It has gained gravitas this year with the involvement of 11 senior members of the trade, dubbed the Antiques Heavy Artillery, who will mentor the shortlisted candidates.
The mentors are: Stuart Atkinson, Fontaine Decorative; Marc Allum and Steven Moore, both from BBC Antiques Roadshow; Lennox Cato, Lennox Cato Antiques; Mark Goodger, Hampton Antiques; Ashley Gray, Gray Modern and Contemporary Art; Patrick Macintosh, Macintosh Antiques; Spencer Swaffer, Spencer Swaffer Antiques; Ian Towning, Bourbon Hanby Arcade; Nigel Worboys, Antiques are Green and Worboys Antiques, and Robert Young, Robert Young Antiques.
In addition to the overall prize for the winner of the Antiques Young Gun of the Year, Judith Miller has donated another trophy, the Judith Miller Award for Outstanding Potential, which she will present on the night.
Finally, last month Toby Lorford of the decorative antiques centre Lorfords Antiques offered two 'shop window'-style showcases in the front of his new Babdown Airfield collective just outside Tetbury, to be shared between eight of the young dealers over a 12-month period. The winners of the Lorfords prize will not be included in the mentoring Antiques Heavy Artillery award, although there may be some crossover.
"Everyone is talking about Young Guns and we want Lorfords to be part
of it," said Toby.
The following entrants have been selected for a general shortlist incorporating all of the above awards: Alys Dobbie, Nanadobbie; Amanda Pickett, Clarke Pickett; Daniel Larsson, D. Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel; Edd Thomas, Edd in the Clouds; Henry Saywell, 52 Meters; James Gooch, Doe & Hope; Jason Clarke, Jason Clarke Antiques; Jon Irvine; Lily Trunfell, No. 1 Lewes; Marika Clemow, ATG Media; Matt Goymer, Delphis Antiques; Matt Wise; Oliver Leggett, Lacy Scott & Knight; Paul Jones; Robyn Alston, On the Wall Antiques; Serhat Ahmet, Serhat Ahmet Antiques, and William Potts, Just William Collection.
The awards are sponsored by Antiques Trade Gazette, Alfies Antiques Market, IACF Ltd, Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, The Decorative Antiques + Textiles Fair, LoveAntiques.com and The Hoarde.
