Antiques Trade Gazette
3
Dealers and organisers agree on way forward for Olympia
■ Results of Forum debates and backing from BADA and LAPADA pave the way for June
Anna Brady reports
A JOINT initiative by Clarion Events and the Fairs Forum of dealers promises to re-establish the Summer Olympia fair as a broader- based marketplace this June.
The news came in a joint letter sent to
BADA and LAPADA members on March 7, which also sets out proposals for reducing stand costs by an average of 20% and introducing a sliding scale of stand rental rates to encourage more exhibitors to sign up. If exhibitor numbers exceed 180,
rates will be cut by a further 2.5%, with another 2.5% reduction above 220 exhibitors. The marketing levy for the event – a
serious of bone of contention among exhibitors last year – has also been halved
for exhibitors in the gallery, and Clarion are now committed to a vision that mixes the more affordable for both visitors and exhibitors, with the smarter design instigated last year. The Forum’s chairman, Suffolk-based
BADA Council member, Denzil Grant, said: “This is a positive result for the Forum and, although we had hoped for more, we are pleased with Clarion’s reaction to our requests. This means that a dealer may rent a stand of six square metres in the gallery at Olympia for the very reasonable sum of £2745, for ten days in London at the height of the Summer fairs season.” Exhibitors were also happy with the
changes. Pimlico Road dealer Christopher Jones said: “Well done to Olympia for moving back to its original format of supplying the international trade and interior decorators and for having more varied price points. If they get the same crowd as last year, I’ll be happy.” Meanwhile, Lincoln dealer John
Hansord said he liked the the trading aspect of the show. “Decorators enjoy it more than the more serious fairs,” he said. “It is more of a dealers’ fair than a connoisseurs’ fair. We are all there to sell things. I like the direction they are going
£37,000 pietra dura plaque continued from front page
Remarkably for such a high-status object, it was an over-the-counter consignment from a longstanding client who believed it had been in the family for at least two generations but held it in scant regard. There was some minor damage to the pietra dura frame but it was in wholly
original condition. Seven telephone lines (two from America, fi ve from Italy) plus fi ve bidders in
the room provided the competition. The buyer was an Italian dealer who is to send it to Southern Italy for further research in the hope of pinning down the artist or workshop.
in to offer more lower-priced pieces.” The success of the Clarion/Forum
discussions has also been evident from BADA and LAPADA’s announcements that they would be publicly backing the Olympia International Fine Art and Antiques Fair this June 9-19. The agreement between organisers
and exhibitors about the direction of the fair gives Olympia the opportunity it has been looking for to leave behind the problems associated with the future vision of the event, which have dogged it over the past few years. The Forum will continue to meet to
discuss fair-related issues and members can submit topics for debate by contacting their respective trade associations.
Shelley show to mark anniversary
STOKE on Trent will shortly host the largest exhibition of Shelley and Wileman ceramics since the factory’s closure in 1966. The event has been organised
by The Shelley Group charity to celebrate its 25th anniversary as a collector’s society for Shelley ceramic enthusiasts. The exhibition will follow the
company’s history and its production which spanned nearly 120 years and includes examples from artists and designers such as Frederick Rhead, Walter and Eric Slater, Hilda Cowham and Mabel Lucie Attwell. The exhibition will be held at the
Gladstone Pottery Museum, the home of the Shelley pottery, and will be open to the public from April 18 to May 1. Tel: 07761 131206.
www.shelley.co.uk
Supreme Court hears Star Wars copyright case
DETERMINING whether something is an artwork or not is at the centre of an appeal to the UK Supreme Court in a copyright dispute between Star Wars producer George Lucas and one of his former prop makers. Two years ago the High Court in
London threw out Mr Lucas’s claim that Andrew Ainsworth, who created the original Stormtrooper costumes for the 1977 fi lm, had breached copyright by selling replica outfi ts created from his original moulds. While acknowledging Mr Lucas’s claim
under US law, the court ruled that the costumes had a “utilitarian purpose” as props and were not artworks, so were not covered by English copyright law. Mr Lucas’s counsel have told the
Supreme Court that by accepting employment on the fi lm, it was implied that Mr Ainsworth could not retain copyright of objects he created for it. A ruling is expected in the next few
months. See the Back Page where Milton
Silverman refl ects on the diffi culty of interpreting the copyright law in England.
Precious metals
On Friday, March 11, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton were paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fi x of $1409.75 (€1024.08, £881.53)
GOLD 22 carat – £756.39 per oz (£24.32 per gram) 18 carat – £618.87 (£19.90) 15 carat – £515.72 (£16.58) 14 carat – £481.34 (£15.48) 9 carat – £309.43 (£9.95)
HALLMARK PLATINUM £29.13 per gram
SILVER £17.74 per oz for 925 standard hallmarked
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