PRESS RELEASE –2008

CASH IN YOUR ANTIQUES!!

Why let your antiques collect dust in the attic when you can sell them for cash? Take money on the spot from a dealer OR if you think the item’s worth more….take a gamble at auction!

For more information contact Penman fairs

www.penman-fairs.com

6th National Philatelic Exhibition

TORQUAY 2006

EVENTS

SPONSORED DISPLAYS - In the foyer

SOCIETY STANDS - Main hall

Many of the above societies, in addition to their stands are holding separate meetings
- find out the details here.

CIVIC RECEPTION AND AWARDS DINNER

JUDGING CRITIQUE

Visit the Official Website

Friday 20th October 2006

Building on the success of National Antiques Day in previous years antiques dealers throughout the country are preparing for the ninth annual event on Friday 20th October 2006.

This year global online antiques website antiqueshunting.com is promoting the very best in fine art and antiques via the Internet. Customers can find thousands of high quality antiques, learn more about the industry and talk directly with the many professional dealers who use the website to showcase their best antiques.

The aim is to publicise the advantages dealers offer to both buyers and sellers of antiques and to introduce newcomers to the world of antiques. Throughout Britain, dealers' individual initiatives on National Antiques Day, will draw attention to their own businesses and the antiques trade in general. Many events will continue throughout the week.

Venue: United Counties Showground, Carmarthen

Towy Antiques Fairs established in 1993 and is a popular fairs for the friendly, knowledgeable dealers from all over England and Wales who regularly bring for sale an excellant choice of Victorian and Edwardian furniture, poterry and porcelain from the 19th and 20th centuries (including Swansea and Llanelly), silver, jewellery, glass, painting and prints. Specialist dealers cover a fascinating range of unusual collectors' fields including clocks, textiles, toys, maps, fishing and nautical items, miners' lamps, bakelite, country artefects, and even wind-up gramophones!

Towy Fairs have something for everyone, at prices to suit all pockets.

Dates and Opening Times:
16th & 17th September 2006: 10am - 5pm
2nd & 3rd December 2006: 10am - 5pm (4pm Sunday)

Admission: £3.50

For more information and a schedule of upcoming fairs, visit the organiser's website:
www.towy-fairs.co.uk/

Contact Information:
Jeremy Douglas-Jones
Tel/Fax:01792 402525
Mobile: 07770 986791
Address:PO Box 24,
Carmarthen SA31 1YS
Email: info@towy-fairs.co.uk

Venue: The NEC, Birmingham - Halls 17 - 19.

Antiques For Everyone Fairs at the NEC Birmingham are the largest vetted Antiques Fair with volume attendances of 15,000 visitors to each event. Every item for sale is vetted for authenticity, date and condition - the details given on each item's label are also checked.

Dates and Opening Times:
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

For more information visit the organisers website:
www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

Contact Information:
Organiser: Clarion Events NEC Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)121 767 2808
Fax: +44 (0)121 767 3535
Email: antiquesnec@clarionevents.com

When a work of art is considered of particular importance, the government can delay its export until a UK buyer can be found. Milton Silverman examines the legal issues behind a temporary export ban.

From time to time, one reads in the newspapers of an extremely important work of art that is about to be exported unless funds can be raised to purchase it and save it for the nation. Urgent approaches are made to public institutions and to influential patrons of the arts for a swift raising of funds, in a limited period of time, otherwise the work will have gone for good.

Before any mention occurs in the newspapers, a quasi-judicial hearing will have taken place. This hearing can be the subject of some drama, as proved to be so in a case in which I was briefed on behalf of a surprised purchaser, whose ownership became unexpectedly interrupted by an export stay.

One way or another, the work will come to the notice of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), after it has been sold, but not yet exported. It is possible that a work of such substance will have been sold very much in the public eye, e.g. through one of the major auction houses. An application will be made for an export licence and this will provide an opportunity for scrutiny by the DCMS.

Upon receipt of the application, the DCMS may decide that it should be submitted to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.

This committee is set up to advise ministers whether a cultural object, for which an application for an export licence has been made, is of national importance under the Waverly Criteria.

So, what are the Waverley Criteria? They were named after the chairman of a 1950 committee appointed to consider and advise on export policy in relation to cultural objects and are as follows:

• Waverley One:
  Is the work so closely connected with our history and national life that its departure would be a misfortune?


• Waverley Two:
  Is it of outstanding aesthetic importance?


