LONDON.- Returning to Berkeley Square for the ninth year this September, the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair brings together the very best that Britain’s thriving art and antiques trade has to offer. Attracting thousands of visitors from both the UK and across the world, the Fair is a must-visit fixture in the capital’s autumn art season.

Over 110 LAPADA members will showcase an exquisite range of works across an array of disciplines, from fine art, furniture and contemporary works to decorative arts, jewellery and antiquities. As LAPADA members, each exhibitor adheres to the Association’s strict Code of Practice and every item is vetted by the specialist vetting committee. This ensures the authenticity and quality of each and every item and allows visitors to buy with confidence.

With items ranging in price from £500 to £500,000, the Fair appeals to both amateur enthusiasts and distinguished collectors. Below is a selection of highlights of works that will be available.

A rare self-portrait of 18th century British artist Joseph Wright of Derby, originally believed to be a portrait by a ‘follower of Joshua Reynolds’ from The Parker Gallery.
Purchased at auction, this painting was originally catalogued as being by a ‘Follower of Joshua Reynolds’, but was later revealed by Archie Parker of the The Parker Gallery, to be a genuine self-portrait by the renowned British artist Joseph Wright of Derby . The discovery, a rarity for 18th century works by high-profile British artists, has been traced back to 1793, when records indicate that Wright gifted it to the Rev. Thomas Gisborne of Yoxall.

Gisborne was a close friend of Wright’s and had amassed an extensive collection of paintings and drawings by the artist, including a portrait featuring Gisborne and his wife, two landscapes of the Lake District (subsequently at Kedleston Hall) and a painting of Mount Vesuvius.

In 1793, Wright presented Gisborne with a self-portrait that had, until now, disappeared from view; its existence only known from a copy belonging to the collection of Sir John Crompton-Inglefield. A Latin inscription on the copy’s reverse reads: ‘Joseph Wright the artist presented this painting by his own hand as a gift to his friend T. Gisborne in the year of Our Lord 1793 and 59th of his age’. The newly discovered self-portrait is almost certainly the missing original that inspired the copy, and was later reproduced as the frontispiece of the 1885 monograph, The Life and Works of Joseph Wright A.R.A. commonly called “Wright of Derby”.

A large and remarkably complete Sabre tooth cut skull, ‘Machairodus giganteus’, dating to the late Miocene, circa 5-10 million years ago from ArtAncient.
This unusually large and remarkably complete skull of the iconic prehistoric predator Machairodus Giganteus, often called ‘the king of the Sabre-tooths’, dates back to the Late Miocene, circa 5-10 million years ago.

An extremely rare find, this is the first time a skull of this type has been offered for sale in the UK. The last similar example of any significance was auctioned at a Bonhams Natural History Sale in Los Angeles in 2011 and reached $116,500 (£90,061).

A collection of glass sculptures by Salvador Dali and the Daum glassworks from Sylvia Powell Decorative Arts
French glass company Daum is known as one of the major forces for innovative glassmaking from the Art Nouveau movement to the present. As part of its groundbreaking approach, Daum worked with famous sculptors, designers and painters to create limited edition sculptures. One such artist was Salvador Dali, who produced glass sculptures called ‘pâte de verre’ – an ancient glassmaking technique dating back to Ancient Egypt that gives a wax-like appearance to the glass – between 1968 and 1984.

Sylvia Powell Decorative Arts will be exhibiting six of these glassworks at the LAPADA Fair. In Dali’s typically surrealist style, the works are in a vivid colour palette of bright lime greens, blues, purples and aqua.

The glass will be shown alongside some of the most famous photographic works of the artist. These will include the iconic image by Philippe Halsman originally published in LIFE magazine, which has been described as ‘the photo that changed modern portraiture’. The striking image is inspired by Dali’s ‘Leda Atomica’ and features an elaborate scene with a floating chair and in-progress easel suspended by thin wires.

A gentleman’s 18ct gold wristwatch by Patek Philippe, owned by American actor and World War II naval officer, Douglas Fairbanks Jnr from Spicer Warin
Featuring a two-tone ivory and gold dial with Roman numerals, adjustable 18ct gold mesh bracelet and back cover engraved with ‘D.F. JR.’, this 18ct gold gentleman’s wristwatch is from the estate of Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. The movement, case and dial are all signed by Patek Philippe.

The watch is accompanied by an image of Fairbanks Jnr wearing the watch in the company of Marlene Dietrich. He was in the midst of an affair with the German actress and singer when he met his future wife, Mary Lee Hartford.

