LONDON.- The 47th edition of The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (June 19-18) was extended in 2019 by exhibitor demand and got off to a strong start on the preview day with some of the star pieces selling early, and steady sales over the duration of the fair. Fair Director, Mary Claire Boyd, commented, 'Larger pieces that tend to display especially well at fairs sold well, as did the smaller decorative pieces. In the context of what are undeniably difficult times for trading, the overall results were positive.'

Furniture sales were strong on the first few days of the 10 day fair. David Bedale sold a grand-scale mahogany side table, a sofa, a 19th century stone bench and antique lighting on the preview day and continued selling and re-stocking until the end. Hansord sold a Chippendale period mahogany writing table, c1770 on opening day. James Brett Antiques sold well over the 10 days including larger pieces such as a George III Breakfront Bookcase at almost 4 metres long and a Partners Desk dated 1790. Geoffrey Stead sold one of his most unusual and largest pieces, a 2 metres 57cm high, late 19th century mother of pearl Syrian mirror to a House and Garden festival visitor. Anthony Fell sold one of his most interesting pieces, a 17th century marquetry chest, amongst other pieces.

Old oak furniture specialist, Peter Bunting sold well on the first day and noted that there were 'more decorators' shopping. US Decorators, Geoffrey Bradfield and Rose Tarlow, were spotted at the fair, as were UK interior designers Rita Konig, Mark Gillette, India Hicks and Nina Campbell amongst others. Robin Martin Antiques sold 'a number of small pieces and a larger piece of furniture' on preview day. First time exhibitors, Alexander George Fine Antiques, were 'delighted' with the fair, having made sales (including a 17th century bracket clock by Jonathan Lowndes to a new customer for around the £30,000 mark) and made some excellent potential clients. They expected good follow-up business.

Neoclassical dealer, Craig Carrington traded well throughout including a North Italian console dated c1790 with a Jasper marble top. He sold a Sienna marble, large shell dish within five minutes of the piece appearing on his stand.

20th century furniture specialists, The Modern Warehouse, sold a Borge Mogensen 2213, early 1950s sofa on opening. They were delighted to sell this piece as it looked far more striking in reality that online so needed to be on display at a fair. He also sold a set of Borge Mogensen and Hans Wegner chairs to an interior designer. Art Deco furniture specialist, Jeroen Markies sold a 10-seater Hille dining table and matching display cabinet to a new customer from the House and Garden Festival. Other sales included an Epstein cocktail cabinet, sideboard, table and chairs destined for Cairo and an Art Deco 3-piece suite.

The fair ran alongside The House and Garden Festival for the first five days and business was brisk between the two events. Freya Mitton sold a Rowland Suddaby painting to a House and Garden visitor who had come solely to buy a rare cheese. In other art sales, Walker Galleries sold their most important piece, an oil by John Atkinson Grimshaw as well as a painting by Edouard Leon Cortes amongst various other sales. Oriel Fine Art sold a large oil on canvas by Tom Robertson of 'The St Ives Express' from the collection of the artist's daughter Marion.

Art dealer, Rebecca Hossack sold a large shells and mixed media work by Pamina Steward titled, ‘Conchitta 2009’. First time exhibitors, Kittoe Contemporary sold two large Kate Scott abstract collages, a Jo Berger pencil print and a Dan Priest landscape. Broadbent sold four limited edition screen prints by Anthony Benjamin. Collier Webb, the framing specialists who were exhibiting for the first time, generated considerable interest from interior designers and dealers.

Spanish exhibitor, Ruiz Linares sold a Still Life oil on canvas by Roberto F Balbuena and a pair of carved, gilt mirrors. They also sold a pair of 16th century Seville tiles to an English trade buyer. He was pleased with his first UK fair. Matthew Holder sold a good number of pieces over the week including a 1580 carved walnut coat of arms of Spain and an early 16th century misericord.

Timewise Vintage Watches reported selling a very rare, museum-quality, military watch that once belonged to a German Luftwaffe pilot from World War II. It was acquired from the family of a British officer who was part of the occupancy forces in Germany and sold to a private collector for around £10,000. Mayfair-based jeweller, Anthea AG Antiques Ltd commenting that 'good, wearable pieces sold to entirely new customers' on preview night and she continued well all through the fair.

Richard Price had a 'phenomenal day' mid week selling a number of his highest priced clocks including one of his best pieces, a Louis XVI marble mantle clock to a new customer. One client had been at Masterpiece that morning and other was a returning customer, originally from the House and Garden Festival the year before. Hickmet Antiques who tends to always do good business at Olympia, reported the fair as 'even better than usual', selling to some major new clients and securing some very important new international customers.

Collectors were keen to find the best pieces of ceramics and silver. Silver dealer, Mary Cooke Antiques Ltd sold her star piece, a soup tureen and several of their larger pieces including a very rare, 18th century saucepan and soufflé dish from 1838. Glass dealer, Brian Watson, sold across the board, including Georgian glass, Art Deco glass and sets of glasses, customers included an American buyer.

South African based exhibitor, The Old Corkscrew, sold to Switzerland, South Africa, Canada, England and Germany and reported solid sales across the board, in particular Indian silver. He also sold a large Kalahari 1950s wall charger to a new customer. Fellow silver dealer, Eastdale Antiques reported consistent sales to collectors and remarked that the fair had been 'better than expected'.

Ceramics dealer, Long Tran Antiques, sold his star piece within the first few hours of opening, a very rare Royal Worcester bust of Queen Victoria by celebrated maker James Hadley, dated 1887. The sale was to a lady who was an expert in Queen Victoria. Sue Norman sold a large foot-bath and a set of Lambeth Doulton plant pots to a client in Australia. She also sold a huge, very beautiful polychrome platter, circa 1820 on opening day.

Philip Carroll had a successful fair with notable sales including Japanese Cloissone items and Morgan Strickland reported a good fair based on volume of sales. Meissen specialist, Alexandra Alfandary noted an increased Asian contingent shopping at the fair and fellow Meissen specialist, Serhat Ahmet, reported good sales.

Returning to the fair after three years, textiles dealer, Aaron Nejad Gallery, was very happy with the fair, selling a good Kerman Laver rug for £3,500 to a South American lady, a good Lebanese textile to a Syrian collector for £3,100 and a Ukrainian Kilim (carpet) to an independent buyer for £5,000 amongst other sales.

Stephen Morris Shipping, always a good barometer of international and larger item sales said they had shipped off to Denmark, Taiwan, China, Australia, mainland Europe and America as well as Ireland and all across the UK.

The 2019 Winter Art & Antiques Fair runs from 4 – 10 November