Visiting the LAPADA Antiques Fair

Hot-footing it back from yesterday’s action packed and exhausting – yet highly enjoyable – Antiques Roadshow at Winchester Cathedral, next up on the agenda was a visit to London’s prestigious LAPADA antiques fair in Berkeley Square. Although no nightingales were singing, there was plenty to entertain, tempt and fascinate. I was joined by Judith Miller and our Roadshow colleague and good friend Steven Moore, who is also Senior Specialist at premier regional auction house Anderson & Garland.
Exhibitors in the smart pavilion, attended by handsome doormen in top hats and tails, certainly didn’t disappoint. The somewhat dark photo above shows Judith and I in front of  stunning selection of postwar Czech glass at Jeanette Hayhurst’s stand. This must be the first time this glass has been seen at such a prestigious fair, and it just goes to show how far this glass has come in the past few years since the Hi Sklo Lo Sklo exhibition. As one would expect, only the best was available, with pieces by now much-respected names such as Adolf Matura, Pavel Hlava, and Vladimir Zahour on display at prices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. It’s great to see this glass receiving the recognition it deserves from such an experienced and highly respected dealer.
We also admired Garrett & Hurst’s superb selection of sculpture, salivated over Art Deco delights from Gazelles of Lyndhurst, perused Roadshow colleague Lennox Cato’s fabulous furniture, and admired and desired Hickmet’s tantalising treasures. I was particularly taken with a rare set of mid-century modern Gio Ponti jugs, inspired by the Antique, at De Parma, and Marilyn Garrow’s fine and rare antique textiles.
Lots of us are put off by fairs like this, thinking them too grand, snooty or dramatically over-priced. Not so – that’s a myth that reality and recession broke years ago – you’ll just see the best. If you don’t believe me, come along next time and see for yourself.