EDEN’S GIVING AWAY 50 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE LONDON ART & ANTIQUES FAIR, OLYMPIA
The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia returns for its 25th year this year giving art and antique enthusiasts the chance to purchase often never displayed pieces from some of the best dealers in the UK. Running from 26th June until 2nd July it is heralded a key event in the London art calendar.
If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a pair of free tickets worth £40, then email us: Marketing@edenprivatestaff.com – be sure to mark the headline as ART & ANTIQUES COMPETITION
Demystifying the Art & Antiques world
Hard to believe it’s a year since the last London Art & Antiques Fair at Olympia, but it is and once again Eden has been talking to Fair Director Mary Claire Boyd. Here’s her take on a first time buyers’ guide to antiques, how to buy, focusing on negotiating, how to tell if it’s a genuine article and the importance of vetting…
The Art & Antiques world can certainly seem mysterious to those outside it. Many people’s knowledge is based on rare viewings of daytime TV programmes whose primary objective is to provide drama not information. But it is a wonderful world to enter and can provide a lifetime of passion and learning. You can visit every major fair and exhibition and check all the auction results or dip in and out when your time allows.
Art & Antiques fairs are a wonderful entry point with so much variety, which if you don’t yet know your taste is a perfect place to start. And don’t assume that just because they are elegant and beautiful the prices are all beyond your budget. It is very possible, even at the major London fairs like Olympia to buy unframed paintings for around £100. Looking at the more important and expensive works will begin to train your eye to understand what a really good work is.
Just from an interiors view point a room without any paintings on the walls looks incomplete and lacks soul. Interior designers know this and are often found shopping for clients at Olympia. They know that just one piece of antique furniture, even in a very modern setting will make a space sing. You can always ask a dealer if you can take a piece on spec to see if it fits into a space. Many good furniture dealers are also interior designers and brilliant at placing the right piece in the right place. Think laterally as well, sometimes a textile on a wall can give a room lovely warmth and texture.
Don’t be intimidated by dealer’s knowledge, learn from it, use it. They have probably been studying their area for over 20 years and are happy to talk about the history of a work and why it is special. This will help you understand the price. Pricing can seem mysterious as every piece is unique so has to be priced as such but it will be affected by rarity, materials (oils paintings are more valuable than prints), craftsmanship and, like so many other things, current taste and fashion.
For anyone, making their first purchase is daunting and fraught with doubt but there are things you can do to protect yourself. The art and antiques world has two key trade associations, BADA and LAPADA. Buying from someone who is a member of one of one of these will greatly reduce your chance of buying a fake. Similarly, major London fairs have a strict ‘vetting’ policy to help visitors. This means that before the fair opens to the public, a team of over 100 experts have checked every single piece to check that is genuine and of sound quality.
Your taste will evolve, but be warned, buying art and antiques is an addiction but a very rewarding one that can often prove to be a savvy investment. In terms of price, if the dealer has had the piece for some time and is keen to sell it you may get a lower price but be aware that if it is new stock that is well priced already, there may be no room for negotiation.
Buy the best you can afford and you will never regret it.
