A Busy Newark And A Quiet Hinchingbrooke Fair

I wondered what Newark would hold with all the political uncertainty , so I arrived with some trepidation....the cowsheds at Newark that open first should have been full, but were quite empty, although it was 5.30am , I met all the local keen trade who had turned out early and I was soon rewarded with a very nice William & Mary Oak Side Table in lovely condition with a pretty shaped frieze...I headed for my hall to set up at 7am pleased with my early morning purchase.

As soon as the hall opened the trade who had now arrived in numbers were flocking in and it wasn't long before I had my first sale to an American dealer who bought an 18thc Mahogany Cutlery Tray...a good start and the day continued well with sales of treen, oak furniture and pottery.

I always stay for the full two days and I wasn't disappointed as I soon sold a childs rocking chair within the first hour, two very fine snuff shoes to a collector from Yorkshire, a Delft Dutch Charger and two Oak Panels...a very pleasing end to the fair.

I finished at Newark friday afternoon to go and set up friday evening at Hinchingbrooke House Antiques Fair, near Huntingdon,  the home of Oliver Cromwell....

The fair started Saturday morning and I quickly sold a good pair of treen Spill Vases to the trade, followed by a  needlework picture of a smiling cat....

Sunday started slowly and I sold a small port glass, a birch snuff box and a pleasing sale of a 19thc Windsor Chair....although the fair was slow, because of the lovely sunny weather, the people who came were intent on buying and my few sales added up to a very pleasing total ....it just shows you don't need lots of people as long as the people coming through are buyers....this lovely little fair always seems to come up trumps...!

Off to Shepton Mallet this week (14th June to 16th June) then it is straight into Ardingly (18th June to 19th June) and finishing off June in Harrogate (22nd June to 23rd June)....hopefully I will see a lot of my loyal customers and some new ones...that is if the rain ever stops....I am now off to finish building my period Oak Ark...!

Mark.