“I know there is still an element of doubt about whether lockdown will be fully lifted on June 21 but I have signed a contract with the Horticultural Halls for our antiques fair there on Sunday, July 4,” says Matthew Adams, organiser of Adams Antiques Fairs.
“Most of our exhibitors will have had both vaccination jabs and are far less concerned about the virus than they were before.
“Many haven’t stalled out anywhere since last March so are very relieved to be trading live again. We will have a full house of 144 exhibitors.”
One returnee is the renowned jewellery and silver dealer Didier Haspeslagh (Instagram @didierltd) who has stood at the ‘Horti’ antiques fairs for 40 years.
He says: “This is our first chance to reconnect with old friends and clients and will hopefully give a much-needed boost to morale.
“Lockdown has been hard on us as we miss participating in fairs here in the UK, Europe and the US.
“Our jewels tend to be sculptural and need to be seen, handled and tried on so are a more difficult proposition to sell online. But at the beginning of lockdown Christie’s organised a private sale of 20 artists’ jewels under our name from which we are still getting sales and enquiries a year on.”
The fair runs in the Lindley Hall at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Vincent Square, London.
