LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair, London’s premier art and antiques event, returned to Mayfair from 22nd-27th October 2024 with gusto, exceeding visitor targets.
The Fair opened with a sell-out preview day resulting in a 30% uplift on last year. Attendance remained strong throughout the week with the event drawing particularly large numbers on the weekend.
LAPADA, the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, is the largest society of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK. It is a trusted resource for private collectors and the art and antiques trade in the UK and 16 other countries around the world. Established in 1974 it boasts over 500 worldwide members, who are experts in their fields, with specialities ranging from fine art, jewellery and furniture to contemporary works, sculpture and ceramics.
Freya Simms, Chief Executive of LAPADA, said: “The results from this year’s LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair demonstrate the strength and trust placed in the LAPADA brand and the growing appeal of fine art and antiques in London sold through our members. Our 2024 visitor numbers were up by over 30%, compared to last year. This exceptional turnout translated into strong sales across the board, from Gray M.C. A’s sell-out of iconic fashion prints to major six-figure sales by first-time exhibitor Puritan Values. It was particularly heartening to see a new generation of collectors, including our youngest buyer, aged 10, who made her first purchase—a beautiful bronze model of a bull from Elliot Davies Fine Art.”
Highlight Exhibitor Successes:
- Gray M.C.A sold out their entire stand of original fashion prints by 20th-century master’s on opening night.
- MacConnell-Mason sold a significant Churchill statue from their collection.
- Freya Mitton sold a Ken Howard oil on canvas painting of Piazza San Marco in the high four figures.
- Puritan Values, exhibiting for the first time, saw notable six-figure sales on opening day and again on Saturday.
- Paul Vanstone sold four sculptures, totalling £47,000, two to the same Middle Eastern buyer.
- The Peartree Collection recorded multiple sales, including a Paul Bonnaud Limoges enamel plaque after an original pre-Raphaelite oil painting by William Waterhouse for £4000, a rare A E Jones 1903 English silver and copper arts and crafts casket with Ruskin Pottery insert to the lid priced at £5,000 and an elegant Kate Harris designed 1900 art nouveau English silver cafe au lait set for £5,000.
- Elliot Davies Fine Art made headlines with the fair’s youngest collector, aged 10, who purchased a £1,250 bronze “Model of a Bull” circa 1850-1900.
- Wakelin & Linfield sold an early 19th century wool work picture depicting a lion in a landscape – the human-like face possibly referencing Nelson. England. C.1805 for just under £10,000.
Tony Gearing, Puritan Values, first time exhibitors at the Fair said: “LAPADA’S 50th Anniversary Fair was the very first time we exhibited. Installing the George Trollope and Sons panelled room set was a real challenge particularly that it was our first time here, and to win the ‘Best Stand Award’ was a very special honour that my passionate team and I will all cherish for life. It was the most successful antique fair ‘hands down’ that Puritan Values has ever exhibited at. We sold 25 important works of art by the best designers and makers from the British Arts and Crafts movement, gothic revival and aesthetic movement periods. It was hard work, but we all enjoyed the LAPADA experience, and it was such a great atmosphere throughout the show.”
Fair Highlights and Awards:
The fair’s prestigious Selection Committee Awards celebrated the exceptional diversity and craftsmanship of exhibitors. Awards were presented for the following categories: - Best Stand: Puritan Values, with a remarkable display featuring a fireplace and panelled room by George Trollope & Sons, marking a winning first time at LAPADA.
- Best Ceramic: MADEINBRITALY’S Byzantium Moon Jar by Bottega Vignoli stunned the judges with its intricate design and detail.
- Best Gemstone: Carol Tresor’s 120-million-year-old Amethyst geode with calcite, one of the Fair’s oldest items.
- Best Jewellery: The Peartree Collection’s Georgian silver gilt necklace by Georgie Gaskin proved a winner showcasing classic arts & crafts design.
- Best Silver: Elliot Davies Fine Art’s rare Viking hoard of silver artefacts from circa 800-1100 AD.
- Best Furniture: Callaghans of Shrewsbury’s one-of-a-kind hall console by Carlo Bugatti, circa 1902.
- Best Fine Art: Arte Globale’s ‘Hear and Now’ by Domenico Ludovico, crafted in White Marble of Carrara Nuvolato.
The fair’s first ever LAPADA Fringe event and collaboration with luxury wallpaper designer Fromental introduced a fresh dimension to this year’s offerings. The Berkeley Square Collective stand, curated by Stephanie Barba Mendoza, featured Fromental’s new “Nobuko” design, along with exceptional art and antiques and a bespoke London-themed Steinway & Sons grand piano, which proved a major attraction, and provided a great backdrop to sell multiple pieces including a set of chairs from Butchoff Antiques. Set in prestigious Mayfair, known for its luxury retailers, galleries, and private clubs, the Fringe created local partnerships with nearby venues, including Handel & Hendrix, Browns, Tamarind, Hackett, and Heywood Hill Books, enhancing the experience for guests.
See also: A Culinary Experience With The Macallan
