LONDON.- Buyers at the 29th
Winter Art & Antiques Fair were fast off the block with paintings being wrapped within moments of the fair's opening. Art dealer David Brooker Fine Art sold in the first five minutes while Walton House Antiques sold their star piece, a pair of bedside cabinets within the hour.
Exhibitors generally commented on the overall opening night buzz and high calibre crowd and Paul Pfanner from Timewise Vintage Watches said it was 'well attended with visitors in a spending mood resulting in good sales both to the UK and internationally'.
A visitor to Callaghan's of Shrewsbury's stand was delighted to find, at Olympia, the painting he had spent five years looking for. Antique furniture dealer Wakelin & Linfield sold a pair of red armchairs to an important UK decorator on day one. Art Deco specialist Jeroen Markies sold a nest of tables dated 1935 and went on to trade well.
Furniture dealer, John Hansord commented at the end of the week, 'The Winter Fair is on the right track and attracted a good audience this year. There was a definite buzz around the halls all week, probably helped by the Spirit of Christmas crossover.'
Smaller pieces also proved popular with Richard Price selling a French Empire ormolu mantle clock and a carriage clock and Markov selling glassware by 20-something artist Alice Heaton. Mark Goodger had a strong start selling four pieces including one to a new client.
Silver dealer, Mary Cooke Antiques sold a George II Tea Canister from c1735 and other pieces. Jewellery dealer, Anthea AG Antiques Ltd was delighted to sell some of her larger more important pieces. Glass specialist Brian Watson had covered his stand costs by the end of the preview.
As seen at the 2018 edition of the fair, shoppers from the adjoining Spirit of Christmas fair were out in force. Mayfair-based jewellery dealer, Wimpole Antiques sold their star piece to a Spirit visitor and were happy with overall sales. Freya Mitton sold paintings to a Spirit customer as did fellow picture dealer, Dinan & Chighine. They also sold to a US decorator who purchased a Picasso Lithograph.
Silver dealer, Stephen Kalms Antiques also made a number of sales to visitors coming across from the Christmas fair and traded well in the final days of the fair. Grasilver jewellery sold steadily across the week including a large sale to a Spirit visitor.
Thomas Spencer Fine Art was very pleased with his first ever Winter Olympia fair (June had been his first Olympia fair) selling nine paintings including one to a well known decorator, and six Dali tiles. Henry Miller, a first timer at any Olympia fair, was delighted both with the sales and with the response from visitors to his specialist male-focused art.
Philip Carrol sold an unusual and large Chinese porcelain barbers bowl, circa 1720, Kangxi Period, alongside other pieces. Matthew Holder had much interest in his cabinet of curiosities and sold well all week including an oak sculpture of the Virgin from France, dated early 15th century.
Brand new exhibitor, Rkade Antiques Ltd, specialising in 20th century furniture and design, had a good week with steady sales across the seven days. Amongst the highlights was a Gerard Laing bronze sculpture for (ticket price) £32,000 and a number of pieces of furniture. Hickmet Fine Arts had sold two dozen bronzes by the start of the weekend with several going to new Spirit of Christmas customers.
Patrick Sandberg Antiques sold an early 19th century Regency mirror to a new customer and a Regency Whatnot amongst other smaller items. Tim Saltwell sold four pieces of furniture in the first five days alongside smaller pieces.
Fiona Hartnoll Artmonger did steady consistent business throughout the week including some fabric designs to a US decorator and a number of Naive paintings. Ashleigh House had a very good fair finishing 10% up on the year before. Haynes Fine Art sold two 'Courting Otters' bronzes priced at just under £19,000 and had lots of interest in other works. Granta Fine Art also had a very good fair selling 12 paintings including two pop art works to the CEO of a business exhibiting at the Spirit of Christmas fair.
The Papillon Gallery had never exhibited at a major fair before so were delighted to sell a 1940s Mouseman dining table and chairs and a sideboard along with seven paintings.
Mark Goodger sold two Games Boxes, one priced at £6,800 and dated 1880, a very good silver tea caddy, 1790, for £8000 and a Dunhill lighter for £4,000.
Richard Price's total sales by the penultimate day was six carriage clocks, three wall clocks and some other French mantle clocks with half of all his sales to new customers. He was,'very impressed in the volume of people at the weekend with busier aisles upstairs in antiques than downstairs in Spirit of Christmas'. He is expecting follow-up business after the fair.
Silver dealer, Stephen Kalms Antiques also made a number of sales to visitors coming across from the Christmas fair and traded well in the final days of the fair. Grasilver jewellery sold steadily across the week including a large sale to a Spirit visitor.
Thomas Spencer Fine Art was very pleased with his first ever Winter Olympia fair (June had been his first Olympia fair) selling nine paintings including one to a well known decorator, and six Dali tiles. Henry Miller, a first timer at any Olympia fair, was delighted both with the sales and with the response from visitors to his specialist male-focused art.
Philip Carrol sold an unusual and large Chinese porcelain barbers bowl, circa 1720, Kangxi Period, alongside other pieces. Matthew Holder had much interest in his cabinet of curiosities and sold well all week including an oak sculpture of the Virgin from France, dated early 15th century.
Brand new exhibitor, Rkade Antiques Ltd, specialising in 20th century furniture and design, had a good week with steady sales across the seven days. Amongst the highlights was a Gerard Laing bronze sculpture for (ticket price) £32,000 and a number of pieces of furniture. Hickmet Fine Arts had sold two dozen bronzes by the start of the weekend with several going to new Spirit of Christmas customers.
Patrick Sandberg Antiques sold an early 19th century Regency mirror to a new customer and a Regency Whatnot amongst other smaller items. Tim Saltwell sold four pieces of furniture in the first five days alongside smaller pieces.
Fiona Hartnoll Artmonger did steady consistent business throughout the week including some fabric designs to a US decorator and a number of Naive paintings. Ashleigh House had a very good fair finishing 10% up on the year before. Haynes Fine Art sold two 'Courting Otters' bronzes priced at just under £19,000 and had lots of interest in other works. Granta Fine Art also had a very good fair selling 12 paintings including two pop art works to the CEO of a business exhibiting at the Spirit of Christmas fair.
The Papillon Gallery had never exhibited at a major fair before so were delighted to sell a 1940s Mouseman dining table and chairs and a sideboard along with seven paintings.
Mark Goodger sold two Games Boxes, one priced at £6,800 and dated 1880, a very good silver tea caddy, 1790, for £8000 and a Dunhill lighter for £4,000.
Richard Price's total sales by the penultimate day was six carriage clocks, three wall clocks and some other French mantle clocks with half of all his sales to new customers. He was,'very impressed in the volume of people at the weekend with busier aisles upstairs in antiques than downstairs in Spirit of Christmas'. He is expecting follow-up business after the fair.
