Following the success of the first AFE London in January, the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham is the focus for the second AFE event of the year when more than 200 dealers return for the major spring event, from 6 - 9 April.

Antiques for Everyone is a hugely popular event that features specialist dealers from across the full range of the art and antiques market. The emphasis is not only on a vast range of collector’s pieces but also innovative 20th century design and unique, contemporary works of art.

Described as one of the most varied and compelling fairs in the international calendar, the fair offers the widest spectrum of exhibits to be found at any comparable event. The fair enjoys a very broad appeal with exhibitors in two sections providing items for sale from less than £20 for pieces like early folk art, to more than £20,000 for fine 18th and 19th century paintings and sculpture.

The fair offers a number of additional attractions that continue to broaden its appeal. These include a series of talks from well-known experts, authors and TV celebrities from the antiques world. These are presented free of charge to visitors as a daily added attraction. At the April fair, BBC Antiques Roadshow experts Judith Miller and Will Farmer will be speaking, sharing their advice and top tips on what’s hot in the current market.

Judith Miller says: ‘This is my favourite fair. Antiques for Everyone is always busy and thousands of interested people from all areas of life come here to buy’. Judith Miller is from Miller’s Publications and a well known and immensely popular celebrity speaker and TV’s Antiques Roadshow expert.

In addition, the fair hosts a Special Exhibition. This April the English Ceramics Circle will be mounting a display of pieces from members. The English Ceramics Circle is the oldest society dedicated to the study of British ceramics and enamels. Founded in 1927, it aims to advance knowledge by promoting and publishing new research on these subjects. (www.englishceramiccircle.org.uk), The Circle`s worldwide membership embraces collectors, curators, archaeologists, potters, auctioneers, dealers, social historians and all those with an interest in the history of ceramics made in the British Isles. They will be exhibiting a fine display of diverse ceramics including a previously unrecorded, 56cm high vase, the largest ever made by the Worcester Flight & Barr factory, circa 1820, and signed by one of their foremost artists, Samuel Astles. The ECC will also be giving three talks on at the Fair on unusual ceramics. Further details will be announced soon.

Wide Appeal Ensures Good Business
Specialist dealers from across the UK exhibit at the NEC. ‘This is the one fair that constantly delivers the customers,’ says John Stanley from The Blackbrook Gallery, Leicestershire, dealers in 18th, 19th and early 20th century naive animal art paintings and portraits.

‘Another NEC fair and I look forward to meeting appreciative collectors who always spend,’ James Strang, Glasgow, showing Scottish Decorative Arts.

‘This is always a reliable fair for me with sales including furniture, treen and metalwork,’ Mark Seabrook, Mark Seabrook Antiques from Cambridgeshire, specialising in country furniture.

Now, more than ever, the fair features decorative and designer pieces from every age and period. Specialising in Art Deco sculpture, Hickmet Fine Arts and Solo Antiques return with a large stand of eye-catching bronze and ivory figures from the early 20th century. Many feature typical Art Deco dancing girls, full of exotic allure, by masters of the art, including Josef Lorenzl, Ferdinand Priess and Demetre Chiparus. Lighting specialist Deco Dave has a stand that cannot be missed, glittering with stylish French chandeliers, wall lights and table lamps. Marion David Decorative Arts has unusual silver, clocks and collector’s pieces.

Traditional period furniture is currently rising in demand and dealers will be showing a wide range of pieces, from early 17th century oak to 18th and 19th century Georgian and Victorian town and country pieces and early 20th century mahogany and walnut. Among the many furniture veterans will be Mark Seabrook Antiques, Tim Saltwell Antiques and Andrew Lovatt Antiques.

Fine art is strongly represented from galleries with 18th century portraits to contemporary illustrators. Art of the Imagination show contemporary illustrative works while Saunders Fine Art, Ashleigh House Fine Art, J.C. Antiques and Blackbrook Gallery offer Victorian and Continental paintings; Wigs on the Green and Cynthia Walmsley offer rare miniature portraits and silhouettes. Modern British painting specialists include A.J.Art with British and European oils. Continued.../

Buyers looking for period clocks and barometers will find Kembery Antique Clocks with a variety of English and French examples. Fine silver is featured with a number of the country’s major dealers, notably S. & A. Marsh, Cotswold Collectables and Highland Antiques. Jewellery is especially popular and there are numerous dealers including Henry Nicholls & Sons Antiques, Shapiro & Co, Plaza, T. Robert, Scarab, Anderson Jones and Billy Rae among many others.

Among many other specialists will be Erna Hiscock and John Shepherd who offer folk art and needleworks, Roger de Ville with early English pottery; John Newton Antiques with German studio pottery, and porcelain dealers Anderson Jones, Drove House Antiques, Bac to Basics, Bottlebrook Antiques and Julian Eade. Andrew Muir shows a superb range of Clarice Cliff and 20th century pieces including Moorcroft pottery.

Exhibits are vetted by specialist panels of experts for date and condition to ensure all items for sale are correctly labelled and collectors can buy with confidence.