This autumn, the highly-anticipated Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair – the leading interiors and arts event for design enthusiasts – is returning to Battersea Park.
Known as The Decorative Fair, it is a family-owned event that launched in 1985 to unite the antiques and interior design trades. It was originally devised by dealer Patricia Harvey when the design trade was looking for more unusual antiques rarely available at the major London antiques fairs. Her aim was to give decorators and designers everything they wanted under one roof, bringing together a wide range of decorative antiques and 20th-century design mixed with formal antiques, collectors’ items, art and accessories. The formula proved an instant hit. Many exhibitors present room-sets, providing inspiration on how to display items imaginatively.
Three events are run each year: a Winter Fair in late January, a Spring Fair and an Autumn Fair during the busy ‘design season’ in late September/early October. This autumn is a bumper edition, with over 150 exhibitors across two floors, showing from Tuesday 28 September to Sunday 3 October.
The Decorative Fair is renowned among top decorators around the world as being the UK’s most exciting and beautiful antiques fair. Promising unexpected treasures, the event features specialist dealers offering a wide variety of objects, furniture, art and accessories dating from the 17th century to the 1970s. There is literally something for every taste and budget, and to suit all styles of decoration. Stands are presented with flair, providing ideas and inspiration. Decorators regularly seen shopping include Rita Konig, Flora Soames, Olga and Alex Polizzi, Robert Kime, Veere Grenney, Nicky Haslam and major international players such as Rose Tarlow and Michael Smith from the USA.
The Organisers are planning a friendly and safe event with pre-booked tickets: £20 p/p on the opening day, Tuesday 28 September, and £10 p/p each day thereafter with a choice of two timed entries per day. You can stay as long as required, and your ticket also allows re-entry to the Fair, but numbers inside the venue will be monitored. Online booking is now open and available here. Packing, delivery and export services are available on site, and, most importantly, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
New participants joining The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair for the first time include Craig Carrington (Gloucestershire) with neo-classical and Grand Tour antiques, Christopher Hodsoll (London) with fine and interesting antiques, rare mirrors, chimney pieces, paintings, and objects, Tribal Art & Textiles (Glasgow) with ethnographic objects and weavings, Christopher-Hall Antiques (Gloucestershire) with French and other European antique furniture, mirrors, chandeliers, lighting and decorative objects, ODE Interiors (Hastings) with French and Italian post-war designs and accessories, Tomkinson Churcher (London) with original artists’, travel and ski posters, van Halm & van Halm (London) with 17th cent-18th cent Chinese and Japanese export porcelain, Owen Parry (Monmouthshire) with colourful and rare oriental carpets and textiles, Tom Rooth with art ceramics, 900 Art and Design (London) with Scandi design and Italian art, Portico (Arundel) with decorative European and British antiques, Brown Elliott with 18th cent-mid-20th cent, ceramics and glassware for a smart English country house look, and Montpelier Interiors (Henley) with decorative and traditional European and English antiques.
Among the 150+ returning exhibitors are: For furniture traditionalists – Kate Thurlow & Tony Bunzl, Wakelin & Linfield, David Bedale, Peter Bunting Antiques, Anthony Outred, Joanna Booth. For folk art lovers – The Home Bothy, David Levi Antiques, Nic McElhatton, Inglis Hall Antiques. For the country house look – Brownrigg, Nadin & Macintosh, Pearse Lukies, Fontaine Decorative, Marburg & Casadejus, Vagabond, Lorfords, Christopher Jones. For painted furniture aficionados - Maison Artefact, French Country Living, Puckhaber Decorative Antiques. For luxury accessories – Alexia Amato with decorative Continental glass, Sue Norman with antique blue and white china, Linda Jackson Antiques with silverware, glassware specialists Brian Watson, Mark West and Richard Hoppe Antiques For rugs, cushions and textiles – Katharine Pole, Su Mason, Aaron Nejad Gallery, Joshua Lumley, Gallery Yacou. For fine art connoisseurs – Jenna Burlingham Gallery with modBrit, Julian Simon Fine Art Ltd with 19th & 20th century fine English & Continental paintings, John Barkes with Russian art, Saunders Fine Art for Scandinavian works For garden and architectural pieces - Nicholas Gifford-Mead, Martin D. Johnson Antiques, Violet Grey Decorative Gardens. For jewellery – Timewise Vintage Watches, Anthea AG Antiques, Thomas Glover, Sandy Stanley, Chelsea Vintage Couture. For collectors and lovers of curiosities - Malby Maps, Fontaine Decorative, Hatchwell Antiques (aeronautica and scientific objects), Don Kelly Books, Hickmet Fine Art (deco bronzes), Chalet White, Joost van den Bergh (Asian art), Morgan Strickland Decorative Arts (art nouveau and deco objects), M & D Moir (art nouveau glass). For 20th century design – Quindry, Ed Butcher, Living in Style, Il Paralume, The Modern Warehouse, Tim Smith-Vincent, Foster & Gane, Gallery BR, and Dorian Caffot de Fawes.
In the past year, there has been an explosion of interest in antiques and vintage 20th-century designs – the ultimate in chic sustainable style – as we look for comfort in our homes, and decoration to be treasured.
The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair offers every element to create a layered story, from glass-fronted cabinets for displaying pottery and tableware, to pretty and practical textiles, decorative and fine art and sculpture of all periods, beautifully upholstered classic seating and traditional chests of drawers, country wood-ware and tavern tables to sleek deco sideboards and lighting, weathered garden antiques, folk art and surprising objects to make you smile.
