NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK SPECIAL THEME The National Antiques Week, 23 – 30 November, 2009, will have a special theme this year which will be “ANTIQUES ARE GREEN”. Antiquesnews has been a firm supporter of the campaign to develop awareness of this obvious advantage to buying antiques and the logo for “Antiques are Green” is displayed the bottom of every page. The logo is available to download from New England Antiques Journal or via PUBLICATIONS in TRADE INDEX. For more information see the National Antiques Week page.

FAIR OF THE WEEK Working on his home turf this week at The Chester Fine Art and Antiques Fair held at the County Grandstand, Chester Racecourse from 12 – 15 February, 2009, local dealer and seasoned Penman Fair exhibitor Mike Melody will be offering for sale a unique antique table clock made in the shape of a ship’s wheel inscribed with the Duke of Westminster’s insignia. The late 19th century ship’s wheel clock is a unique collector’s piece, which was presented to the Chief Steward on the 2nd Duke of Westminster’s yacht, the famous Cutty Sark. It is offered for sale at £1,195, complete with letters of authenticity from its former owner. The Chester Antiques & Fine Art Show features more than fifty dealers from across the country offering for sale a wide range of antiques, works of art and objets d’art with prices from less than £50 to more than £20,000. It is widely regarded as the premier event for antiques collectors in the north west and is the second of eight fairs in the Penman calendar for 2009. For more information and full exhibitor list see Penman Fairs web site via our Trade Index.

CELEBRITIES ON SHOW AT 20/21 ART FAIR The third 20/21 International Art Fair at the Royal College of Art, Kensington from 19 – 22 February, 2009 will be opened by Griff Rhys Jones at 12 noon on the 19th . An international collection of celebrity names from the art world will be on display from over fifty exhibitors, most of whom are UK based, including Matisse, Miro, Picasso and Chagall (all works on paper) plus British 20th century favourites such as Henry Moore, David Hockney, Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst as well as other work which may be less well known but well worth discovering including a most unusual shell collage of Lord Nelson by the Italian artist Enrico Baj (1924-2000); wonderful embroidery wall hangings from South Africa, rare ‘aboriginal’ pictures from the Gondi tribe in central India, Soviet Realism by Gygoriy Shyshko and Guan Liang, one of Shangai’s most respected artists. Affordable quality is the key ingredient to this fair and, with vetting under the chairmanship of art consultant Anthony J Lester, FRSA, this is a priority. For more information see 20/21 International Art Fair via TRADE INDEX

ANTIQUESNEWS WELCOMES MICHAEL HOLT Michael Holt began his trading life in Bermondsey Market in the late 1950s when rent was ten shillings in old money – equivalent today to 50p. Sharing a stand with two other dealers really kept the costs down! Michael began to specialise in antique fireplace furniture and accessories in the early 1980s, selling mainly to American clients whom he still travels to meet regularly. The latest career move for Michael is his new web site where he looks forward to welcoming clients new and old to his new online shop. See Michael Holt Andirons via FIREPLACE ACCESSORIES on TRADE INDEX

SAD NEWS FOR STOURBRIDGE Dudley Council has announced that it will close Broadfield House Glass Museum from March 2010 citing economic contraints. The Council has stated its intention to relocate the collection to the Red House Cone site. The museum which is situated in the historic Stourbridge Glass Quarter, is the only dedicated glass museum in the UK carrying an important collection of international repute. Much of the collection is locally made dating from the 17th century. The Glass Association and Friends of Broadfield House are campaigning to stop this move and an on-line petition is available for supporters to sign at Go Petition

ANTIQUESNEWS INTRODUCES IMAGES IN HEADLINES We are delighted to announce that from the end of February 2009, Antiquesnews will display images in the Headline news section. This development is part of the ongoing innovations at Antiquesnews.

NEW WEB SITES AND TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS See Trade Roundabout for news of how to avoid the roadworks into Petworth, West Sussex and news of a new web site for specialist Welsh furniture dealers Havard and Havard of Vale of Glamorgan.

ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLER JAILED On 4 February 2009 the Daily Telegraph reported “An international trader who specialised in antique books stole £323,000 worth of rare tomes from one of the most powerful financiers in the world. David Slade, 59, was hired by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild to catalogue his vast collection of rare books .…… A former president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, (ABA), and a dealer since the age of seventeen, crippled by £30,000 credit card debts as his business crumbled he then sold the books at auction”....... He was jailed for twenty-eight months after pleading guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court.” A spokesman for the ABA said that despite the circumstances the crime was “deplorable”.

WINDSOR HOUSE ANTIQUES RAIDED AGAIN Following a break in two years ago, Moreton in Marsh antiques centre, Windsor House Antiques has lost about £30,000 worth of silver, carriage clocks and jewellery stolen from cabinets during a ram raid which took place shortly after midnight on Thursday January 22, 2009. The centre’s closed circuit television cameras filmed an olive/green-coloured vehicle, possibly a Jeep or 4x4, being reversed into the High Street building’s front door shortly after midnight. Two offenders were recorded entering the shop where 35 antique dealers trade. Jane Finegan who manages the centre for its proprietors, Tony and Edwina Sutton said "We were trying very hard to make the shop look attractive and doing everything we can to keep it open and have been doing very well through this recession, I now feel very disillusioned". Staff worked all through the morning to clear the debris left by the intruders and the shop was open for business by midday. North Cotswolds police appealed for witnesses.

MALLET HIT HARD Doubled rent to £1,200,000, like-for-like sales down 40%, the promise of more of the same to come and a lack-lustre share price has hit top London dealer Mallett. Out goes chief executive Lanto Synge replaced by Giles Hutchinson-Smith formerly a director of Meta, Mallett's contemporary design business. In the restructuring of this company, one of the very few antiques dealers listed on the UK stock market, high hopes appear to be pinned on the contemporary side of the business and, as recently reported, no more hot lunches cooked on the premises for the directors.

