Why does the UK have so many antiques?
It
was the richest country in the world at various times during the
last three hundred years, and also the birthplace of the industrial
revolution.
Rich people in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries liked to buy hand
made quality goods, while the middle classes bought early mass produced
quality goods from within the UK - and all bought curiosities from
around the world.
The UK is and always has been a nation of collectors and did very
well from European instability after the 18th century, snapping
up bargains and hoarding as much as they could.
'History
is a cyclic poem written by time upon the memories of man'
Percy Bysshe Shelley
England
Pictures | London
Travel Guide | London
Pictures
Fine
and Decorative Arts
The
UK has more old relics per square mile than anywhere else in the
world, and some of them aren't politicians.
London is also the international centre for the fine and decorative
arts markets.
Good
quality items now tend to circulate within the upper echelons of
the market at unreal prices.
Bargains are still however available to the fortunate and well-informed
but are in ever shorter supply due to a long established and now
quite knowledgeable marketplace.
Auction
Houses
- there are hundreds in the UK, mostly in England, with three major
sale rooms [the three largest auctioneers in the world] based in
London:
Christies,
8 King Street, St. James's and 85 Old Brompton Road, London
Sotheby's,
34-35 New Bond Street, London
Bonhams,
New Bond Street, Bayswater, Chelsea and Knightsbridge, London
You
can examine items before sales on viewing days and usually a few
hours just before the sale, but at this time the rooms can be quite
crowded.
You usually need to pre-register for a bidding number before bidding
at the better quality sales, if you wish to purchase.
Antiques
Fairs and Markets - thousands, mainly fairs, mostly in England,
with a few really well known ones, several high quality regional
ones and lots of little ones.
Poshest - Grosvenor House Antiques Fair, Park Lane, London
Posh - Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair [2 a year]
Biggest Fair [in Europe] - Newark Antiques Fair, two days bimonthly.
Biggest Market [in the World] - Portobello Road Antiques Market,
London, every Saturday.
Fine
Art and Antique Dealers:
Dealers
range from the most knowledgeable in the world, with exquisite stocks,
to pile it high and sell it quick cowboys waiting to take you on
a ride, so be careful if you are not an experienced collector.
There
are several associations in the UK set up to protect both dealers
and buyers alike. Belonging to them can be quite expensive and they
do not guarantee complete freedom from foul play so some good dealers
may still not belong to them, but many do:
BADA [British Antique Dealers Association]
LAPADA [London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association]
Specialist
dealers travel all over the country but usually exhibit at the top
London or regional fairs.
Within
London the better known places for antiques shops and stalls are
Portobello Road, Camden Passage and central London in general, particularly
the West End.
Outside
London there are several places which are well known for a plethora
of antique shops including Honiton in Devon, Stow-in-the-Wold in
Gloucestershire and Petworth, West Sussex.
Historic Buildings London
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