• Waverley Three:
  Is it of outstanding significance for the study of some particular branch of art, learning or history?

'The first criterion is whether an item is "so closely connected with our history or national life that its departure would be a misfortune". This was originally intended to catch such objects as the Alfred Jewel or the manuscript of Gray's Elegy, but we interpret it in somewhat wider context to include items which are of major importance for local history, or which are part of collections which are of the greatest historical significance or which are associated with significant historical events.'

'The second criterion refers to "outstanding aesthetic importance". There can be no definitive guidelines for judging whether an item is aesthetically outstanding, but we do not restrict this criterion to great works of painting or sculpture. We might, for instance, conclude that an exquisite snuffbox met this criterion as well as a painting by Poussin. In the case of works by great artists, it may be claimed that anything from the hand of Rembrant is outstanding. We are not always swayed by such arguments and may take into account the condition or restoration to which it may have been subjected.'

'The third criterion is whether an item is "of outstanding significance for the study of some particular branch of art, learning or history". Almost anything could be caught under this heading, the worst works of the best artist (just to show that Homer nods), a poet's laundry list, a collection of seaside postcards. We therefore apply this criterion with rigour to objects which, in our view, are important for the study of some significant branch of study rather than merely interesting to study. Many objects might provide attractive topics for a PhD thesis, but are not of wider significance for the study of the subjects as a whole.'

The disputed object (and it can turn out to be very much a dispute) goes to a hearing. There can be a large number of people in attendance. The Reviewing Committee will normally consist of eight highly eminent individuals drawn from the arts. To assist they will typically have two expert advisors from national institutions. In addition there will be three independent assessors who, again, will be eminent curators, art historians, etc.

Then comes the army on behalf of the purchaser, who may be represented by a lawyer, an expert in the relevant field (in my recent case, Old Masters) and other professional advisors. Written submissions will have been made beforehand. The object, frequently a painting, will be there for all to view. It is likely to be spectacular in some way and quite reasonably will be the subject of some awe, particularly, of course, for those aesthetes present who will necessarily have a deep and loving appreciation of the artist or work in question.

Look carefully at the criteria concerned: it will be understood that they can be the subject of endless argument, and personal views. Is the work for example, merely of "aesthetic importance" or "of outstanding aesthetic importance"?

Its departure may be a "misfortune" to some, but not to others. Equally it could be of "outstanding significance" for the "study of some particular branch of art" in one expert's view, but not in another's.

In a case in which I was the purchaser's advocate, my team, which consisted of some very able experts, was collectively and firmly of the view that the work concerned fell short of the stringent Waverley criteria (although it was acknowledged that it was indeed a beautiful object).

I made my respectful (so I thought) legal submissions concerning the right to a peaceful enjoyment of one's own property (European Convention on Human Rights), and the right to free movement of goods within the EU (the EC Treaty). These references nearly launched one of the independent assessors into orbit. He vehemently interjected, on fire, and aghast at the thought of a wholesale export of English heritage. I moved gently on. The export licence was deferred.

Many auctioneers enable potential buyers to bid in their absence, either by leaving a specified absentee bid with the auctioneer or by bidding by telephone.

Bidding by telephone can be fraught with legal complications. An auctioneer I know says that one problem that regularly occurs is that the auction room telephones the bidder and there is no answer. The bidder subsequently claims that, in fact, he was there, he would have made a good profit on resale and he alleges that he has suffered losses as a result.

Another frequent difficulty is that of contacting a phone bidder during the sale - for example, when their mobile phone is out of range. The bidder expects the sale to be held up while the problem is sorted out, but the auctioneer, with hundreds of lots to sell, cannot usually accommodate this problem.

Auctioneers usually seek protection by way of their standard terms and conditions. These tend to advise that absentee bids, by telephone or otherwise, are no more than an accommodation for the buyer and that no liability arises if the auction room does not execute such bids.

Another problem with absentee bids is that absentee bidders have often not inspected the goods beforehand and therefore do not know the condition.

Again the auctioneers terms and conditions seek to protect the auctioneer in the absence of such inspection. But, if it turns out that the goods are very different from the catalogue description, the auctioneer could still be liable under general principles of contract, or by way of misrepresentation, or negligence to the purchaser. The problem can be avoided if the purchaser inspects the goods in the first place.