OAK AND WALNUT PRICES RISE ONE PERCENT The ACC (Antique Collectors' Club) Antique Furniture Index moved downwards by one percent to 2942 (1968=100) in 2008, mainly due to falls in the Victorian, Regency and Country indices. Compared with almost all other economic and investment performances in late 2008 it may have been lacklustre but it was far from devastating news. Oak and walnut price indices rose by one percent and the mahogany ones more or less stood their ground. The Index figure was a disappointment in view of last year's consolidation and hope for recovery but compares with the RICS in autumn suggesting a fall of two percent in prices. It is at the lower end of quality that prices are continuing to fall. The ACC Index is derived from a variety of typical pieces of furniture and charted in the ACC book, "British Antique Furniture". The collation and assessment of the prices of antiques by the ACC was a pioneering activity and this Index is the only one with a 40-year track record and has been calculated annually since 1968, when it stood at 100.

PUBLIC DIG DEEP TO SAVE DIANA AND ACTAEON Following a campaign backed by art world celebrities including David Hockney and Lucient Freud, to save two masterpieces by Titian,"Diana and Actaeon" and "Diana and Callisto", it has been announced that £50 million has been raised partly by public donations and trusts and funds, including £12.5 million pledged by the Scottish executive, to save "Diana and Actaeon". The painting, formerly owned by the Duke of Sutherland, will be shared by the National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland where it has been on display for more than two hundred years. It is feared that the other painting may be lost to a private buyer if funding is not found.

ROOMS TO VIEW It has been announced that the Tate and the National Gallery of Scotland will be among the eighteen galleries to become beneficiaries of the 20th c art collection of the late Anthony d'Offay, son of an antique dealer, valued at £125 million, for the bargain price of £26.5 million with the Treasury waiving the £14.5 million tax bill on the purchase. Mr d'Offay's dream was that there should be "rooms" allowing young people in particular to study one artist at a time. The collection includes Andy Warhol, Damien Hurst and Robert Mapplethorpe.

LUXURY AND GOOD BUSINESS AT KILHEY COURT Feeling confident after the success of the Luxury Antique Weekends concept in the North of England, Organiser Ingrid Nilson has added another fixture to this tried and tested formula of the small exclusive fair positioned alongside a 4-Star quality hotel. The first Luxury Antiques Weekend at Kilhey Court, Standish in Lancashire was launched to great approval from 23 - 25 January 2009 and despite January's newspapers being full of gloom about unemployment, recession and the economy there were few signs of the recession at the stylish lakeside venue. Visitors flocked from Cumbria, Wales, Manchester, Cheshire, Yorkshire and right across Lancashire, amongst whom was David Moores, former chairman of Liverpool Football Club. One couple from Kendal, who went away happy with their purchase, remarked that the fair was "a feast for the eyes and a feast for the soul."

THOUSANDS ATTEND MAJOR LONDON SUNDAY SHOW The first of four fairs this year at Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, north London attracted over 3000 visitors - an excellent attendance in view of the weather and the economic climate - both very chilly. However inside the hall buyers warmed to the stock of dealers from throughout the country. Business was being done under one of the biggest roofs in London. Nelson Events' next Alexandra Palace Antiques, Collectables, Art Deco and 20th Century Fair will be held on Sunday 3 May 2009. Around 600 stands are anticipated. Trade admited from 8am, private buyers from 9.30am to 4,30pm As usual there is easy parking and a free shuttle bus from Wood Green station. See the Alexandra Palace fair's entire website via our Trade Index.

CHEAP AS CHIPS David Dickinson, the celebrity antiques dealer famed for his "cheap as chips" catchphrase, is currently fronting a television advertising campaign for another bargain being launched by fast food chain McDonald's which has launched a Savers Menu, with a range of items, such as a double cheeseburger or medium portion of fries, available for just 99p.

NEW BED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE President Obama has made an impressive start to the task ahead of him this week, including the appointment of California based interior designer Michael Smith who has been given the job of redecorating the President's new residence with the budget of $100,000. Mr Smith, who is inspired by the look of English country houses and mixes that feel with a clean and neat modern American edge, likes mixing antiques with ethnic textiles, and expensive accessories with items from high street shops. The installation has begun with a tiger maple four poster bed, c 1820, from New England family owned antiques business Leonard’s.

RESTORING CONFIDENCE AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART? The future bodes well for established fine art dealers following reports by The Times art correspondent, Ben Hoyle on recent Impressionist, modern and contemporary art sales at the major London auction houses. Under the headline, "High returns for high art are swept away as harsh reality hits the bidding at salerooms", Ben Hoyle writes" "For most of last year the top end of the art market seemed to be defying economic gravity. The stock market plunge in September changed everything." He quotes a leading London dealer of long standing as saying the auction houses had become primarily "experts in looking after widows and hustling rather than art". Established fine art dealers, in particular exhibitors at the forthcoming 20/21 International Art Fair at the Royal College of Art next to the Royal Albert Hall Kensington, London, 19-22 February 2009, now have an opportunity to restore some confidence in the market.

LATESTS FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS FEATURE NOW LIVE 2009 is a vintage year for the Bath Decorative and Antiques Fair held from 5 – 7 March at the Pavilion in Bath. The last of the British antiques fairs to hold a designated Trade Only Day,the Fair is now in its 20th year. This year sees BBC television antiques celebrity Paul Martin open the Fair at the Charity Preview Evening on Thursday 5 March. For information about exhibitors see Antiquesnews Fairs and Exhibitions Feature on the left hand side of this page or Bath Decorative and Antiques Fair web site via Trade Index.

