Kent

A former theatre, corn market, auction rooms, exhibition space and council office has been “reanimated” as an “emporium” by a group of art and antiques dealers.

There are few antiques centres and even fewer fairs held in garden centres and nurseries but along has come news of The Potting Shed Brocante which ran at the King John’s Nursery in the Kent village of Etchingham earlier this month.

The first Pantiles Antiques Festival in the Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in July was such a success for Love Fairs that the organiser is straight back with another.

B2B Events has a run of upcoming events this month including its two-day Detling antiques, vintage and collectors’ fair at the Kent County Showground on Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11.

Although the wearer of a First World War tunic sold by Kent auction house C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on July 26-28 was not listed, it gave plenty of clues to his service.

Colourful work with provenance back to artist’s sister catches the attention in Kent saleroom

Among the places to see in and around Tunbridge Wells is the The Pantiles Arcade.

The Britains Boer War Army Service Corps Supply Column set is described by toy soldier expert James Opie as “one of the must-have sets for keen collectors”.

Popular figures were created in Chelsea by husband and wife duo Charles and Nell Vyse

Sperm whale teeth, acquired from mammals that had beached on local reefs, had a deep significance to Fijian society.

“The sun will shine, the cow parsley will be out and we can’t wait to see you all again”, said Caroline Zoob, co-organiser with Hetty Purbrick of the annual Decorative Living Fair.

The Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) comprised volunteer civilians providing care to British, Empire and allied troops during the First World War, both in field hospitals near to the battlefield and in more established places of recuperation back home.

Qing period embroidered satin throne-back cushion covers can be seen still in situ in a number of the buildings in the Forbidden City including the Hall of Supreme Principle and the Palace of Eternal Spring. Others are held by institutions and collectors throughout the world.

Chinese export bowls such as this one, decorated in the mandarin palette with famille rose foxhunting scenes, were popular both with the British and American markets in the last quarter of the 18th century.

As in so many collecting fields, slight variations can be key when it comes to pricing of TV generation toys.

A sword sold at Kent auction house C&T (22% buyer’s premium) belonged to a British Antarctic explorer who died in 1912 – but not with Robert Falcon Scott.

A group of medals awarded to a First World War ‘Tommy’ sold for a mid-estimate £2400 at Kent auction house C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on October 20-21. Not that unusual, it would seem.

The auction at toy specialist C&T (22% buyer’s premium) in Kenardington, Kent, on November 3 included this very rare pair of doll’s shoes dated to c.1700.

David Bowie is the star of a retrospective selling show of 1970s photography which will run at the Design Gallery in the Pantiles Arcade, Tunbridge Wells, from November 13 to December 31.