It is difficult to anticipate and protect against every situation. Take the following true story:

The telephone bidder was known to the auctioneers, and known to work in partnership with his wife. On the day of the auction the relevant lot was coming up and the auctioneer's staff duly rang the number left with them. The answerphone came on and advised "If you want Mrs X please phone the following number". The auctioneer did so, made contact, advised that the relevant lot was coming up shortly, and the lady bidder enquired as to its condition. It was clear that she knew about the item in some detail. The bidding commenced, and the telephone bid was ultimately successful at the top estimate of £127,000.

The auctioneer sent out the invoice as usual.

Shortly afterwards, the husband, who had left the telephone bidding instructions originally, marched into the auctioneers and advised that he had cancelled the initial bidding instructions by speaking to someone at the auctioneers at the time, but had no idea of the identity of the individual concerned. He than advised that the lady who had bid was his nanny!

The tape recording of the auction would have revealed all, but the auctioneers were reluctant to go down that route with good clients.

As the seeds of dispute began to grow, the husband decided to inspect the item and, in the end chose to buy it. An interesting courtroom scene was avoided.....

Milton Silverman

An auctioneer acknowledges your commission bid and then fails to act on it. Do you have any redress and, if so, what is it?

A reader wrote in recently aggrieved at missing out at an auction. She explained that she had used the auctioneer's website to place her commission bid. The site clearly stated that all bids should be received by 10 o clock on the morning of the sale, and her bid was placed the evening before. She received an automated email from the auction house confirming that her details had been received and placed.

She telephoned the next day to discover that the item had been sold in the room to someone else for only one quarter of her bid, which had not been actioned at all. The auction house claimed not to have received her bid, concluding that the matter was most unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done.

She lamented to : "Surely, if I received confirmation of my bid from them I have entered into a contract with them?"

Regrettably for her, it is not that simple.

There are certain fundamental requirements of a contract, two of which are: an offer and an acceptance. Frequently, the conundrum is, who makes the offer to be accepted?

The traditional view in auction law is that simply advertising an auction is not an offer at all (but is probably what is known as "an invitation to treat"). It is the bidder who makes the offer, which is only accepted; in a traditional auction, when the hammer comes down.

It is worth quoting the relevant Sale of Goods Action section:

"A sale by auction is complete when the auctioneer announces its completion by the fall of the hammer, or in other customary manner; and until the announcement is made any bidder may retract his bid."

[There has been a case which indicated that where an auction is expressed to be "without reserve" this in itself is an offer which may be accepted by the bidder. But this is highly questionable.]

There is the additional complication that most auctions are subject to standard terms and conditions which may, if this aspect were dealt with in the conditions, override the usual position.

So, what of our aggrieved reader?

Although the particular circumstances would need to be examined in more detail, on the face of it, although she received an acknowledgement that she was a bidder, i.e. the offeror, as the auction house did not accept her offer, there was no contract and they were not liable.

The upside is that the reader was free to use her money elsewhere, since she was not bound by any contract either.

Milton Silverman

The problem of the unseen bid besets even the best of auctioneers with some reopening the bidding if there is a dispute at the fall of the hammer.

When the hammer comes down on your bid, that means the lot is yours. Most of the time this is true, but not always. The auction process, and the auctioneer, are always fallible.

I have had two recent cases in which serious and litigious disputes have arisen between bidder and auctioneer when the auctioneer has reopened the bidding after the hammer came down.

Generally it is perfectly true that a contract is made once the hammer has fallen. However, this is subject to auctioneers' terms and conditions. The two cases I have had have been remarkably similar.

The problem arises when, after the hammer has fallen, some under-bidder, or potential bidder, suddenly realises that he has lost his chance and asks for the bidding to be reopened. The auctioneers, for whatever reason, chooses to reopen the bidding. Under protest, the aggrieved purchaser, who thought he had the lot in the bag, re-enters the bidding in order not to lose the lot, and eventually secures the lot at a very much inflated price.

Afterwards, irate, the original bidder complains that the lot was originally knocked down to him at a much lower price, the auctioneer has made a mess of it, and the original bidder should rightly have the lot at the original price. What is the position?

Auctioneers' terms and conditions usually have a clause allowing the auctioneer absolute discretion to re-offer the lot in the event of a "dispute". However, in both cases which came to me, there was a very real argument that there was no "dispute" but that the auctioneer had unilaterally, and therefore wrongly, simply chosen to re-offer the lot. None of the cases in question has proceeded all the way to trial but, were they to do so, them much would likely turn upon the judge's adjudication as to the meaning of the words "dispute", and its application on the facts of each case.