ENCOURAGING COLLECTORS Alternative investments are a growing trend. Most antiques offer the added ingredient of practicality, but you can't lick stamps if you are a collector. Michael Hall, chief executive of Stanley Gibbons says stamp collecting is a completely different animal. It is "a bug, which becomes an all consuming passion. Stamp collectors are trying to achieve something; they are buying to complete a collection. That protects the market in difficult times

UK ANTIQUES AND ART PUBLICATIONS UPDATE Following the recent advice that Christie's international magazine is "on hold", we hear that Clarion Events colourful glossy "The Olympian" is unlikely to be published again. After eight issues Barrington Publications has ceased publication of "Design Arts" born out of the long respected pocket-sized antiques bi-monthly "The Collector". It is hoped "Design Arts" will be incorporated in Barrington's old established monthly "Galleries". The Birmingham-based "Antiques Magazine" previously known as "Antiques Bulletin" ceased publication last year.

REASSURANCE AT BATTERSEA The Winter Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair held from Tuesday 20 January to Sunday 25 January, 2009 in the Marquee in Battersea Park, London enjoyed some very good activity throughout the week with as many visitors on Saturday as the first day. New owner David Juran summed up the his first Fair as owner saying “surprising but reassuring.” Although the Fair took place during American Presidential election week the exhibitors enjoyed very good sales to some well known US trade buyers, including Annette Putnam who sold a large refectory table to a prominent North Carolina trader. Australian trade were also in evidence. Reports from exhibitors across a number of disciplines were resoundingly positive – Martin Murray who deals in country furniture and folk art said “It was the best opening day of any fair I have had – ever!” Fiona McDonald of Munster Road, Fulham who deals in 20th century design said she was very relieved to meet so many visitors who wanted to buy. Jan Keyne of Town and Country Antiques from Bournemouth told the organisers she had had “a rip roaring couple of days” having virtually sold out by the middle of the week. Patrick Macintosh of Sherborne, Dorset, had a similar experience selling eighteen pieces on the first day. For information on dates and exhibitors at the Spring Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair see Trade Index on the right hand side of this page.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS AT THE NATIONAL Tiffany Pritchard, organiser of the 6th National Fine Art and Antiques Fair, presented with the support of LAPADA at the NEC, Birmingham, from 14 – 18 January 2009, has reported that business proved much better than expected for many exhibitors. She said ‘I feel we’ve made a good start to the new year, in fact much better than anyone predicted. I’m delighted the fair has worked well for so many.” Works of art and bronzes sold well across the fair and some of the formal furniture dealers were delighted. Most successful of all were Melody’s Antiques from Chester, who cleared half of their large stand of furniture, selling an oak dresser, a set of chairs, a coffer and other pieces. “Visitors are seriously spending their money on art and antiques in preference to the usual investments” were the words on exhibitors’ lips after a busy first day.

CONFIDENCE IN THE WEST The next WEADA, West of England Antique Dealers' Association Antiques, Fine Art and Interiors Fair has been confirmed and will take place from 9 - 11 October, 2009 at the elegant Minterne House in Dorset. The Association continues to develop and consolidate following a successful first fair at Taunton last October, and the Chairman has announced eleven new members for the new membership year which begins in March 2009.

WHAT THE ANTIQUES TRADE CAN DO FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA Following all the emotional outpourings at the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States of America and the hopes it has brought, the question everyone in America should be asking is not what can Obama do for us, but what can we do for Obama. Get the economy and business booming again is a priority. In this sphere the American antiques dealers who import from the UK and Europe are in a good position to help their nation and themselves. On the day of the inauguration the Pound sterling fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since mid-2001. If it falls one cent lower to below $1.3714 it will be at its lowest value since 1985. Last summer it was trading above $2 to the £. at this level of the exchange rate offers Americans coming to buy antiques and fine art in the UK unprecedented opportunities for almost a generation. And they can be certain of a warm welcome from the British antiques trade, many of whom are equally moved by President Obama's vision for his country and the world. Editor's note: See Comments from an Atlanta dealer in Trade Roundabout.

LATEST FEATURE ARTICLES NOW LIVE The latest in our series of feature articles are now published – see the main menu on the left of every page. DAY WITH A DEALER focuses on one of the most celebrated dealers in the world of decorative antiques, Spencer Swaffer, whose emporium in Arundel has been a major port of call for many serious decorators and trade buyers for more than thirty-eight years. Willie Clegg and Harvey Ferry of the Country Seat write about the history of WHITEFRIARS GLASS and how they came to deal in this vibrant and stylish glass alongside their vast stock of architect designed furniture. The feature on CLOCKS has been written by Paul Archard of Derek Roberts Antiques. Derek Roberts has written a number of books on horological subjects. The DECORATIVE ANTIQUES feature has been written by Bath based dealer, Grierson Gower and covers the history and imminent demise of the hand painted pictorial pub sign. The date for the next series of feature publications will be announced shortly and the series will include the ANTIQUES TRAIL covering West Sussex.

NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK DATES CONFIRMED From 2009 a new event will enter the antiques trade calendar. NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK will replace National Antiques Day and the first week long event is now confirmed as Monday 23 - Sunday 29 November 2009. The BADA and the LAPADA group of cooperating associations, which includes CADA, KCSA, PADA, PAADA, TVADA and WEADA, have all agreed to work together to make this a successful event for the trade and an enjoyable one for the public.

ANTHROPOLOGIE TO TAKE OVER ANTIQUARIUS? Stallholders at Antiquarius, the famous Kings's Road, Chelsea antiques centre in London, say landlords, London & Asociated Properties told local residents at a meeting to which antiques traders were not invited, that they hope to see the entire premises open "before Christmas 2009" as an American fashion store, Anthropologie. Conversion work on the Grade II listed Victorian building is anticipated to start in the summer with one-month eviction notices expected to be served on traders shortly. Last year London & Associated Properties ejected all stallholders from The Mall antiques centre at Camden Passage, Islington, north London. The landlords hope to turn the historic building that has been part of London's original antiques village for many years into a department store. All the traders have now relocated as it is envisaged those in Chelsea will do.

