MADRID.- ALMONEDA, the Antiques and Art Galleries Fair, stages its twentieth edition between 10th and 18th April 2010 in Hall 3 at Feria de Madrid. Over the last twenty years, this fair has established itself as the largest showcase of its kind in Spain, an event that brings together more than 25,000 items for direct sale to the public, all of which are at least 50 years old.

Around 160 antique-dealers, auction houses and galleries offer collectors and enthusiasts the opportunity to undertake a fascinating journey through the recent past, one in which items from yesteryear are able to offer a highly fashionable appeal. In this respect, they are able to view a series of genuine and unique items of different periods, eras and origins, all of which can create a vintage appeal within the field of decoration, not to mention the world of fashion accessories (jewellery, fashion jewellery, etc). Thus, under the same roof, visitors come across pieces dating from the 1940's, 1950's 1960's and 1970's created by various renowned figures from the sphere of international design, as well as antique furniture, jewellery, home textiles, fashion jewellery, bags, lamps, timepieces, rugs, archaeological artefacts, silverware, etc. In short, the exhibition presents a comprehensive mosaic of items from the past packed with history and charm, in addition to an outstanding selection of paintings and sculptures by long-established and contemporary artists.

In this respect, ALMONEDA, a fair organised by IFEMA, proposes a highly enjoyable stroll through the past, during which visitors also are able to confirm that antiques and exclusive appeal are not necessarily synonymous with the idea of expense. In fact, the fair exhibits an extensive range of unusual items at very different prices, suited to all kinds of budget.

For the third consecutive year, and following the success of this initiative at past editions, the fair once again organised an Open Doors Day, featuring free access for all visitors: on Tuesday 13th. This initiative makes a strong contribution in terms of promoting antiques and antique collecting, as well as introducing a number of non-habitual visitors to the exhibition as a whole.

For the more than 10 million self-confessed collectors in Spain and for all those who wish to enter the exciting world of collecting, ALMONEDA provides an excellent opportunity to personally discover an infinite range of objects that are susceptible to being collected. In this sense, since the fair was founded some twenty years ago, the Antiques, Art Galleries and Collectors Fair has presented an important and highly attractive event for all those who appreciate art, vintage items and unique objects, not to mention collector's pieces in all their different forms and, of course, antiques.

Twentieth Anniversary of ALMONEDA
ALMONEDA is celebrating twenty editions, events at which it has undoubtedly made a considerable contribution in terms of fostering the public's taste for antiques and other items from the past. The fair's history and development have gone hand in hand with the development of an antiques culture in Spain. In this respect, the 160 participants today represent a far cry from the 93 exhibitors who took part at ALMONEDA at its first edition in May 1991. What is more, we might mention the 21,000 visitors who travelled to the event last year, as well as the approximate figure of 11,000 pieces sold. However, the figures that perhaps best illustrate the way in which ALMONEDA has developed relate to those that correspond to the last 20 years as a whole. Thus, throughout this time, around 470,000 people have visited the fair. These visitors purchased more than 178,000 pieces from the 3,700 exhibiting companies taking part at the fair throughout this period. Furthermore, 3,100 accredited journalists produced more than 2,100 reports on the fair in different media.

For all of these reasons, ALMONEDA has a special place on Madrid's cultural programme, whilst an increasingly large number of visitors travel to the fair each year, all of whom are keen to enter this fascinating world in search of works of art and decorative items that are capable of endowing a range of different ambiences with that certain touch of good taste.

ALMONEDA, organised by IFEMA will take place in Hall 3 at Feria de Madrid. The fair will be open from 12.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., and entrance tickets cost 8 euros that include a practical Purchasing Guide that enables the visitor to make an easier tour of the fair.