Cases like these emerge for a variety of reasons. One reason appears to be the idiosyncratic and over-subtle form of bidding by some who attend auctions. I heard recently of one dealer who was bidding, in the auction room, on behalf of a very well known collector.

The dealer was very anxious to conceal that fact of his bidding. He therefore arranged to contact another dealer, also in the room, by mobile phone whenever he wished to bid, the arrangement being that whenever the second dealer's phone vibrated he was to bid.

Another reason for disputes perhaps is the difficult position of the auctioneer: whilst on the face of it the auctioneer is the independent party conducting the auction, auction terms and conditions usually make clear that the auctioneer acts as agent for the seller and of course, the seller wants the highest possible price. Equally, the highest price will benefit the auction house.

Clear and flamboyant bidding will help in avoiding these disputes.

Milton Silverman

You will already have noticed that our website has a new look and feel. This new fresh look is designed to make it easier for antiques hunters to find the quality items they are looking for. As part of our ongoing enhancements and commitment to driving more antique hunters to the website, we have also undertaken a programme of optimisation to make it more attractive to search engines.

Another enhancement is the addition of a "Search by Location" option on our Stock Search page. Now collectors can search for stock in a particular area and specialists can target antique hunters by location!

To take advantage of this enhanced functionality you will need to Log In - then simply visit My Account, select Update Stock Location from the menu and choose the location of your stock from our pick list. This location will then automatically be assigned to all your stock. You can also change locations of individual stock items through MyStock >> Edit >> Details (there is a dropdownlist visible).

Finally we are pleased to announce the launch of Super Shop Fronts. This new feature gives Antiques Hunting specialists the ability to have their own website populated with their Antiques Hunting stock list! For more information on Super Shop Fronts please contact us.

Antiques For You, held on 18th June is a large non-stand fitted Antique Fair with a date-line of 1945. Up to 100 dealers selling quality antiques of all descriptions, with price tags of a few pounds up to that special one-off purchase.

Venue Details:

There is easy, one level unloading, and free parking for up to 1300 cars.
Quality refreshments are provided by Chilford Hall.
Admission fees are only £3 for adults, and accompanied children under 14 will get free entry.
Opening times are 10 - 4.30pm.

Further Details:

Please phone Christina Warren, Luigi Haigh and Sam Reynolds from East Anglian Antique Fairs on 01284 749779 or email logney@aol.com.

Introducing the first major new company specifically designed to assist the Antiques and Fine Art Trade.

Antiqueshunting.com, is a completely new internet-based company set up to assist the art and antiques industry in unlocking the potential of the Internet. Through the use of professional marketing and targeting techniques, Antiqueshunting aims to provide new life to the antiques trade. By building a highly functional web site Antiqueshunting.com is using technology to bring customers back to the market.

Ron Pethick CEO and Founder of Antiqueshunting.com comes from a Premier League marketing background. Having trained with Proctor & Gamble, his career spanned Barclays Bank, Northern Foods, McCain Foods and Reckitt Benckiser working on brands such as Bold washing powder, Mcain potato products, Pork Farms, and Gaviscon, before setting up Antiques Hunting Limited. Mr. Pethick has also been an Antiques dealer over the past five years ." Mr. Pethick said "Just because we deal in antiques doesn't mean our business methods should also be antique."

With the growing use of the internet, e-commerce and the rise in popularity of auction websites such as Ebay, the shape of art and antique dealers' businesses is changing. Mr. Pethick said,: " Antiques dealers need a company that can help them to promote their business and attract new customers using modern marketing techniques.

Antiqueshunting.com will have representatives at their exhibition stand at the NEC Antiques For Everyone Fair July 27-30, talking to Antiques dealers and the major trade associations regarding the future of the trade and how Antiqueshunting.com can help them.

Antiques Dealers on the Internet are fragmented. 90% of antiques websites drive fewer than 10,000 visitors each year. (Antiqueshunting.com/LAPADA members survey 2004). Antiqueshunting.com is a move to consolidate this fragmented group online into one high volume concentrated web portal, much like the airline and hotel industry achieved through consolidation in the late nineties.

Aiming only at the higher end quality in the market, Antiqueshunting.com will provide space on its website to display, and negotiate the sale of quality antiques. No need to wade through the reproduction and poor quality collectables. With AntiquesHunting.com you'll find"The Finest Antiques Online".