HEADLINES ARCHIVE

CHRISTIE'S MAGAZINE ON HOLD Following the publication of the January/February 2009 issue of "Christie's Magazine", the bi-monthly glossy in-house journal published in London, has been "put on hold due to the present economic climate". Recent press speculation suggests that Christie's salerooms themselves may shortly go under the hammer having attracted the attention of two private-equity groups. This has been denied by French owner Francois Pinault's holding company Artemis who paid $1.2 billion US dollars for the auction house in the spring of 1998.

SALEROOM JOBS GOING, GOING, GONE It is reported that as many as 200 out of 800 jobs will be lost at Christie's international auction salerooms in London in anticipation of sales falling by up to 30%. The South Kensington wine department has closed. Already 80 employees have been dismissed in its New York office. Christie's employs 2,100 people worldwide. Rival international salerooms, Sotheby's says it will save $7 million (£4.6 million) by reducing staff and other costs this year. Neither auction house was able to comment at the time of going to press.

WARM RECEPTION AT KENSINGTON The Kensington Antiques and Fine Art Fair, which returned to Kensington Town Hall, London W8, from Thursday 8 - Sunday 11 January, 2009, was very warmly received by exhibitors and the public, who all expressed their desire to see it succeed after an absence of three years. Lots of local Kensington visitors, London trade and overseas tourists, particularly Americans, were there and traditional painting specialists, Ashleigh House Antiques from Essex sold their five best 19th century oils all to clients under the age of forty, which was particularly gratifying trend at the Fair. Most successful proved the range of 20th century art and antiques. Andrew Muir from Birmingham with ceramics including a huge range of Clarice Cliff, Puritan Values from East Anglia with Arts & Crafts furniture, Renaissance with 20th century furniture and paintings all had a good fair. In the brown furniture section S.& S.Timms sold a fine mid-19th century linen press for £3,750 to a local collector. Wakelin & Linfield sold an impressive farmhouse table to an American on holiday in Scotland who made the journey south to visit the Fair. For information on the next Penman Fair in London, Chelsea Antiques Fair, 25-29 March, 2009, see Penman Fairs via Trade Index on the right hand side of the page.

CHRISTOPHER WOOD We regret to announce the death from cancer of Victorian art specialist and author Christopher Wood aged 67. His last major public appearance, whilst apparently in remission from his illness, was at the Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair in London in June 2008. In 1976 Christopher Wood left Christie's auction house which he joined in 1963 and where he came its youngest ever director, and ran Parviz Amir Parviz's Alexander Gallery in London and Tehran. He opened his own gallery in Motcomb Street in 1979 which was bought out by Malletts of Bond Street nine years later. In 1995 he returned to the Trade as a private dealer and consultant whilst continuing to appear on BBC-TV's "Antiques Roadshow" and exhibit at Grosvenor House

COME IN FROM THE COLD AT SHEPTON A warm welcome will be on hand when the Shepton Mallet Antiques and Collectors’ Fair returns to the Royal Bath and West Showground in Somerset from 16 – 18 January 2009. Organisers DMG have installed new heating systems to the Edmund Rack and Mendip Buildings, ensuring that customers will now be able to benefit from a toasty trading experience in all buildings. For more details and opening times see DMG web site via Trade Index.

DIDIER AARON We regret to announce the death of Parisian antiques dealer Didier Aaron of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, who died in Paris on 3 January, 2009. He was 85. A pillar of the world of French antiques dealers, Aaron was one of the last of the specialist dealers of so-called fff, for fine French furniture, who went into business immediately after World War II. He set up branches in New York, Los Angeles and London - unheard of in the 1980s - and was one of the first antiques dealer to ask a decorator to work under the same roof, which proved a lasting benefit to both professions

ON SHOW AT GLENEAGLES Continuing the fashionable trend for in house selling exhibitions, three LAPADA members, Ian Burton, J Whitelaw & Sons and Nigel Stacy-Marks, have plans to mount regular selling exhibitions at their showroom, ideally located adjacent to the world famous Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland. They will be extending an invitation to specialist retail dealers to participate in exhibitions throughout 2009. Their first exhibiting guest a number of years ago was silver specialist Ian Bourdon-Smith, who now holds annual shows at the shop. For further information contact Ian Burton (0)7785 114800

BUS STOP London's Lacy Gallery in Wesbourne Grove, two streets east of Portobello Road, hitherto best known for its 20th century paintings from St Petersburg will now be famous for the number 23 red double-decker bus from Paddington that crashed into its shopfront on Tuesday 5 January 2009. Ten people were reported with minor injuries, none from inside the gallery.

WEDGWOOD WATERFORD FALL BY THE WAYSIDE The two hundred year old Wedgwood pottery in Stoke on Trent which was acquired by the Irish Waterford Glass Company in 1986 for US$360 million, has called in the administrators with debts of £420 million. The company founded by Josiah Wedgwood was commissioned by the Empress Catherine of Russia in 1770 to make a creamware dinner service, each piece with different views of British scenery. The commission paved the way for the company to go on to become one of the most important of the Stoke on Trent potteries working at the time. The pressure on manufacturing costs facing competition from cheaper Asian labour and changes in fashion have contributed to demise of the company. Fellow Staffordshire manufacturer Royal Worcester called in the administrators in November, 2008. The Royal Worcester Museum remains open to the public.

NEW YEAR, NEW SHOWROOM FOR RICHARD GARDNER Richard Gardner of Petworth, West Sussex has acquired a temporary second showroom adjacent to his existing extensive premises at Swan House. This enterprising dealer who regularly publishes glossy in house magazines for his extensive client base has over 150 paintings in stock, and an extra showroom offers clients the chance to see all the paintings together with a number of pieces of furniture not yet displayed. For more details Richard Gardner Antiques web site via Trade Index.

