Strong Sales for Decorated & Painted Furniture, Accessories and “Impulse Purchases Buoyant”

The Autumn 2009 Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair Review

The Autumnal sunshine brought an excellent gate to the most recent staging of the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, held in The Marquee, Battersea Park London from 29 September to 4 October.  

Opening day visitor numbers were yet again higher than ever, and sales were strong.  Many exhibitors reported selling to decorators attending with their clients, and a marked increase in their numbers compared to recent fairs.  Several dealers reported new customers requesting help in sourcing large amounts of stock for their decorating projects.  Higher numbers of overseas visitors were seen – many from the Continent but also American visitors were commented upon.

In particular favour with buyers at this fair was painted and decorated furniture, both English and Continental, an area for which the Fair is renowned.  Sales were made at prices up to £15,000, for good early painted furniture and bigger decorative items, and unusual or large pieces.  Accessories such as mirrors, lighting and C20th decorative items, as well as art, sold well.

There was a tremendous and positive response to the Best of British installation in the Foyer, put together by Alasdair Brown of Combining Forces, and with contributions of stock from many exhibitors at the Fair.  Sales were made of diverse items: from a C17th X-frame table to a Pollock-esque splatter-topped art school table, a pair of framed patchwork panels to a set of Conran-designed 1960s tables.  In fact, Sir Terence Conran visited the Fair and stopped to admire his earlier design work!  Much comment was made about the original Union Jack-topped Mini Cooper taking pride of place by the entrance.  See Alisdair’s own site with more pictures.