As mentioned in the last post in the Antiques & Interior Design Diary, the Festival of Britain themed foyer has been extremely well received.

So far sales have included the c1960 Terence Conran-designed wicker chairs (the table is still for sale), pictured here.

On the right, another item sold from the foyer on opening day was this ‘Festival’ floor lamp, designed for the Festival of Britain, offered by 52 Meters.  Many items are still for sale… Such as the Hillestack bentwood chairs in the foreground (four of them) were designed by Robin Day for Hille in the 1950s and are offered for sale by Tim Smith-Vincent priced very reasonably at £975.  The metal-rimmed tables (dining and coffee) aluminium and holoplast-veneer from the BA range are by Ernest Race, and formerly owned by the Race family, offered by James Strang.  The 1950s painting on the wall by John R. Smith is from Darnley Fine Art.

On the left, another corner of the foyer, this time showing in the foreground a beautiful rosewood table designed by Robert Heritage for Archie Shine, offered by Holly Johnson.  On the wall to the left is the Graham Sutherland wallpaper.  The set of eight dining chairs are in rosewood by Andrew J. Milne, and are for sale from 52 Meters.

See Visitor Info at The Decorative Fair

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Board of Trade believed that design would lead the economic recovery for Britain and thus germinated the idea for the Festival of Britain.

This Autumn’s Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair, whose Battersea Park venue is on one of the original sites of the Festival of Britain, is featuring in its foyer display the best of British design from 1951 to 1961, with stock drawn from some of the C20th dealers at the antiques fair.

Items of note will include several original pieces from the 1951 Festival of Britain such as:  the Maquette commissioned for the Festival of Britain – “Root Bodied Forth” designed by Mitzi Solomon (also known for designing the famous Bafta Maquette) displayed at the entrance to the Festival (shown above left); a Garden chair by AJ Milne designed for the terrace; a vellum table with the festival star ~ designed by Abram Games c. 1951 ~ provenance; estate of Sir Robert Matthews, the architect of the Festival Hall) (shown above right); a Festival of Britain lamp (as shown on the left).

Other key items for sale will include important pieces from designers such as Gordon Russell (see the walnut and mahogany sideboard ~ right); Ernest Race (see the Gold Medal winner, 1954 Milan Triennial Fair Ernest Race BA3 Chair, below right); Lucienne Day; Archie Shine (see the elegant rosewood drum table, designed by Robert Heritage in 1959 for Archie Shine, left)  and Howard Keith.

Have you been yet to the Decorative Antiques & Ttextiles Fair?  Open until and including Sunday this week.

Don’t forget that courtesy transport to the Battersea Park venue is available from in front of the Sloane Sq. Hotel.  We hope to see you there this week.

Drew Pritchard joins the Decorative Antique Fair from Conwy in Wales, with a pleasing variety of architectural, garden, decorative & country house antiques.

The photo Drew has sent us of gives a good idea of the slightly quirky look and of the mix of stock he will bring to the event.  It shows a Swedish chair, a 19th Century terracotta mastiff, and an industrial light.

Another new exhibitor at this Autumn’s Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is David Inglesis of Gallery 25 – based in Pimlico Road, London.  Gallery25 brings a wide range of C20th decorative arts to the fair.

David has specialised in the finest 20th Century Decorative Arts for 25 years, including furniture, lighting, mirrors and bedroom Furniture.  His stock includes some spectacular lighting, and some impressively bold and dramatic furniture for the bedroom and living room.

Check out this image above showing one (of a pair) of breathtaking Italian ceiling lights which are circa 1960, designed by A. Toso.

Tim Smith-Vincent of London & Warwichshire was another favourite at the last Decorative Antiques Fair.  Normally by appointment only, Tim is a regular at our Battersea, London antiques fair and will be back this autumn. His 20th century design; furniture, lighting, ceramics & glass always pleases.

Having just had a look at his website, I see some very special pieces like these pendant glass shades, amongst others.

Check here for a list of all exhibitors at the next Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.

Put our antiques fair in your diary now…  27 September – 2 October 2011

James Strang (left), and 52 Meters (below,right), are both brilliant sources of named designer furniture and accessories, including works of art. 

Both dealers have done great business already this year at Battersea in both the January and the May Decorative Fairs. Both show a fabulous selection of items to tempt lovers of serious modernism.  Design originals abound on both stands.

Be sure to hunt out similar peices if you are serious about strictly designed pieces, at the next Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in London’s Battersea in September~October.

You can see more about 52meters at their website.

These two stands at January’s antiques & textiles fair were situated across the aisle from each other and they’re both back again at the May 2011 Decorative Fair.

The two offer complimentary stock that appeals to lovers of chic C20th design. On the left here is  Tim Smith-Vincent and on the right C20C. Dealers Tim Smith-Vincent & Mark Page of C20C are also friends, so visitors who love modernism have double the chance of finding the right accessory, seating or storage items from either of these two, as they will happily suggest items from each other’s stands ~ depending on what the customer wants!. 

Tim tends to have lots of Scandinavian glass and ceramics and Mark beautifully upholstered Danish chairs and sofas. All very Scandinavian! Both do great lighting.

Kiki Design are best known for their mid-century design items, but cleverly displayed alongside some choice decorative antiques, such as salon chairs and gilded mirrors. “Modern Design Styled With Antique” is how they describe themselves on their own website.

Sarah the founder of Kiki has “developed a look that encompasses all styles from antique to modern to 20th century”.  At her exhibitors stand at the Decorative Antique Fair, you’ll see vintage pieces from around the world ~ the selection particularly influenced by Sarah’s love of the 1930’s Deco period and the simplicity of the 1970’s. We hope to see the usual glamorous and eclectic mix of vintage, antique and contemporary home furnishings at the May 2011 fair.

Sarah believes that a harmonious and timeless interior is made by selecting vintage pieces and antique pieces with the emphasis on comfort & elegance but also casual luxury.

Yesterday saw the start of the first Decorative Antiques Fair in Battersea Park marquee with it’s record number of exhibitors. See a full list of the antique fair exhibitors here.  It’s the first one of the year – to be followed by antique shows in May and in September. We haven’t any photos yet but please be assured that the range, breadth and depth of the antiques and modern design pieces on offer is as magnificent and as unusual (as well as usual!) as usual.  What an unusual amount of un/usuals!

The foyer theme for this winter’s antiques and textiles fair is “let there be light!” with mirrors and illuminations. And illuminating it is too. If you haven’t yet been please get there today or any day this week up to and including Sunday – till 6pm.  This fair is definitely going to be a good one.  As the report in last week’s telegraph says, this is the time for antiques!

Our regular exhibitor at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Guy Trench was recently featured in the Independent on line.

” ‘I turn vermin traps into wall lights and galvanized water tanks into coffee tables,’ says Guy Trench, founder of Antiques By Design (www.antiquesbydesign.co.uk), who has just opened his second shop. Later this month, he will show at the Battersea Decorative Antiques Fair (18-23 January). ”

In Trench’s Essex workshop and on his stand at the Decorative Fair, you can see, as Annie Deakin puts it… “redundant fishing rods and battered trumpets that have become lamps while shabby Victorian and Regency iron windows are repurposed into mirrors. Even pheasant feathers don’t escape his beady eye – they are painstakingly hand-stuck onto parchment lampshades to perch above his shotgun standard lamps”.

Follow this link for a full list of  scores of exhibitors at next week’s Decorative Antiques & Tetxiles Fair.  There are over 120 exhibitors showing fine pieces right across the spectrum of antique furniture, decorative antiques, textiles, interior design highlights and even jewellery.