FAIR ORGANISERS PLEASE CHECK 2009 CALENDAR As part of on going innovations at Antiquesnews, the Fairs Calendar has been re-launched with a rolling content which will keep the listings up to date as the year progresses. Event organisers are invited to supply dates as soon as they are available for immediate publication including 2010 and are requested to check dates currently listed.

eBay IVORY BAN BEGINS The promised ban on all sales of ivory by auction site eBay scheduled for 1 January, 2009 has now begun. This follows the limited ban in place since 2007, and will now cover all items except ivory piano keys and furniture with small amounts of ivory inlay made before 1900. eBay has responded to pressure from the International Fund for Animal Welfare – IFAW, following investigations which revealed that more than 7000 items of ivory were sold on line in a period of six weeks with sixty-three percent of the items sold via eBay. Conservationists estimate up to 20,000 elephants are slaughtered for their tusks every year despite the international trade ban on ivory products introduced in 1989.

MORE MOVES FOR MALLETT Thomas Woodham-Smith, executive director of Mallett, the exclusive Bond St, London W1 antiques business, has confirmed that the company is seeking new premises in London's West End, saying that Bond Street has become a "fashion street" and that the current premises of Mallett would be worth a "massive payment" which would return capital to shareholders. The move would follow the move in 2006 from Mallett's original home for nearly fifty years at Bourdon House in Mayfair which sold for a reported £14.6 million. Further benefits to shareholders might be in store following a proposed credit crunch move to stop in house three course lunches for directors each day, currently prepared by the company cook.

WEST PALM BEACH SOLD BY DMG ANTIQUE FAIRS DMG Antique Fairs have sold the West Palm Beach Antiques and Collectibles Show held eight times a year at the Americraft Expo Centre at the South Florida Fairgrounds to USA based show promoters Kay and Bill Putchstein and Yvonne and Jim Tucker. The name of the event will change to the West Palm Beach Antiques Festival and the fixtures for 2009 will remain in place. This is the latest development following the strategic review by the parent company DMG World Media, which saw the sale of America’s Palm Beach International Fine Art and Antiques Fair to its original founder David Lester, the sale of American title Antique Week and the management buyout of the Antiques Trade Gazette in 2008. DMG have said there will be no immediate sale of the UK portfolio of antiques fairs.

LAPADA MODERN LAPADA is to launch a new arm of the Association in March 2009 which will be dedicated to the promotion and professional branding of contemporary and modern art dealers and dealers in 20th century design and contemporary works of art. LAPADA Modern will offer this sector of LAPADA membership bespoke marketing and promotional benefits whilst recognising that existing members may also benefit from cross promotion of this section of the art market. Members of LAPADA Modern will abide by the Association’s Code of Practice.

ANTIQUESNEWS WELCOMES SPENCER SWAFFER Soon to celebrate forty years in his rambling 16th century premises backing on to Arundel Castle in West Sussex, Spencer Swaffer hosts over 6,000 square feet of the best of everything that is decorative and eclectic displayed with a keen decorator’s eye. The charming shop has been open seven days a week for thirty-eight years and Spencer’s philosophy is that you cannot afford to miss an opportunity which means that wherever antiques are bought and sold, you can expect to see this hardworking dealer first in the queue. See Spencer Swaffer Antiques web site via Trade Index and read Day with a Dealer in the new series of Antiquesnews features to be published mid January 2009.

EDENBRIDGE GALLERIES TO EMBRACE LAPADA Lennox Cato owner of Edenbridge Galleries in Kent, has joined forces with LAPADA to extend the membership of his BADA member only collective. Currently five LAPADA members who are also BADA members, including LAPADA directors John Robertson of Bourne Gallery and Angus Adams of Chevertons in Edenbridge, exhibit at the Gallery. Lennox is keen to maintain a balanced display and is inviting applications from all disciplines other than furniture.

NORD' ANTIC JOIN ANTIQUESNEWS Antiquesnews welcomes French Fair organisers Nord’Antic who have announced five new dates for 2009 having acquired the Dunkerque Kursaal as their venue. A short trip through the Tunnel provides easy access to these regular events in France’s third largest harbour city which is a crossroads between France, England and Belgium. Nord’ Antic have organised very successful fairs based in a restored former machine tool factory in Maubeuge in France since 2001. For dates and more information see Nord Antic web site via Trade Index.

BEREKELEY SQUARE FILLS UP Initial responses to the LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair to be held in Berkeley Square in the heart of London’s Mayfair from 24 – 27 September, 2009, are proving very encouraging with applications received for approximately eighty per cent of the available space in the glamorous marquee which will host approximately ninety exhibitors. Chief Executive of LAPADA, Sarah Percy Davies, confirmed that some of the available space will be used to showcase leading antique dealers’ associations including the Kensington Church Street Association.

PETWORTH DEALERS REGROUP The Petworth Art and Antique Dealers’ Association, PAADA, has appointed John Bird as its new chairman following the resignation of their long serving former chairman, Richard Gardner. John Bird who trades from The Clubroom in Petworth High Street has announced a completely new committee and discussions are taking place for a possible new name for this long established Association which represents this beautiful Sussex town with more than thirty antique dealers within a half mile radius. The new committee are already working hard and have confirmed six new recruits to the membership. PAADA is one of the LAPADA group of co-operating associations.

WEST LONDON ANTIQUES DISTRICTS TO BENEFIT Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, chose UK's landmark antiques market Portobello Road to announce that the £8-a-day traffic congestion charge in the western part of London introduced 19 months ago by the previous city administration will be scrapped. The area also includes the major antiques districts of Chelsea and Kensington. Although the scheme may have to continue until 2010 befoe new legislation can be completed, the Mayor hinted that an enforcement of payment holiday may be introduced in the meantime.

