Fairs and Markets

UK: THE SECOND half of last week saw a selection of top quality antiques fairs in London that is not matched anywhere.

UK: EXPERIENCED organiser Robert Bailey is set to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career with the launch next year of a quality antiques fair in the heart of Manchester.

SWITZERLAND: TEFAF Basel, the sister fair to Maastricht, has broken all official ties with its founders TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation) who have handed over the organisation to Messe Basel, the exhibition hall which has hosted the fair since it was launched in 1995.

UK: WITH more than 500 dealers and a vast array of stock there are bound to be varying fortunes, but on the whole the Spring Antiques For Everyone fair at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre from April 8 to 11 again proved itself a fair to be reckoned with.

UK: THIS time last year we were enthusing about the launch of Caroline Penman’s The 20th Century Show at Chelsea Old Town Hall; it was a bold move from an organiser best known for quality, traditional antiques fairs.

UK: WHILE the Chelsea Antiques Fair, one of our most venerable events, does not seem to generate any buying buzz, it soldiers on and must be doing something right because year after year very good dealers return twice annually to stand at this most traditional of antiques events.

UK: P&O’s announcement that they are refocusing their business immediately put the future of the antiques fairs organised by P&O Events in jeopardy, although Hugh Scrimgeour, chairman of Earls Court Olympia, feels strongly that they will continue.

HAMPTONS Auctioneers of Godalming will change their name to Dreweatt Neate this month. Having become part of The Fine Art Auction Group earlier this year, the saleroom will be rebranded under the Dreweatt Neate banner in time for the Surrey firm’s April 13 sale.