LONDON.- A range of works from classic antique furniture to contemporary and modern pieces have gone on show at the BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair in The Duke of York Square, off Sloane Square, London SW3, from 19 – 25 March 2014. The BADA Fair is the only internationally renowned event exclusive to members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association, representing the UK’s leading specialists, and as such has built an unrivalled reputation for quality. This year the Fair, which is held in London’s most fashionable district, sees its exhibitors bring their best pieces to put on display. There is also a unique loan exhibition of 50 military portrait miniatures entitled In Love and War: The Story of the Military Miniature Portrait.

The finest furniture from across the centuries is represented at the BADA Fair. Godson & Coles brought a magnificent regency period specimen marble and carved giltwood centre table, English, circa 1820. The circular specimen marble top is profusely inlaid with 161 coloured stones in concentric rings, including imperial porphyry, granites, serpentines, alabasters and semi-precious stones, as well as marbles. The table comes from the estate of Dodie Rosekrans, the international society hostess, haute couture collector and fine arts supporter whose patronage was felt from the San Francisco Bay Area to Paris and Venice. She was also the daughter of Michael Naify the creator of United Artists. Holly Johnson brought two unusual glass pieces by Danny Lane. Lane’s furniture involves stacked and fractured glass and Lane and was one of the architects of the avant guarde furniture movement of the 1980’s.

The highest quality antique jewellery is a highlight of this year’s BADA Fair, with Sandra Cronan bringing an exceptional peacock feather necklace by Boucheron with Royal Russian provenance. Set with a sapphire, emeralds and diamonds, the feather is detachable and may be worn as a brooch or hair ornament. It is believed to have been made for, and purchased by, Grand Duke Alexis of Russia from Frédéric Boucheron in Paris in 1883 for 14,000 Francs. Anthea AG Antiques brought a 1940s pair of Burma ruby and diamond clips set in 18 carat gold and signed Tiffany & Co, an excellent example of 1940s jewellery. She also brought a remarkable mid Victorian garnet necklet set in I8 carat gold.

A range of exceptional paintings and drawings are also present at the BADA Fair. Walker’s Gallery brought Velsheda, just Astern of Astra, off the Needles, with Candida trailing Astern, an oil on canvas, work by John Stephen Dews (b. 1949), Britain’s most sought after living marine artist. The J-class yacht Velsheda was laid up in 1937 and re-launched after a complete rebuild in 1997. This subject is treated by Stephen Dews who shows the Velsheda during the heyday of the J-Class yacht races. Godson & Coles brought Drawing for Pierced Form (May) 1964 by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903 – 1975) which is signed, titled and inscribed on the reverse and is a stunning study for one of her iconic sculptures and an insight into the process of this great artist.

A unique loan exhibition of rarely seen military portrait miniatures entitled In Love and War: The Story of the Military Miniature Portrait, is being hosted at the BADA Fair. Portrait miniatures flourished during the 16th to the 19th centuries. This exhibition of miniatures, all sourced from a private collection, focuses on the British military uniform and the language it speaks to those who understand it.