Art Deco curved satinwood desk with original shell carved ivory handles and mirrored top, designed by Betty Joel, £6800 from returning exhibitor Jeroen Markies Art Deco at The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair.
The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair, which opens its doors from January 11-14, houses around 40 dealers (many BADA and LAPADA members) in the spacious ballroom and foyer of the five-star hotel.
The event was founded 12 years ago by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited and spearheaded by director Ingrid Nilson, who spotted a gap for a boutique-sized fair in the capital offering vetted modern and traditional art and antiques during the post-Christmas period.
The fair, which was cancelled twice during the pandemic, marks its 10th edition in 2024.
Retail therapy
According to Nilson, January tends to be a good month for the trade despite its reputation as a time of abstinence, and the Mayfair event has traditionally attracted individuals indulging in a spot of post-Christmas retail therapy.
“The fair gives people something to look forward to in the mid part of January. After people have spent money on others during the Christmas period, we find they like to treat themselves, be it jewellery, works of art or antiques,” she says.
Etruscan bronze figure of a Dancing Satyr, 3rd century BC, offered for £1295 from new exhibitor Nick Skipp Fine Art at The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair.
Nilson also reports a slight bounce in exhibitor numbers for this outing due to the cancellation of several significant London events over the last 12 months as the post-pandemic shake up continues.
“It is filling a gap in London where the fair scene has changed quite dramatically,” says Nilson.
“The internet is fine, but meeting people face to face is key for these dealers.”
Among the clutch of newcomers is Nick Skipp Fine Art, a dealer in modern and ancient artefacts. Among the items heading for Mayfair is an Etruscan bronze figure of a dancing satyr, 3rd century BC, priced at £1295 and a framed print in an edition of 75 by Hans Hartung (1904-86) from his Farandole series, costing £1995.
French 14ct gold brooch with miniature painting and diamonds, sapphires, emerald and rubies, c.1850-70, priced £2900 from new exhibitor Edelstein Prüflabor at The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair.
Another newcomer is German-based outfit Edelstein Prüflabor, run by mother and daughter gemmologists Johanna van Dijk and Isabell Müllenmeister who specialise in antique jewellery from the 1800s onwards.
The pair signed up to the fair “to test the UK market”, says Nilson, and bring with them a French 14ct gold brooch, c.1850-70, decorated with a miniature painting, diamonds, sapphires, emerald and rubies, priced at £2900.
They are joined by fellow debutant King and Country and a large contingent of dealers returning to the event such as Jeroen Markies Art Deco, Mary Cooke Antiques, Garret & Hurst Sculpture and W Shanshan.
