BATH.- An iconic Pop Art sofa will be a major attraction at The Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, The Pavilion, Bath from 10th – 12th March 2016. Titled ‘Marilyn’, this sofa was designed in the shape of Marilyn Monroe’s lips by Karl-Heinz Hussmann of Germany and made in low numbers circa 1990. It was inspired by the art installation by Salvador Dali of 1937 depicting an image of Mae West. The sofa will be offered for sale by Apollo Antiques of Ashburton, Devon and will be priced at £3,450.

The ‘Marilyn’ sofa will be one of many rare and unusual designer pieces going on sale at this annual event that features leading specialist dealers from across the country. The Bath Decorative Fair enjoys a reputation for providing a colourful marketplace for the most inspirational, decorative and desirable antiques, art and artifacts.

Among the many exhibits on sale will also be a 1940’s French manikin head and 19th century hatter’s shop sign, priced at £450 each, from folk art specialists Erna Hiscock & John Shepherd from Kent.

With Scandinavian and French painted furniture, Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco and 20th Century Industrial Chic alongside early English and Continental folk art, country furniture, Arts & Crafts, textiles, original paintings, antiquarian prints and a good dash of Georgian and Victorian town furniture, it’s a fair with a display that defies every category and offers plenty to tempt and inspire. Says organiser Sue Ede: ‘It’s a must-go-to fair for the West Country and London antiques market. This is a fair that sets agendas and delights the home interior market.’

More than forty dealers take part, featuring the most eclectic and interesting range of stock to be found at any event outside London. All kinds of collectables combine to provide a head-turning mix of styles and colours. Many of the exhibitors do not show regularly at any other comparable event, spending months acquiring fresh stock especially for the Bath fair.

Among the many other unusual exhibits will be a selection of original etchings and engravings by John Constable, JMW Turner, Gainsborough, Samuel Palmer Paul Nash, Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Eric Gill, Augustus John, and Edward Burra belonging to Bath dealer Larkhall Fine Art. Particularly importyant is an extremely rare proof linocut titled Progress (Road in a Mining Town) by Ursula Fookes (19061991), 295x210mm. It is printed by the artist on laid Japan paper in an unique colour combination. Ursula Fookes studied with Claude Flight at Grosvenor School of Modern Art from 1929 to 1931. She exhibited in the annual British Linocut exhibitions at the Redfern and Ward Galleries, and also showed her work with the Society of Women Artists. This work is priced at £3000.

A host of dealers return to the fair, including Elham Antiques, Molly & Maud’s Place, No.1 Lewes, T. & M. Kelly, C. & M. Todd, Paul Burnett Interiors, Appledore Antiques & Winfield Canes, D.J. Green, Burgett Langfield, Erna Hiscox and John Shepherd, Apollo Antiques from Devon, Bohms Antik, Nikki Page, Greenpark Art, Not Wanted on Voyage, Emily’s House, Susannah, Candice Horley Glamour, A.J.Art, Brian Ashbee, Town & Country Antiques, Mal Connell of Norfolk Decorative Rugs, Chloe Antiques, Mary Hossack of Life England and The Trading Room. Retuning after several years absence will be dealers from Lorfords, the antiques hub near Tetbury, including Jackdawes, Roderic Haugh and Peter Whipps (who trades as Arabesque).

Several dealers will be making their debut, notably Bath dealers Waterfall Antiques with country house furniture and mirrors; Saunders Fine Art from London with a mix of Scandinavian and British 20th century art; Decorative & Modern from the Cotswolds with furniture, notably mid-20th century; Branching Out Antiques from Kent with French decorative pieces; Lisa Lloyd of Hand of Glory Antiques from Chippenham with furniture and lighting (also well-known from TV’s ‘Antiques Roadshow’) and Larkhall Fine Art from Bath specialising in 19th and 20th century Old Master prints.

As usual, the fair has it’s own bistro, run by local favorite’s, Barak, offering a range of lunchtime goodies and afternoon treats.

The fair opens with a Trade-Only day on Thursday 10 March, Trade free with card, by Invitation or £10 on the door – and many pay to get in early for the bargains and rarest of treasures.

Held in the Pavilion building, just a few minutes walk from the centre of Bath, it’s a fair with adjacent car parking and very close to so many of the city’s top restaurants and bars.