WITH three major fairs, The Olympia
International Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Art Antiques London and
Masterpiece, London’s summer fairfest looks stronger than ever this year and
first up is the most venerable, Olympia, which will be held for the 40th
time in the West London exhibitions complex from June 7 to 17.
For years a favourite of many, Olympia rather
lost direction for a while but last year it was right back on form and not only
looked good but saw bumper sales for many of the 110 exhibitors.
This June Olympia has gone right back to its
roots as a quality, broadly-based event and has attracted more than 200
exhibitors, including some notable returnees like the eminent London 20th
century design specialist Gordon Watson and top Australian dealer John Hawkins.
Hawkins will bring the most expensive item at
the fair, The Duchess of Norfolk’s toilet service by Benjamin Pyne, priced at
£1.5m and thought to be the most important surviving complete suite of
fully-documented Queen Anne silver.
Among those making their debut are Nicholas
Haslam and Mullany.
Expect a new, modernised look with an increased
quota of contemporary, decorative and design-based dealers.
Good
to have Olympia back on track.