The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, London

London's most popular event for decorators seeking unusual

Antiques and statement pieces for Interior design.  

Held in Battersea Park, close to Sloane Square and Chelsea.

In May last year I discovered the blog

TROUVAIS   (www.trouvais.com)

      Since then I had been more and more admiring  TRISH'S  posts.

They are always interesting, aesthetic and clear.

That inspired me, with encouragement over the months from Trish,

to create my own blog.

Now that I have began, Trish suggested to me,

knowing that I work with Antiques, to do a post all about the  "Battersea-Fair" in London.

 Having exhibited and sold over the past 12 years at this Fair 

and with Trish encouraging me to do a post of it.....

....what follows is the result.... 

THE DECORATIVE

ANTIQUES & TEXTILES FAIR

Three times a year in the marquee, London, Battersea Park

WINTER ANTIQUES FAIR

18-23 January 2011

The Decorative Fair is a thrice-yearly specialist event for the disceming decorator looking to source unusual English and European antiques, original 20th century designs and works of art from all periods to the present day. From opulent show-stoppers to useful furniture, around 140 exhibitors offer a broad range of both fine quality and affordable pieces for inspired interiors, in the relaxed surroundings of The Marquee in leafy Battersea Park,just over the River Thames from Sloane Square and Knightsbridge.

The Fair is fun, fashionable and particularly well-known as an excellent source of painted furniture, Gustavian and Swedish design, 20th Century design, lighting, accessories, excellent mirrors and named-design furniture. It's worldwide reputation, established over 25 years, entices international trade and retail buyers, interior designers, and private customers seeking unique and unusual furnishings and quirky accessories for decorating schemes.

***

To give an overall idea of the sort of Antiques available at this Fair these photos are a re-view of my stands over the past 12 years, mainly representing 

the kind of objects and furniture which can be still found at the Fair
(of course there are plenty more from all the other dealers)

I started in 1998 - sharing a stand with a dealer friend...

1998

19th century painted Danish drop leaf table

 

The 'look' was a bit too "opulent" for me... 

and I decided to have my own stand in

1999  

Pair of silvered Mid-18th century 'Blakers' (sconces), Nuernberg

Pair of French cast iron urns, Nap. III., 1860

Pair of 19th 'marbled' wooden pedestals

 in 1999

The French early 19th century Gueridon with it's original marble top
went to Kuweit
together....

..with this French wooden column

One of a set of three Fauteuil's, Louis XVI., ca. 1780 in its original paint
Pillows in 18th and 19th century 'Toile de Jouy'

Collection of 18th and19th century French Fayence's

in 2000

...having a rather clear line

A 18th Swedish Secretaire, ca. 1780, original paintwork
and
'Duchesse brisé' Louis XVI., ca. 1770, original paint
recovered with natural linen

a pair of French wrought iron room divider's, 1940s
on a 19th century drapers table

18th century Canapé, Louis XVI, ca. 1780
recovered with old linen hemp
and
on the wall: French Tapestry, worked in silk,
from the late 17th - early 18th century

detail of Canapé before recovered


in 2000

17th century French Banquette, Louis XIII. which went to Greece,
in front of an 18th century Périgordian French farm table in cherry wood
and
on the wall a pair of French 19th Venetian blinds, went to Texas, US

The Mid-19th century French indoor portal was bought 
by the well known British painter Sir Gordon Howard Hodgkin.

Howard Hodgkin was in 2003 appointed by Queen Elizabeth II
as a Companion of Honour.  A major exhibition of his work
was mounted at Tate Britain, London, in 2006.
Also in 2006, The Independent declared him one of the
100 most influential gay people in Britain,
as his work helps many people express their emotions to others.

*

The portal is flanked by a pair of 19th Italian-Venetian 'Gondolieri' lanterns
...

...which came back to France to live 'happily' 
in a friends Chateau nearby us!

This late 18th century Trumeau frame (from a Boiserie)2,20 meter high
was bought by an Antique dealer from Kentucky, US

and
a very rare and unusual French 17th century metal sconce

in 2001

A 18th century Norwegian harvest table in its original conditon



in 2002

French 19th century "Table de présentation de boucherie"
with its original marble top
in front of an 19th French back drop

on top of the table a pair of lamps, designed by myself
 made of lime stone urns with hand made and metallic painted shades

A French 19th farm table with a set of French 19th garden chairs
bought by a Greek Antique dealer from Athen
and
on the wall a pair of French late 19th painted canvas
and
an Italian 19th wooden chandelier which also went to Athen

At the same fair....



A trestle table with an 18th century French top in cherry wood
on a pair of 19th century English industrial builders trestle
and
at the back a French 19th, newly painted, Bibliotheque 
(went to Kentucky)

and by the way....the 'little' olive shrubs I bought in London for the fair
grew up to trees and living beside our pool!



in 2003

One of a pair of French 19th century draper's table
with a collection of 19th Italian storage jars
and a pair of English 19th terracotta garden urns

19th century French Meuble de magasin
-new paintwork-
and
a pair of 19th French wall lights

A early 20th century German sofa, rather simple,
but recovered with a rough hemp it looked good.
Both rolls can be pulled out to the side to provide a day bed to have an afternoon snooze!
Bought by Antique dealers from New England, US

in 2004

20th century design meets the past.....

Danish 19th century trestle (or tavern) table, went to California, with
a set of 8 Arne Jacobsen chairs, made by Fritz Hansen 1970s
and
at the back an 18th century German wedding trunk from Black Forest
which went to a Swiss Chalet in Gstaad 
and

on top of the trunk a pair of table lamps, designed by myself,
made of French 19th century cast iron bath feet with
hand made and -painted shades 

The second draper's table (from a pair)
with another collection of 19th century Italian storage jars....

....I'm addicted to all kind of jars and pots!
And I love particularly the Italian ones!
on the wall another beautiful pair of 19th French wall lights

The Danish trestle table in a different (autumn  fair 2003) setting
with 20th century glass objects from the 1950s
and
an 18th century French Louis XVI. mirror, ca. 1780
in its original condition


in 2005

French 18th Buffet which I painted
and
set of 4 late 18th Swedish chairs in original paintwork

19th century French work table which went to New York
and...

another collection of rare and unique 19th century Italian storage jars,
had about 28 of them and would loved to keep some for myself but...
all sold and could not find them anymore since then!



 in 2006

 

French 19th painted shop counter

and

French 1940s sunburst mirror in metall 

Pair of early 20th century French wing chairs, re-painted
and
a pair of 18th century Swedish demi-lune table with the original paint

Pair of industrial 19th French windows with new mirror glass,2,80 m high

18th century Swedish country cupboard with the original paintwork

A mix of 'this and that' - also in 2006

.....to be continued