Some visitors on the opening night were actually startled at the boldness of the modern look. It did look different, and quite good too. But although everything is vetted (with no datelines), it must be very difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff in much of the modern field.
Therefore, the quality of much of the new, although never mass-produced or reproduction, was variable and, despite the fact that there were some excellent 20th century and later works on sale, a proportion of the material was of dubious artistic merit.
There were some sales on the opening night, then things went flat, not helped by the snow and travel disruption. However, business did pick up during the final weekend.
Still, this fair remains the weakest of the three and exhibitors have yet to be convinced its new name heralds a new era.
Surprisingly perhaps, much of the success this time was for the more traditional work on sale. Willow Gallery sold an Atkinson Grimshaw oil for £80,000 and Piano Nobile sold a Walter Sickert on the first day.
Cumbrian period furniture dealers Anthemion were very happy with sales and their spokesperson commented: "For the past few years we have felt like the supporting cast to modern furniture but now there is
a move towards simple-lined Georgian with the top end selling particularly well as people finally realise they can put these pieces in a modern setting."
Kensington antique furniture specialist Butchoff sold one of his more important pieces on the first night to a Turkish decorator.
Chelsea dealers Hatchwell Antiques caused a bit of a stir with their 'turbine collection' which comprised aircraft parts converted into furniture and decorative objects - but it sold very well.
20th century furniture by the name designers was successful for quite a few specialists, among them De Palma and Gordon Watson while Whitford Fine Art sold their 1968 Egg chair which was used extensively in the fair's marketing.
Many congratulated the organisers on the look of the fair and it will be interesting to see if next year the latter try to expand the modern dimension.
But they are still dependent on the antique dealers to fill the stands, and that is the dilemma.
Some very good sales were made, but not enough across the board to say the new name gave the fair a new lease of life.
