Back in April, a year-long, nationwide project reached a sparkling and exciting peak as we announced the ‘Antiques Young Gun’ of the year for 2013. Many think the antiques world is dry, dusty and staid and certainly not a place for career driven, intelligent and entrepreneurial young people. Not so! In fact, there are many more than you’d think – and as well as being the future of the trade, they’re thriving! The competition was open to anyone under 39 years of age who makes their living from the world of antiques, vintage or collectables. We had hundreds of entries from across the spectrum, including people who are working for auction houses, learning how to be restorers, organising regional and international fairs and, of course, dealing. Our youngest entrant was 17! You can read more about the call to arms and the prizes on offer by clicking here.
The competition was part of National Antiques Week 2013 and was organised by Gail McLeod of Antiques News & Fairs, George Johnson of Lady Kentmores, and me. We were grateful for the support and sponsorship of many prestigious and leading antiques organisations including the BADA, LAPADA, the Antiques Trade Gazette, Antiques Are Green, Miller’s and the Decorative Antiques Fair. The latter was the location for the evening award ceremony itself, and owner David Juran kindly donated a huge stand in the foyer for the Young Guns to sell or exhibit stock in.
The award ceremony was held in association with Homes & Antiques magazine’s ‘Antiques Shop of the Year’ awards and, on the night itself, over 250 people from across the industry arrived to see who had won. We were lucky that über-designer and de facto celebrity himself Nicky Haslam agreed to present the awards. See below for photographs of the deserving and delighted winners.
The stand was successful too. Sales were thick and fast on the first day and continued to the point that the stand soon needed to be restocked. Our Young Guns certainly have their fingers on the antiques pulse! That bodes well for the next event – a special Antiques Young Guns pavilion at the Autumn Antiques For Everyone Fair at the NEC, Birmingham, from 31st October until 3rd November.
We’re also very excited about launching the Antiques Young Guns website later this year, which will become a hub for young people working in, or wanting to work in, the antiques industry. There’ll be a members forum for sharing information, tips and contacts, profile pages for all Antiques Young Gun members, and interactive links to shops allowing you buy the hottest and best antiques from our Young Guns direct. Watch this space!