"ARE YOUR BUSINESS METHODS ANTIQUE?"
Its time the industry implemented modern professional marketing practises

How AntiquesHunting.com works for DEALERS

As one of our Select Dealers, your business will accrue the following exclusive benefits:

A Free worldwide listing in the Dealer Directory
Your business will be listed on the world's portal for top antique dealers and premier customers, AntiquesHunting.com.

Promotional tools to help you Market to customers.
Online tools to help you design your marketing campaigns and schedule activity. AntiquesHunting.com promoting you.

We'll bring customers to you, by promoting and advertising to them.

Other business building services from AntiquesHunting.com:

Premium Customer access.
For a modest fee, we can provide our Select Dealers access to Premium Customer mailing and e-mailing lists. We can precisely target Premium Customers for you. Direct Mail or e-mail campaigns.
We can manage your entire mailing program for you. Including design, printing and distribution, if you so desire.

Market research.
AntiquesHunting.com can search our detailed customer information in any way you might like, e.g. we can tell you where the market is going, enabling you to move quickly with the trends. Once your stock is listed, it's as easy as a mouse click to print your catalogue at the start of the new season.

For further information please contact:

Ron Pethick
Antiqueshunting.com
T: 01723 350163
E: r.pethick@antiqueshunting.com

A Look at How the Antiques Trade and its customers are making use of the Internet and Practical advice on how they can make the most of it.

The growth of the internet in the 1990s was accompanied by huge investments in infrastructure and advertising. Some doubted its ability to transform our lives. There's no doubt that in some areas it has done just that. It is true the rate of
growth has slowed since the bubble burst but this has not stopped the continuing development in commerce on the Internet. In fact over one billion pounds was
traded on the Internet in 2005 in the UK alone. We use it for shopping, for research and for leisure. Recent surveys have found that in a significant number of households it has displaced the television.

The statistics speak for themselves. According to a recent survey for the Office for National Statistics, 64% of adults in the UK (29 million people) accessed the internet in October 2005, representing 92% of those who had ever used the net. Of adults who had been on the net in the three months before the survey, 61% had bought or ordered goods, tickets or services. Younger people were, perhaps predictably, more likely to buy online. However, even in the over 65 group deemed least likely to shop on the internet, 41% of users in this age group had done so. The antiques market is no exception when it comes to making use of the World Wide Web.

Millions of customers search on line everyday looking for specific antiques or just browsing casually to see what treasures they might unearth on the thousands of antiques websites. Customers like the fun of searching and the excitement of finding something interesting and then contacting the seller to do a deal. The internet has brought products and services direct to the customer in a way that no other medium in the history of commerce has been able to. Even the normally traditional antiques industry is getting in on the act. There are certain things both customers and dealers can do to protect themselves and maximise the opportunity.

Consumers can ensure that they are dealing with reputable businesses by looking for certain safeguards when searching for antiques. reassurances such as the Data commissioner's padlock symbol which indicated that the business is registered and your private information will be held securely. On web sites where financial transactions take place, consumers can protect themselves by ensuring that a recognized certificate is displayed on the website. This indicates that the website has purchased the necessary eCommerce protection for consumers.

Where does the antiques trade stand in its adoption of the new technology? In a recent survey conducted by global on line antiques website antiqueshunting.com for LAPADA, research indicated the antiques trade is not making the most of the Internet. Although 70% of the trade have a website, many of these fail to maximize the opportunity. 90% of trade websites cannot take payment on line. 98% fail to attract more than 10,000 visitors per year. For comparison large sites get this sort of traffic per day. Its not all bad news, there are those in the trade who have made progress - and it is good business to be had. In this feature, we take a look at some of best practices used by those in the trade who are making the most of the new technology and offer practical advise on how to improve your Online presence to close that all important sale.

The first thing to think about is how much time and money am I prepared to invest in my online activity? It takes investment in both time and money to make it work. Most dealers have invested some money in setting up a website but then fail to invest the time in keeping it up to date or checking emails and responding to customer questions. The biggest complaint from those who have set up a website is "I cannot keep it up to date myself". Most dealers require the web site developer to make the changes of adding and removing stock. This can be difficult and costly. A far better solution is to join a website that has invested in the software so you can do it all yourself. Joining a well established online showroom avoids spending significant investment and guarantees all important traffic to your stock.

Software for the Internet is a complex subject and can range from hundreds to many thousands of pounds. Most websites are quite simple. They are hard coded which means it's not easy to update and change things. You require the developer to make the changes. Large websites are flexible because they use databases which can be altered and added to. Antiqueshunting.com is one such website that has developed a showroom that antiques dealers can add stock to, remove sold items from and take advantage of the high tech software that the company has invested in. A simple website can communicate to your customers but ultimately it will have its limitations. A communal website offers the chance to join the community and benefit from its size and pulling power.