SUCCESS AT CHELTENHAM On the day Americans celebrated Thanksgiving (Thursday 27 November, 2008), the doors opened to The Autumn Antiques and Fine Art Fair at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse in the Cotswolds. There was a feeling of thanksgiving among the exhibitors with buoyant sales for many including the furniture dealers. Mary Cruz WEADA member from Bath, had an excellent fair. Neptune Gallery from Derbyshire sold a Lowry painting for £35,000, and the fair continued to be busy throughout the the three days. National Antiques Day was arranged one month later this year to coincide with this prestigious Fair organised in association with LAPADA. For information on future events from The Antique Dealers Fairs Limited, see Trade Index.

CHELSEA DEALERS RAISE £2300 FOR CHARITY After another successful year, Bourbon-Hanby Arcade, Chelsea, London started the festive season with a charity evening attended by around 200 invited guests. The party, hosted by Arcade owners Les Barrett and Ian Towning, included a raffle and auction of donated item from dealers and suppliers. "It was fantastic", Les says. "We raised £2300 for LEPRA, the charity that provides funds to treat children suffering from leprosy and aids in Africa and India." Antique jewellery specialist, Ian Towning, currently appearing in ITV's "Dickinson's Real Deal" has a catchphrase on the show, "you want more?" There is no doubt Bourbon-Hanby on the corner of Sydney Street and King's Road opposite Chelsea Old Town Hall, provides more for collectors, decorators and Trade buyers, open daily 10am to 6pm (5pm Sundays). Closed Christmas Day to 4 January 2009 inclusive. Click onto Bourbon-Hanby Arcade's entire website under Antiques Centre in Trade Index on the right of this page.

HAVARD AND HAVARD JOIN ANTIQUESNEWS Antiquesnews welcomes specialist Welsh furniture dealers and LAPADA members Havard and Havard of Cowbridge, South Wales. Welsh speaking owners Christine and Philip Havard opened the shop in 1992 and were both brought up with Welsh furniture at home and have built their reputation on their knowledge and ability to advise on both period and modern interiors. As part of a regular series of exhibitions at the showroom, Welsh painter Andrew Douglas Forbes will be exhibiting his work in Thursday December 4 until Christmas 2008. He will be in the shop for the opening day. The shop will open until 8 pm on each Thursday until Christmas. Silver jewellery from local jeweller Chrissie Nash and contemporary Welsh textiles from Delyth Walsh will also be part of the in house exhibition. A glass of champagne completes the welcome! For further information see Havard and Havard web site via Furniture Dealers on Trade Index.

DARTINGTON ANTIQUES JOINS ANTIQUESNEWS Antiquesnews welcomes Dartington Antiques, incorporating Gilboy's Restoration. Based near Totnes in Devon, the new arm of the business was recently officially opened by the Mayor of Totnes. With a little bit of help in the form of mentoring from the Prince's Trust fifteen years ago, restorer Simon Gilboy started an apprenticeship with the Dartington Trust in Devon. He went on to found Gilboy's Antiques Restoration. Illustrious clients included Kuwait University and The Houses of Parliament. Another long term client, a keen antique collector who saw the potential to develop the business, is now a partner in the new Dartington Antiques. For more information see Dartington Antiques and Gilboy's web site in Furniture Dealers and Restorers, via Trade Index.

CASH IN THE ATTIC When Gloucestershire antique dealer John Vosper died in September 2008, his family were unaware of the treasure trove stored in his attic in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. A favourite call for Princess Anne and Princess Margaret, Johnny as he was known to everyone, dealt in all areas of the antiques trade and was well known to the local trade and auction circuit. When local auctioneer Simon Chorley came to value his estate, he was amazed to find a trunk filled with silverware and a locked cast iron box which contained £33,000 in old fifty and twenty pound notes. He also found a vast array of more than 25,000 varied items from scrap iron to antiques and at least 10,000 postcards. The family business had been run by Johnny and his two bothers, Eric and Jim who died in the past eighteen months bringing an end to an era.

REWARD OFFERD FOR STOLEN HAUL Following the loss of various valuable items of furniture and jewellery from a house in Blendworth, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, the owners have offered a substantial reward for information leading to the return of any of the pieces which include a two foot bronze cherub with gold gilt wings, a 19th century bonheur de jour ladies’ desk, a large French clock with side figurines and long pendulum, two crystal candlesticks and two heavy gothic style metal candlesticks. The haul included a large amount of valuable jewellery. Anyone with information should contact DC McGreevy or PC Emily Dummer at Waterlooville Police Station on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111

NEW WEB SITE FOR WEST OF ENGLAND ANTIQUE DEALERS WEADA, The West of England Antique Dealers’ Association has launched a new web site www.weada.co.uk The new site has been designed for the members by www.sellingantiques.co.uk who have produced an excellent on line selling platform for members who will be looking forward to increased sales and visibility from their own shop on the site. News and events will be updated regularly – watch out for the date and venue of the next members fair for 2009 to be announced shortly.

HAUGHTON FAIRS ANNOUNCE DUBAI 2009 DATES Haughton International Fairs have confirmed that the second edition of Art and Antiques Design Dubai will take place from 18 to 22 February, 2009 at the Madinat Arena, Jumeirah, Dubai. The organisers will be presenting two 'room settings' at the fair, showcasing respectively furnishing styles and taste pre-1900 and post-1900. These will be created from furnishings provided by a group of exhibitors and all items on view will be for sale. The list of international exhibitors includes Mathiaf Gallery, London, Potterton Books, Yorkshire and Whitford Fine Art, London.

FORWARD THINKING "It's at times like these that looking to the past becomes very attractive" says Oliver Bennett, who profiled a new breed of customer , and how they are making the design of the past the look of the future, in the influential Sunday Times magazine "Style" published in London. "Nowhere is better to find it than in the nation's antiques shops and fairs. He quotes dealers Julian Bly, Holly Johnson and Edward Hurst to support his view concluding that "in times of recession people look back rather than ahead, to a time when we were safer. These antiques have lasted a long time, and its oddly reasssuring to know that they'll probably outlast you."

