running antiques fair.
Featuring a more traditional selection of antiques than most of the fairs taking place simultaneously down south, the event is a destination for collectors as well as interior decorators and private buyers.
Objects are priced from around £100 to five-figure sums. Among the offerings is a turquoise ground honeysuckle snuffbox made in Battersea c.1760 and included on the stand of The Antique Enamel Company, a first-time exhibitor, for £5500.
The box features scenes on all sides from The Ladies Amusement, an 18th century compilation of engravings used for designs on porcelain and other objects. The box has a thumb piece set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Elsewhere in the fair, fellow newcomer S&J Abbott Ceramics Plus brings a collection of historic cartoons and satirical scenes.
The etching titled Company shocked at a lady getting up to ring the bell by celebrated caricaturist James Gillray (1792-1810) shows a rich widow entertaining a host of men – all potential husbands. As she rises to ring the bell, the elderly suitors leap to stop her with disastrous consequences. It is available for £650.
Other new exhibitors this year include Berlin Walls Gallery, showing late 20th century works on paper, and Hispanic Antiques from Sheffield.
There is always good period furniture at Harrogate such as a Queen Anne burr walnut and feather banded double dome bureau bookcase, c.1705, which Millington Adams offers for £39,000, and an 18th century continental table available from Elaine Phillips Antiques for £2950.
The event is organised by fair director Ingrid Nilson who took over the event in 2016. She praised its “reputation for the outstanding quality of items on display” and the “enormous trouble” dealers take over organising and displaying their items.