Fairbanks Jnr began his career as an actor with Paramount Pictures when he was only 14 years old. He went on to star alongside greats such as Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Loretta Young and Katharine Hepburn. When America joined the Second World War he was appointed special envoy to South America and was awarded the United States Navy’s Legion of Merit, the Italian War Cross for Military Valor and the British Distinguished Service cross amongst others.

A rare portrait of Air Vice-Marshal James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson by LH Wells, oil on canvas from MacConnal-Mason
Air Vice Marshal James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson was the most successful RAF pilot of the Second World War. Despite missing the Battle of Britain due to an earlier broken collarbone and only starting his RAF career in 1941, Johnson brought down at least 34 enemy Warcraft during his time as a pilot. With a reputation for regularly crediting younger pilots with a victory to boost their confidence, it is more than likely his true tally is much, much higher.

The incredibly fine portrait of Johnson was painted in 1945 at Lubeck in Nothern Germany by Leonard Harry Wells. Capturing Johnson’s gravitas with a seriousness of expression that avoids any sense of triumphalism, it is a fitting tribute to one of the most outstanding British pilots in history.

Wells was born in Nottingham and trained at the Nottingham School of Art before furthering his studies at the Royal Academy Schools. A portrait painter of some note, a number of his works are exhibited in Braintree Museum in Essex.

Petite Fille by Pablo Picasso, decoupage, double-sided pencil drawing on card, circa 1937-1940, exhibited by Fairhead Fine Art
This drawing of a small girl in a skirt with arm outstretched was created by Pablo Picasso for his daughter Maya. Drawn when she was between two and five years old, the little girl is almost certainly Maya herself.

Though minimalist in appearance, the work was designed to please his daughter. It is cut from a larger piece of paper folded over with both the front and back drawn upon. It is shown here on the reverse.

Picasso used childlike representations throughout his art, frequently of his daughter. Maya, now an elderly lady living in Paris, identified her late father’s works for many years.

A ‘Mira Flygel’ PH grand piano designed in 1931 by Poul Henningsen, made in 1932 by Andreas Christensen Flyger of Copenhagen, £145,000 from Hatchwell Antiques
Andreas Christensen started producing pianos in 1912, the company embraced modern Danish design and worked with the best contemporary architects, such as Torben Christensen and Alfred Skjøt-Pedersen. The company repeatedly collaborated with Danish architect and designer Poul Henningsen who designed this grand piano.

Henningsen (9 September 1894 – 31 January 1967), one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars, consulted with Danish Jazz pianist Leo Mathiesen with the design of this piano. Mathiesen complained that the solid lid of his piano made it hard to see his bass player during performances, so Henningsen designed the Perspex lid to solve the problem.

Known for its open design, the piano also allows the audience to see the hammers and dampers move while the piano is being played as opposed to a traditional black wooden box. The piano is an icon of 20th century design and is included in collections in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Danish Design Museum in Copenhagen.

A magnificent George III musical clock by Henry Borrell, circa 1795 from Howard Walwyn
This magnificent George III musical clock made specifically for the Ottoman market during the peak of English trade with the Ottomans towards the end of the 18th century.

It features a veneered turtle shell case decorated with entwined ormolu mounts and flanked by scroll corbels. The central pedestal supports a cylindrical tune selection dial with a flambeau finial above. This clock is the only known example of this design to feature a tune selector, in this case offering a choice of six tunes.

The main dial features chapters written in Turkish and is signed Marwick Markham and Borrell, London. The upper dial gives a strike/silent option.

Henry Borrell was a celebrated maker specialising in musical clocks, many of which were made for the Turkish market.

18ct yellow gold, platinum and diamond ‘en double’ tiara, circa 1900, from The Gilded Lily Jewellery Ltd
Acquired by Lewis 1st Viscount Harcourt for his wife in 1900, this tiara is made from 18ct yellow gold and platinum and is set with fine white diamonds.

One of the first examples of a tiara made ‘en double’ with gold and platinum rather than gold and silver, the tiara can be detached from its gold frame and worn as a necklace.

A George I giltwood secretaire cabinet, England, circa 1720 from Mackinnon Fine Art
This exceptional George I giltwood secretaire cabinet is attributed to the Royal cabinetmaker, James Moore the Elder.