The next consideration is traffic. Traffic is defined as the number of visitors that come to browse on the website. Most antiques dealers websites are like stars in the universe. They are a long way from anything else and very little will ever visit them. There is such a massive number of antiques website out there, getting yours picked up by the search engines who point customers to what they are looking for, can be very expensive and requires constant work.

Search engines rank websites according to relevance to what the searcher is looking for. For example, if you search for antique silver, in Google ( a well known and popular search engine) Google will look for the most relevant website according to size, number of links to and from each website and number of times the words antique silver appear on the site. The largest sites make the top of the list. An Antique Silver dealer with a small simple website will struggle to even get on the list. The trick is to get as many similar websites to link to you as possible. Trade links with other relevant websites because it helps by giving your website a higher ranking in the search engines. This in turn will promote your site higher in the list that is returned to the customers searching for goods and services.

An easy way to avoid the problem of attracting large numbers of targeted customers to your website is to join a large website that offers you a link and has a showroom of its own that you can put your stock into. This avoids the risk of you becoming just another lonely website out there in the Internet Universe.

Antiqueshunting.com

Antiqueshunting.com is a community of antiques professionals that brings together the stock from many dealers and related businesses under one virtual showroom. Dealers from around the Globe can use the websites cutting edge technology to list fine quality antiques for customers to view. The beauty of it is that it's easy to keep up to date and requires minimum investment from dealers. By joining the community under one large website, many dealers are able to share the traffic that the site receives. Customers are able to contact dealers directly unlike other websites. As CEO Ronald Pethick explains, "This makes it easier for dealers to develop a relationship with the customer ensuring confidence in the buyer and closing more sales." Dealers who already have website of their own are able to link to and from antiqueshunting.com for free via a link request found in specialist services.

Customers benefit from access to a variety of services available via antiqueshunting.com. Other related services include Shippers, restoration experts and insurance companies as well as links on the site to specialist in a variety of areas including furniture, lighting, mirrors, clocks, jewelry and ceramics, card cases and decorative art.

It's a virtual one stop shop for the entire antiques Industry. All this access to experts and related antiques companies is free to customers. Ronald Pethick CEO describes it as "a sort of dating service for the antiques Industry, we can match customers and dealers, or other service providers in the industry including trade organizations who also have links on the website".

It's the strength of the community that provides the best use of the Internet. Antiqueshunting.com is building one of the strongest antiques communities on the Internet. Any dealers or customers seeking more information on how they can benefit from the services offered by antiqueshunting.com can register free. Antiques dealers can take advantage of a free 3 month trial at any time by going to our free trial page. Alternatively if you just want advice on how to make your website more effective, the company is happy to look at any antiques trade websites and offer friendly free advice. Email r.pethick@antiqueshunting.com or call 01723 350163.

Venue: Thistle Kensington Park Hotel, De Vere Gardens, London W8 5AG

The latest in a series of Ceramics Fairs brought to you by the leading organiser of Ceramics Fairs in the UK. This London Fair is so popular that they have moved to a bigger venue this year at the Thistle Kensington Park Hotel.

Dates and Opening Times:
Saturday June 10th: 12 am - 6 pm
Sunday June 11th: 11 am - 4:30 pm

For more information and a schedule of upcoming fairs, visit the organisers website:
www.prestigeceramicfairs.com

Contact Information:
Mr. N. D. Gent Telephone: 07940282324 Email: info@prestigeceramicfairs.com

Venue: Olympia 2 Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14.

The London Map Fair provides a forum for collectors, curators & dealers from all over the world to buy, sell or swap old atlases, maps & prints. Six times a year up fifty specialist dealers gather at the fair, amassing a display of many thousands of maps depicting every part of the world. They also bring their knowledge of antique maps, gathered during a combined experience of well over a century, a very valuable source of information!

Dates and Opening Times:
9 June 2006 12 pm - 7 pm
10 June 2006 11 am - 6 pm

For more information visit the organisers website:
www.londonmapfairs.com

Contact Information:
Organiser: London Map Fairs Limited
Email: info@londonmapfairs.com

Venue: Olympia Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14.

