Dealer Mike Melody of Melody Antiques offered the piece, which originated from the Triog Valley and was ticketed at £3000. He was positive about the event, during which he sold more than half the stock on his stand which featured 18th and 19th century furniture.
Organised by Clarion Events, it was the second edition of the fair taking place once again in east London’s ExCeL centre. It hosted more than 60 dealers offering 20th century and traditional antiques. It is an unconventional venue for a London fair, far from the centre of more established trade events out west, but for some, such as Melody, the event has so far been a success.
The annual London Boat Show takes place simultaneously in the facing exhibition hall and in certain cases the resulting cross-pollination of visitors proved advantageous. At the stand of Danish Homestore, for example, a visitor from the Caribbean bought a mid-century ‘flip-flop’ table, priced at £1400, for use in his yacht.
High footfall did not mean strong sales in every case. Still, several dealers, such as Carl Lane of Aquila and Peter Wells of Form & Function, signalled their intent to return next year.
Organisers suggest that a 2019 event would have the added advantage of the new Crossrail Elizabeth Line, due to open in December. This could encourage attendance as it proves a direct link from central London to ExCeL, for the moment mainly accessible either on the DLR or by driving.
Clarion’s Mary Claire Boyd said that the second staging was “busier and better for sales” with visitors “much more focused on buying; they understood what the fair was all about and from the opening few hours we knew the fair was going to be so much stronger than last time.”