Arguably one of the finest and most important surviving pieces of English furniture made in the 18th century, the gilt-gesso cabinet was made for export to the Portuguese Court during the reign of King Dom João V (r.1706-1750). The incredible craftsmanship of the cabinet suggests it was made for a noble if not royal patron, or perhaps even the king himself.

The gilt surface is carved and decorated throughout with gilt-gesso decorations, strap-work and foliage patterns. The walnut doors open to reveal a magnificent fitted interior with adjustable bookshelves, a fall front bureau and pigeonholes below a central arched drawer surrounded by small drawers. The cabinet also features an inset silk velvet writing area, an engraved brass lock-plate and boldly carved paw feet.

A set of 19 rare Marcello Fantoni vases and lamp bases from 3details
This impeccable group of 19 studio vases and lamp bases by celebrated mid-century ceramicist Marcello Fantoni (1915 – 2011), are of perfect provenance.

The collection was acquired directly from Fantoni’s Florentine studio from the ceramicist’s daughter. Peter Woodward of 3details, a dealer in 20th century design, fine art and decorative antiques, will be showing them at the Fair with prices of individual works ranging from £900 to £5,000.

Woodward said of the collection: “It’s not often you are able to source a group of this significance directly from a late ceramicist’s own studio. The collection is a particularly beautiful one and deserves to be seen by a large number of individuals who can appreciate its worth; thus, the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair is the place to unveil it.”

A superbly preserved bronze statue of the goddess Venus, circa 3rd century AD, £65,000, from Ancient & Oriental
Immaculately preserved with original bronze stand, this Roman statue of the goddess Venus dates from the 3rd century AD. The goddess is stood in a contrapposto position with her left leg slightly bent. In her left hand she holds an apple and in the right a mirror which she is tilting her head towards. Her long hair, which falls over her shoulder in curls, is arranged in a High Classical manner with the bow she wears in many of her likenesses, most notably the Aphrodite of Knidos. Her proportions likely coincide with the High and Late Classical 1:7 or 1:8 canon.

Of excellent quality, the statue is modelled on Greek examples of the 4th century BC, and features the visible influence of the Classical period in Greek art. The statue is in extremely fine condition, with a deep green patina covering the entire surface.

Rare glass goblet from a suite of 24, likely to be J. & L. Lobmeyr, circa 1900, Bohemia, from Brian Watson Antique Glass
This single goblet is from a suite which would have been made in around 1900 in Bohemia. Though not signed, the Renaissance quality of the pattern is usually associated with the great J. & L. Lobmeyr, which still produces some of the most desirable glass sold today.

The colours used in the enameling of the flowers and the gilding are very typical of Lobmeyr’s work of the period. It was possibly part of a special commissioned service and is likely to be from a suite of 24 featuring water, red wine, white wine, champagne and liquer glasses along with finger bowls, saucers, decanters and carafes. A truly impressive display on the table, the example exhibited by Brian Watson Antique Glass at the LAPADA Fair appears to be the last surviving goblet.

18ct yellow gold and carved gemstone Bvlgari necklace, £21,500 from Nigel Milne
This stunning 18ct yellow gold necklace incorporates three pink tourmalines, three green tourmalines, three citrines and two aquamarines in carved gemstone sections.

Signed and numbered by Bvlgari, it is believed to have been made between 1895 and 1900. In superb condition, the necklace weighs a total of 173.5 grams with an overall length of 45 cm.

A collection of mixed media artworks featuring Renaissance scenes by Maria Torroba, from Rebecca Hossack
Initially a painter of nature studies in watercolour, Madrid-born Maria Torroba has recently shifted her focus to imagery of the Renaissance, the golden age of Spain and other European nations.

Drawing on the traditions of portraiture from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, Torroba has embraced textile media by juxtaposing oil paint with fabric collage. Her works incorporate Spanish and Belgian linens, antique lace embroidered by her grandmother, ribbons, hessian, shells, jewellery and papers that reference both Renaissance motifs and contemporary media.

Very rare red tortoiseshell tea caddy with engraved solid silver, circa 1780, £17,850, from Hampton Antiques
This incredibly rare tea caddy features a complex shape created using a single piece of striking red tortoiseshell. With stunning silver mounts and beautifully engraved silver edging, escutcheon and ring pull handle, it features a fully working lock, tasseled key and still contains traces of its tin foil lining.

The silver edge on the opening of the caddy features a hinge expertly incorporated into the design and the interior contains a single floating tortoiseshell lid with turned bone handle.