The Summer Fine Art & Antiques Fair is the largest fully vetted fine art and antiques fair in the UK, comprising over 300 dealers. A significant number of dealers are from overseas, and as this fair is the only place in the UK that many of them exhibit, there is a truly international flavour.

Dates and Opening Times:
9 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
10 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
11 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
12 June 2006 11 am - 8 pm
13 June 2006 11 am - 8 pm
14 June 2006 11 am - 8 pm
15 June 2006 11 am - 8 pm
16 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
17 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
18 June 2006 11 am - 5 pm

For more information visit the organisers website:
www.olympia-antiques.com

Contact Information:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7370 8211 Email: Olympia-antiques@clarionevents.com

The first ever Art Deco Fair to be held in East Anglia was a great success.

The Fair, held at Chilford Hall, Linton, Cambridge on 28th May, saw good visitor numbers of collectors and serious buyers, including British and over sea's trade.

No less than four stall-holders had "best ever days". Both trade and public enjoyed the lovely venue, and the Exhibition Hall lent itself well to the Fair.

Organiser Christina Warren said, " We are very pleased with the first Fair. The majority of stall-holders had a terrific day. The items on sale were of a very high quality, but there were also interesting , lower priced items too. The public response was very positive, and many said they were looking forward to the next Fair in November. The atmosphere was buzzing."

The date of the next Art Deco Fair has been changed from 29th October to the 19th of November, so as not to clash with the Woking Art Deco Fair. Bookings have already been taken for the next event.

The next fair at Chilford Hall is Antiques For You, held on 18th June ,is a quality antiques and collectors fair with a date-line of 1945.

Feedback to Antiques Hunting

"I would like to thank you for including our press-release about our new fairs at Chilford Hall. At the Fair I actually met some dealers from Isreal who had seen the info on your website, so thanks!!"
Sam Reynolds, East Anglian Antique Fairs

The Antiquarian Book Fair is the most prestigious international event of its kind. This year celebrates the centenary of the Association founded in 1906. Enthusiasts can find books, prints, maps and manuscripts from the dawn of printing in the 15th Century to modern first editions. Prices range from a few pounds to many thousands. A worthwhile visit for collectors and book lovers alike.

Dates and Opening Times:
8 June 2006 4 pm - 9 pm
9 June 2006 11 am - 7 pm
10 June 2006 11 am - 6 pm
11 June 2006 11 am - 5 pm

For more information visit the organisers website:
www.olympiabookfair.com

Contact Information:
Organiser: The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association Event Manager - Philippa Gibson
Tel: 020 74393118 Email: Admin@aba.org.uk

We take a look at what's happening in the online world and find out how the trade is making the best use of the World Wide Web

The growth of the internet in the 1990s was accompanied by the inevitable doubters who thought it would remain the preserve of the 'geeks'. Either that, or the bubble would surely burst. It is true that we experienced a 'dotcom bubble' that did just that, but the net has continued to defy the doom mongers and has become a part of our lives. We use it for shopping, for research and for leisure - recent surveys have found that in a significant number of households it has displaced the television.

The statistics speak for themselves. According to a recent survey for the Office for National Statistics, 64% of adults in the UK (29 million people) accessed the internet in October 2005, representing 92% of those who had ever used the net. Of adults who had been on the net in the three months before the survey, 61 % had bought or ordered goods, tickets or services. Younger people were, perhaps predictably, more likely to buy online. However, even in the over 65 group deemed least likely to shop on the internet, 41 % of users in this age group had done so.

It has to be said that the art and antiques trade often has a stuffy and even reactionary image, and is not always quick to seize the opportunities available: For those in the trade that have, and there are many, it is good business to be had. In this feature, we take a look at some of the companies and individuals who are offering useful and often time and money-saving services on the Web, and at the impact the internet has made on individual dealers.

Live Auctioneers

LiveAuctioneers.com is the brainchild of Briton Julian Ellison, whose company is based in New York but has clients worldwide, including a growing number in the UK. The site teams up with Ebay Live Auctions and offers live, real time bidding for more than 400 salesrooms worldwide. LiveAuctioneers are art and antiques specialists and it is possible to search all of these salerooms to find what you are looking for (and interested in bidding on) in one click. UK auctioneers that have signed up to LiveAuctioneers include Ewbank, Bloomsbury Auctions and Peter Wilson, and numbers are growing. The ability to search so many salesrooms at once has obvious benefits for the bidder, but there are many advantages for the auctioneer too.