ANTIQUESNEWS WELCOMES PRIMAL Long time exhibitor at The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair, Battersea and Bath Decorative and Antiques Fair, Tristram Latimer Sayer formerly of Plinth, London, has moved to the charming Somerset market town of Castle Cary to open Primal. Tristram deals in period painted and decorative furniture and sculptural objects for interiors and exteriors. See the new Primal web site via Trade Index.

ANTIQUESNEWS WELCOMES ARUN FAIRS Arun Fairs, based in Sussex, who acquired Goodwood Antique and Collectors' Fair this year, held at the famous Goodwood Racecourse, have announced five dates for the event in 2009 in addition to their other outings at Rustington and Worthing in Sussex. The next Goodwood event is the Christmas Antique and Collectors' Fair on Sunday 30 November. For full information see Arun Fairs web site via Trade Index.

EVENTS AT THE BADA As a busy year draws to a close, the BADA celebrated its 90th anniversary year with a sparkling banquet presided over by Baroness Rawlings, President of the Association, at the Fishmongers' Hall in the City of London on Tuesday 4 November, 2008. The Rte Hon Lord Heseltine was guest of honour. He emphasised how much pleasure he and his wife had derived from antiques trade and summarised by saying "Buy the best you can afford, seek the best advice from the trade and leave inflation to do the rest". There are a number of remaining exhibitions in member shops to celebrate the 90th year of the BADA, including John Beazor & Sons Ltd, 78 & 80 Regent Street, Cambridge with an exhibition titled Christmas at John Beazor "One of life's certainties in a changing world" on Sunday 23rd November, 10 am to 6 pm. These long-established dealers in 18th and early 19th century furniture, clocks and barometers include rare satinwood pieces in this special one-day exhibition. Early in October, John Bly, former Chairman of the British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA) and current Chairman of the Friends of the BADA Trust was delighted to present the Rev Canon Professor Mike West, Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral with a cheque for the restoration of a handsome set of 18th-century books by the antiquary Richard Gough entitled "Camden's Britannic".

LAPADA WARNS OF POSSIBLE NEW SCAM Following an alert from a member in Belgium, LAPADA has warned the British antiques trade to be aware of a possible new scam along similar lines to European City Guide and FAIRGuide which caused problems for traders for the last ten years. The Utrecht registered company, EU Company Directory have sent out "Orders" with detailed but conflicting information and members receiving one of the packs should check www.stopecg.org which offers advice, or contact LAPADA direct.

ROGUE TRADER IN BRISTOL A prominent antique premises in Bristol has contacted this newspaper to give a warning to the trade following a loss of more than £600. They reported that a well built man in his fifties, with a Canadian accent, made purchases and left a cheque with the understanding that he would call back to collect the goods when the cheque had cleared. A few days later, before the cheque cleared, he called to say he was in the area and asked if he collect the goods. The dealers in question agreed but later found that the cheque was referred by the bank. They managed to contact the man and he told them to represent the cheque. On this occasion it was returned by the bank. The Bristol dealers have since been unable to contact the man in question and enquiries have revealed that he has a number of County Court Judgements against him.

WORCESTER MUSEUM ALIVE AND WELL Despite the sad news that Royal Worcester and Spode Ltd has gone into administration, the Worcester Porcelain Museum is keen to announce that it is it is still alive and well and open for business. Royal Worcester was founded in 1751 and received the Royal Warrant in 1789 The company, which supplied china to the Queen and Houses of Parliament, has failed to find a rescue buyer. A spokesperson from the Worcester Porcelain Museum has confirmed that the museum is not linked with the Royal Worcester and Spode Company financially and said "The museum will continue to do the excellent work it does and to welcome visitors to its fantastic collection of Worcester Porcelain." See www.worcesterporcelainmuseum.org.uk for more information.

NEW PRESIDENT AND STRONG DOLLAR BRINGS HOPE FOR BUSINESS British antique exporters will be hoping to see more American trade buyers travelling to the UK in the wake of the feelgood factor following the election of the next President, Barack Obama, and the continued strengthening of the dollar which is trading at 1.58 to the pound on the first day after the historic election in the USA.

AMERICANS RETURN TO NEC Exhibitors at the Antiques for Everyone Fair held at the NEC, Birmingham from 30 October – 2 November, 2008, reported the return of high spending American trade and private buyers looking for a wide range of items including period furniture, folk art, metalwork, boxes and kitchen antiques. Organisers Clarion Arts were delighted by the daily footfall of visitors which included younger faces especially welcomed by exhibitors looking for a new generation of buyers. A degree of optimism spread around the fair as exhibitors dared to hope that their worst fears of recession might be replaced by confidence in the future. Scarab Antiques dealers in antique and 20th century jewellery agreed that a lot of dealers had better fairs than they expected and they had exceeded their own very cautious target. Mark Goodger of Hampton Antiques who specialises in tea caddies and boxes reported his best NEC in six years, with three of his finest tortoiseshell boxes going out to one American dealer on the first day. He felt that the increase in American trade visitors was due to the strengthening of the dollar recent weeks. See Hampton Antiques web site via Trade Index

ALLOTMENTS ARE THE NEW VENICE! Venice used to be the chief inspiration for artists with images of St Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace ubiquitous, but as the number of depictions in the New English Art Club annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London shows, it’s now the humble surroundings of a suburban vegetable plot that have got artists’ creative juices going. In this years NEAC annual exhibition, which opens on National Antiques Day, 28 November 2008 and continues until 8 December, the national obsession with allotments has been carried onto canvas and there are numerous depictions of urban vegetable patches, for example Martin Davison’s Allotments by the Beverley Brook and Christopher Miers’ Winter Allotments. The NEAC was started in 1886 by a group of young artists who wanted an exhibition forum for the new and exciting developments taking place in France where Impressionism was a burgeoning influence. Previous member include Sargent, Sickert, Spencer and Nash. For more information see Mall Galleries web site via Trade Index

BERMONDSEY CUTS STALL RATES Southwark Council has reduced the cost of stands at Bermondsey Market, by half from 1 November 2008 to 31 January 2009, to attract more traders to the Friday Bermondsey Market in London which has now returned to Bermondsey Square. Stands will now cost £25.

