LONDON.- Within the splendid neo classical interior of Pillar Hall, W14, the new
Olympia Arms Fair will showcase intriguing objects from international military history spanning in excess of 3 millennia. This inaugural event is for dealers, collectors and enthusiasts of antique arms, armour and militaria. The fair is also hoping to attract new visitors with interest in the subject from the UK and abroad.
Organised by Thomas Del Mar antique arms and armour auctioneer and founder of the auction cooperative 25 Blythe Road located around the corner from Pillar Hall, the timeline of objects for sale will cover Bronze Age to the First World War. Pieces will include Bronze Age axes, medieval armour, swashbuckling rapier swords, and the first self-igniting firearms such as matchlock, wheellock and flintlock pistols. Over forty dealers from the UK, Europe and the United States have reserved stands for the event including Runjeet Singh Ltd, Peter Finer Ltd, Patrick Mestdagh, Garth Vincent Antique Arms and Armour, Michael German Antiques and Magazin Royal.
Among the pieces Garth Vincent Antique Arms and Armour is bringing is a pair of blunderbuss pistols by Nicolson of London, a percussion pocket pistol by Calderwood of Dublin, and an 1805 pattern naval sword. One of the highlights from Patrick Mestdagh is a Mughal jade handle dagger, from the Jaipur region, India, circa 1680. Alban Arms and Armour is bringing a fine hand-and-a-half sword, South German or Swiss circa 1550.
There will also be dealers specialising in tribal weapons which broadens the event to another collecting category. Prices will range from £50 to over £100,000. The Arms and Armour Society and the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association will also be present.
The Olympia Arms Fair- a central London event for collectors of Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria is taking place at the Pillar Hall, Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX on Saturday 30th September 2017, 9:00 15:00.