Ardingly Antiques Fair Shines Amid Iffy Weather Start

ARDINGLY, WEST SUSSEX, UK

:Six times each year the South of England showground becomes the hallowed grounds for antiques hunters and sellers as they gather together for the short two-day market. Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fair was April 11-12 when it hosted more than 1,000 exhibiting dealers with 3,000-plus visitors on each of the day's shopping. Promoter dmg world media considers this the premier event of The South, that part of England south of London. This fair is the largest event as close the Capitol City, only a half hour train ride from Victoria Station so the visitors found it easily.

Tuesday morning began at the fair with some trepidation about the weather, as on Sunday afternoon there was a heavy snowfall, some five inches in the immediate area. Certain areas still had piles of the heavy wet snow on the ground and tent tops were bulging under the weight. As the sun's rays concentrated some heat on the wet frosty mix it left cold water puddles and dripping holes onto some of the displays but the day seemed to look OK for the outdoor aspects of this event.

Outside, dealers were unloading and beginning to make some trades as quickly as their collections were in view. An Art Deco frame in copper relief design sold to the first inquirer for $192. The dealer did not want to discuss the sale for he thought it was earlier than the promoter allowed sales, but that did not impede the transaction. Just a little further down the lane, a Welsh dealer Caroline Rowan of Llanghdog (she said it was pronounced shla-daa in her native Welsh tongue) had a Chippendale period and style grouping including a pair of side chairs for $218, an arm chair for $218 and drop leaf table with swing leg stays for $332.

Another furniture dealer was next with no single style in his collection. There was some French provincial from the middle of the Twentieth Century, a set of Victorian chairs and several pieces from the Georgian periods.

Eric Freestone of Suffolk has a nautical specialty to his collection; in fact all his offerings had something to do with the sea and boats. There was a complete set of signal flags in a specially made mahogany box, keeping each pennant in its own compartment. He had "a wooly," which was a textile, seemingly linen with wool thread woven into the profile of a Nineteenth Century sailing ship; and many other items from yachts and even cruise ships.

Georgian era furniture was available in great quantity and while that should not be surprising, here in the place where it all began, the prices were. Fine hardwood pieces 250 years old were selling here far below the prices demanded in US markets.

Antique Partnership of Suffolk was organizing its display between the drops of melting snow offering fine tables, stands and dressers. One display was a dressing table with a shaving mirror on it with very reasonable prices. Woodbine Antiques, Chilham, Kent, had a collection of tall case clocks as well as the furniture. The dealer was apparently an expert on clocks and their repair for he was quick with details about the movements and exactly what had been done to bring them into service. He added when he sold to Americans, he did the packing for the Atlantic crossing thereby ensuring their safe arrival.

It was interesting that pine furniture was selling for prices that seemed to indicate no fear of a soft market. Tinworth Antiques of Tonbridge had a pine dresser as he called it, but a piece that, in America, would be considered a kitchen server or hutch priced at $900 "to a dealer." It appeared to be a Nineteenth Century piece, which had been stripped of paint by chemical solutions and hard scraping, and it also sold in the first hour of the show. Another dealer was offering a large truckload of pine cupboards or wardrobes for prices ranging from $750 to $1,200. Simple three-drawer pine chests were available for $275, stripped of their paint with replacement white porcelain pulls.

In the various buildings the dealers were let in at 9:30 am with an activity that resembled something between the running of the bulls in Pamplona and Filene's Basement opening on its big sale days. The dealers were running with their props and merchandise to be set up and ready to sell as quickly as possible. There were no dealers found who did the show alone, as they had partners or helpers to aid in setting up and within about 15 or 20 minutes one would leave to begin shopping for the best deals.

The spaces in the buildings were small and did not encourage furniture dealers but were right for those with valuable small antiques. E. Roberts, a dealer who exhibited at Swinderby and Newark the week before, was offering early teddy bears from several makers. Jackin Hodgkinson from Tetsworth was offering early dishes, tea caddies and frames. Peter Edmonson from Lincolnshire collects early pewter. He had an unusual pewter well and tree platter dated 1750 with a London makers mark priced at $463.

Early leather luggage was the specialty of Nick Coggon of Sheffield. His bags were in various sizes and shapes for special purposes. Prices were attractive but their future uses were in doubt as, in one case, the fancy leather case was made to transport a ladies bustle, an item not in much demand today. Art glass was available and sold well to Italian and Austrian customers, according to one dealer.

Millas Antiques of Sussex was selling a collection of American made Nineteenth Century guns. A Winchester Model 94 was $2,900, Model 86 was $4,375 and an early mussel loader he called a Mississippi rifle was $5,000. The dealer explained there are very stringent rules covering the sale of firearms in the UK and, as such, the importing from America is very difficult and creates high values for those pieces that can be brought to England. Among other rules, the caliber must be no longer produced as ammunition.

Dealers here consider silver and early dishes as their stock and trade. It seems there is so much available in early dishes one could shop for their favorite pattern and make a full dining table setting by shopping from several dealers. The same could be true for silver service with exotic serving pieces and flatware.

This is a great shopping experience for antiques collectors and it might even work for the home decorator as there are shippers on site to assist in getting the purchases to America and Europe.

All transactions were in British pounds but have been reported here in US$ at the exchange rate at the time of the show of $1.75 = one pound.

Ardingly International Antiques and Collectables Fair happens six times a year generally about the second week of the odd numbered months but instead of May, it happens in April after Newark. For more information, www.dmgantiqueshows.com.