Fairs and Markets

The founders of Frieze, Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, are to step down as directors of the contemporary fairs Frieze London and Frieze New York to “focus on developing new projects for the organisation”.

Queues across Berkeley Square on the opening night augured well for the 2014 LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair, and there was certainly a buzz inside the giant marquee, along with evidence of early sales among the 100-plus dealers standing there.

The First World War centenary has prompted numerous related exhibitions which have rather dominated the calendar this year as you might expect.

In April 2013, the Nantgarw China Works Trust took on the lease of the site of the Nantgarw pottery where porcelain was produced under the aegis of William Billingsley between 1813-14 and again from 1817-19.

A strong selection of Tudric (pewter) and Cymric (silver) creations by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co was the focus of keen bidding at Bonhams’ decorative arts from 1860 sale in New Bond Street.

Masterpiece London opened last week at The Royal Hospital Chelsea to a buzzing crowd of 7000 on preview day. Now in its fifth edition and a much-anticipated event in the London summer season, this was the highest visitor number to date.

Popular demand has prompted IACF to trial a two-day part-weekend antiques and collectors’ fair next month at the RAF Swinderby site.

Fair organisers David and Lee Ann Lester of IFAE of Miami, Florida, and Harry Vander Hoorn, second-generation owner of the Dutch stand builders StabiloWorld and partner in Masterpiece London, have formed a new company, Next Level Global Fairs, LLC.

Westminster City Council will set out their detailed vision for protecting the art trade in Mayfair by the beginning of next year.

In 2015, the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair will move its dates to the end of June, running from June 18-28 to coincide with Masterpiece fair and the major Impressionist and modern art auctions.

William Cook sold an American civil war parade flag from 1863 for ticket price £8200 to a barrister from the north of England.

LAPADA has announced a new sponsor and charity partner for the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair in Berkeley Square, London, from September 24-28.

Coming to the Pembrokeshire Antiques Fair organised by Towy Fairs at Picton Castle, near Haverfordwest next weekend (June 7-8) are some 50 pieces of richly-glazed Ewenny pottery.

Richard Coles of Godson & Coles is to take over from Laura Bordignon as chairman of the BADA Fair.

After a period of some 40 years in single ownership, Petworth Antique Centre in the antiques-rich town of Petworth in West Sussex has been bought by an investment company, Palladian Property Investment Limited, based in London.

It all started when Phil Sylvester was a lad, as serious collecting often does.

At the opening ceremony earlier this month of the Guardroom at Hemswell Antiques Centres, the former home of RAF Hemswell, the ribbon was cut by 83-year-old Bill Collard.

The new owner of the biggest antique markets in Paris has pledged to vet them for authenticity and quality.

International Antiques and Collectors’ Fairs (IACF) have taken over the Alexandra Palace antiques and collectors’ fair from Nelson Events.

Alasdair Brown and Ingrid Nilson are organising a Dealer Dinner Dance on Tuesday, June 10, to coincide with the ‘Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair’ just next door to the fair at The Hilton London Olympia.