GOTHIC EXHIBITION OPENS The exhibition of gothic furniture being staged by Newark Antiques Warehouse in Nottinghamshire, is now open and will run until 22 November, 2008.. The exhibition can be viewed on Newark Antiques Warehouse web site via Trade Index or for more information about the exhibition see Latest Features – Furniture via Home Page link.

GOOD FURNITURE SALES AT CHESTER FOR PENMAN Some of the furniture dealers bucked the trend by having their best ever sales at a fair at the recent Chester Fine Art and Antiques Fair organised by Caroline Penman held at the County Grandstand at Chester Racecourse from 23 – 26 October, 2008. Footfall at the Fair was within a few pairs of feet from the last Fair. Jewellery of all styles and paintings continued to sell well for the exhibitors, many of whom are regulars, including Shapiro, Jeffrey Neal, T Robert, Sue Killinger, Hebeco, Trivette and Nicholas Shaw. For a full list of exhibitors, see Penman Fairs web site via Trade Index.

SUCCESS IN THE WEST FOR NEW FAIR The eagerly awaited first members’ fair for WEADA, the West of England Antique Dealers’ Association, which took place from 24 - 26 October, 2008 at Taunton School, proved to be a success for most of the 35 exhibitors with some important sales of paintings, engravings and clocks. Jewellery followed the current trend and sold well all weekend, and the ceramics dealers enjoyed a very good Fair. Furniture dealers reported some sales, though sales of large furniture was not as buoyant as other areas of the trade. WEADA spokesman Martin Dearden of Pennard House confirmed that a date and venue for the next members' fair in 2009 would be announced shortly and that the Association looked forward to working with Cooper Events again next time.

PIMLICO DATES FOR BADA Two events take place in Pimlico, London SWI, at the same time from 5 - 15 November, 2008, as part of the BADA 90 Years of Excellence exhibitions. Anthony Outred’s “Knock Knock” is a special collection of antique brass door furniture to celebrate the opening of the new antique metalware department at the showroom at number 72 Pimlico Road, while at number 70 Julian Simon has mounted an exhibition titled “A Private Eye” featuring a personal collection of 20th century Modern Primitive paintings including work by Poucette, Montoya, Bombois and Murray.

GOOD NEWS FOR EXPORTS TO THE USA British antique dealers wishing to revive their business with American buyers have good news today, 29 October 2008, with the exchange rate at $1.55 to the pound. The autumn season for American trade has been particularly quiet this year with very few buyers travelling across the pond. The general feeling among the UK trade is that the greatly improved exchange rate and the anticipated stability a new President might bring, gives hope for an improvement in trade for early 2009.

eBay BANS SALE OF IVORY Online auction site eBay has banned the sale of all ivory products including most antiques from its pages beginning January 2009. The decision came just hours after a new report released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which showed internet sales of such goods is posing a significant risk to the survival of elephants and other endangered species. Limited exceptions such as pianos which contain a small amount of ivory relative to their total mass will continue to be traded. However the eBay has said such items must have been made before 1900. A statement on the eBay blog said “the sale of any ivory on our site continued to be a concern within the company and among stakeholders.” The IFAW report, titled "Killing With Keystrokes" followed a six-week investigation which found more than seventy percent of all endangered species’ products listed for sale on the Internet occur in the United States, nearly ten times the amount traded in the next two leading countries, the U.K. and China.

CHRISTIES CREDIT CUT BACK Regular trade buyers who have enjoyed informal credit arrangements with Christie's were told this week that they must settle accounts in full before collecting purchases. Christie's informed clients that this was a temporary measure forced upon them by their bank and that the new terms and conditions were available for inspection.

DMG SELLS ATG, ANTIQUE WEEK AND ANTIQUE WEST Private Equity Partners, Matrix,(MPEP) has backed the management buy-out of Metropress, the publisher of the Antiques Trade Gazette, from Daily Mail and General Trust, DMG. The management buy-out team of four consists of the managing director, editor-in-chief, sales director and finance director. DMG have also announced their intention to sell the USA published titles Antique Week and Antique West. In July, 2008, DMG sold back Palm Beach - America's International Fine Art & Antiques Fair to its original owners, the Lester family.

SHUTTERS DOWN AT THE MALL The Mall, former home to over 30 dealers and famous worldwide, now stands empty following the eviction of the last of the traders from the iconic building in Islington, North London. Local council spokesman James Kempton said “this is a very sad day for Islington and London”. The owners of the building, property developers London and Associated Properties, LAP, are thought to be trying to convert the two floors of the building into single units to sell to a multi national chain. LAP’s original application to obtain Listed Buildings consent to remove individual shop units was refused and will be appealed at a public inquiry due to be held 9-10 December, 2008 at The Crescent Suite, Highbury, 70 Ronald’s Road, London N5.

LAPADA CONFIRMS BERKELEY SQUARE FOR 2009 FAIR Following protracted negotiations taking nearly a year, LAPADA has announced that their flagship annual event, The LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair, will take place from 24 – 27 September, 2009 in a highly visible and spectacular purpose built marquee in Berkeley Square in the very heart of London’s Mayfair. Sarah Percy Davies, Chief Executive of LAPADA, said that the new venue had been received with great enthusiasm by the exhibitors who are “more than ready to take on the new move”. The venue can cater for up to 90 stands.