When:
22-27 January 2013
Where:
Battersea Evolution (The Marquee), Battersea Park, London SW11
The Winter Decorative Fair in Battersea Park will be putting on the glitz as the Foyer display focuses on the fabulous Hollywood style of the inter- war years.
Glittering waterfall chandeliers, mirrored furniture, curvaceous sofas upholstered in luscious velvets and ‘hostess’ chairs in gleaming satin button-back upholstery will be set against a bold Art Deco backdrop of black, white and silver. Cocktail hour and all its appurtenances – classic shakers, glasses and gleaming trays – will feature as will early airline travel, with vintage luggage and posters.
Luxury materials such as birds-eye maple, shagreen, leather, lacquer and parchment will highlight the elegant furnishings. The tone of the display will reference the glamorous black and white films of Fred & Ginger, the lavish interiors of S.S. Normandie and the famous
Hollywood interiors of William (Billy) Haines, which he created for the likes of Carol Lombard and Joan Crawford. Stock for sale in the foyer display will be drawn from some of the 140 exhibitors taking part in the Fair that specialise in this look, such as Jeroen Markies (art deco), Fiona McDonald (C20th design), Le Style 25 (C20th lighting & mirrors), Monika (fine costume jewellery & bags), Quindry (C20th with an emphasis on French style), C20C (furniture & lighting), Tim Smith-Vincent (smaller furniture, lighting & collectable glass and ceramics), Antikbar (posters), Kiki Design (C20th design, chic textiles & select antiques) and L & V Art and Design (C20th furniture and art).
The Autumn Fair (October 2nd-7th) was a roaring success. Rose Tarlow, the American interior design doyenne, shopped furiously on opening day. Good traditional English country pieces sold fantastically well. Dealers in 20th century design did a brisk trade in smart furniture, while lighting and mirrors stole the show. Exhibitors will be re-stocking their supplies in the coming months, and the wide selection in January will not disappoint: from 18th century oak and walnut to 21st century works of art.
Visitors can banish the winter blues by finding a stunning statement accessory, a modern or contemporary painting, an elegant and original item of furniture, or find smaller collectable items at reasonable prices. At the Autumn Fair, really quite traditional accessories were very popular, such as treen, oak side tables, candle boxes, corner cupboards and open shelves. Fontaine, who brought a literal ‘cabinet of curiosities’ in October filled with treen, plaster models, small pictures and a multitude of ephemera, sold like mad, and Andrew Collier, who sells oddities, curiosities and gentleman’s paraphernalia such as vintage and antique glassware, silver, candlesticks, chess sets and mirrors practically sold out. With prices for many of these items starting at around £25, anyone can afford to leave the fair with a treasure.
