The annual event ran on the mezzanine level of the winter Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in Battersea from January 22- 27. It hosted 17 exhibitors offering ancient and modern textiles from around the world.
Andrews was one of the newcomers at LARTA. She also sold four Brussels weave moquette curtains, offered at £1200, which a decorator bought for a hotel in Los Angeles.
Suzanis, wedding dowry textiles from Uzbekistan, were popular. Examples were snapped up from the stands of organiser Aaron Nejad, Anthony Hazledine and Owen Parry, who sold one for £15,000.
Other top sales included a ‘dragon’ rug from the Caucasus, which Tribal Rugs Gallery offered for £13,000. It was bought by a well-known UK interior designer.
Dealer and decorator Robert Kime, who worked on Clarence House for Prince Charles, and interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard were both seen attending the event.
Galerie Arabesque found that “the current pre-Brexit atmosphere was similar to the run-up to an election, with people putting discretionary purchase decisions on hold”. Nevertheless, its sales included a stand highlight: an Egyptian Coptic roundel with a bird and flower motif, ticketed at £750.
Nejad said: “The show looked great, in fact the best ever; sales were strong with some very high prices achieved. It appears that post-fair sales have also happened which is good news.”
