The Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia Returns for a 44th Year

The Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair is set to return to London for the 44th year, as The Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia. Running over seven days from 27th June until 3rd July, it is a key event in the global art and antiques calendar for 2016 and will play host to a vast array of items from antiquity to the present day.

As London’s original art and antiques fair, it offers unrivalled diversity and more choice of high quality vetted art, antiques, furniture, jewellery and collectors’ pieces than any other show in the British capital.

160 dealers will showcase over 55,000 items with prices ranging from £100 to £1million and an eclecticism to cater to the seasoned collector, trade professional and those looking to acquire beautiful and unusual items – perhaps for the first time.  Key exhibitors confirmed include Charles Plante Fine Arts, Anthony Fell Antiques & Works of Art Ltd, Hatchwell Antiques, Van Kranendonk Duffels, Omnipod, Craig Carrington, Hansord, Clive Loveless Primal Art and Manuel Castilho Antiguidades.

Olympia is also delighted to announce the return of HALI, the dynamic showcase of internationally renowned textiles businesses. Exhibitor participation is by invitation only and a full list of participants will be revealed in due course.

Mary Claire Boyd, Fair Director said: “Every year, thousands of visitors are bowled over by the wealth of pieces and scale of the interiors ideas in the historic Olympia hall. Dealers collect their best pieces throughout the year especially for this seven day event and the presentation of stock is different every year but always inspiring. The high level of the jewellery also gives the event a distinctly glamorous edge. To have this number of experts ready and willing to share their knowledge and talk about the history of the pieces is a rare treat”.

She added: “Our strict vetting policy involves a team of 100 experts checking every piece for sale before the fair opens so visitors can buy with complete confidence.”

A tailored events programme with interesting, informative and thought provoking talks will take place throughout the Fair, featuring high profile speakers from the world’s leading art, design and heritage organisations – including the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), World of Interiors, the British Museum, the V&A and the Landmark Trust.

Last year’s Fair in June attracted close to 30,000 visitors – an 11% rise on the previous year.  Notable visitors included Pharrell Williams, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Stuart Rose, Sir Philip Green and Olympian, Mark Foster.

The Fair will also be welcoming new and emerging galleries and dealers who have been running for seven years or less, giving them access to this key audience.  The aim is to promote up-and-coming talent, to support the trade’s growth and offer visitors access to exhibitors