For Julian Ellison, customers' ability to analyse and assess where business is coming from is a major benefit of the LiveAuctioneers system, and this makes it very cost-effective. "We get people saying they can add 15-35% to their bottom line. They can do one or two sales to try us out first and come back when they see that it works." Ellison compares the development of Internet bidding with the telephone - people were initially uncertain of whether telephone bidding could really work, but they soon became used to it and it is now an established part of salesroom life. Julian Ellison is clearly passionate about auctions; he has a background in the business (he was a fine art packer and also worked at Christie's) and this, he believes, gives him a distinct advantage. "We're not venture capitalists, nor are we publishers who see this as something they would like to get into - we are in the auction business." He started up in New York largely because he wasn't sure that the UK was quite ready for this kind of development at the time. Now auctioneers on this side of the Atlantic are joining LiveAuctioneers and numbers are growing all the time. But there is more to the LiveAuctioneers concept than selling. "It's also about establishing an online brand name. Small auction houses are no longer restricted and can compete globally with the big boys. We also have shipping companies wanting to promote us to clients and dealers like it too - it cuts down on travel, they can save money and plough it back into better stock." One of the great assets of LiveAuctioneers is its database; between 12,000 and 15,000 items per day are uploaded onto the system, resulting in an enviable decorative arts database. "Searching the database is absolutely free of charge and will remain so" says Ellison. "The archives drive business into the auction rooms. We have a very specific business mmodel, which involves charging a listing fee and commission, so I don't feel we need to restrict access to the database - we've already been paid."

Essex's finest

For art dealer John Brandler, based in Brentwood, Essex, the advent of the Internet is further proof of something he has known for some time- that you don't need to be in London's West End to offer quality works of art. He has sold to leading galleries and top London dealers who come to select stock without the Capital's overheads. "They can view a vast selection on the Web, but they also know that the gallery physically exists, so there is a solid base to the business", says John "From Damien Hirst to David Hockney, Constable and Gainsborough to Maurice Cockrill, the selection is huge and the gallery is known for selling artists before a major push by London galleries." Other artists featured include Andy Warhol, Carel Weight, Elizabeth Frink and many more. Brandler Galleries also offer original book illustrations featuring characters from Dr.Who to Black Beauty and from Noddy to wind in the Willows characters. This is a growing area of collecting and has proved very popular with visitors on and offline. You can take a look at John's online stock at www.Brandler-Galleries.com.

'If you build it they will come'

This may have been true for Kevin Costner in the movie 'Field of Dreams' but it is certainly not true for a website. A dealer, like any business, can spend a lot of time and money developing a website only to find that very few new clients know that it exists let alone visit it. Search engine rankings are crucial for bringing new users to a site. A successful website has to be built in such a way that the search engines find it easy to include the entire contents of any site and have it ranked on the first three pages, or people will never find it. The art of search management is the subject of university courses and whole library sections and is especially crucial for niche brands. To compound the problem, unless the site is well designed and reflects the quality of the dealer's brand, users may actually come to your site and leave immediately because they have no sense of trust in a brand they don't know. If they do like what they see on the site, they may bookmark it in their favourites and return a week or so later. If the site hasn't changed since they last visited they may leave and never come back as they are not interested in viewing the same stock they saw last time. With all this in mind, One Galleries has developed a vision to allow dealers to generate successful online business and the proof of the pudding is that the dealers are selling through it. This vision stems from a unique engine which currently runs the BADA and LAPADA websites as well as over 200 individual online galleries for dealers. Before the new LAPADA site was launched in March, Google only had 97 links to the site Within two months the new engine has created over 39,000 for them and the BADA site now has 100,000, making it far more likely that an interior decorator in New York will find the dealer's goods. The easy-to-use tools allow each dealer to change the stock of their online gallery on a regular basis. Dealers who tend to get the most success from their galleries are the ones whose clients tell them they keep returning because they know they will find new stock. 'If you build it they will come' ... Online Galleries aims to do just that for the trade-creating a central site which empowers the dealers to create a much greater client base for themselves.

Hunting for Antiques

Antiqueshunting.com brings together the stock from a variety of dealers around the globe onto one website, making it easy to browse the stock of many dealers at once. It is simple to use; antiques are listed by category and you can view stock online, with the asking price and contact the seller directly. Antiqueshunting.com has spent considerable time and money researching the market, and has found that many in the trade still fail to make the best of the technology available. The 2004 LAPADA member survey carried out by the firm found at fewer than 10% of dealers attracted more than 10,000 visitors a year to their websites. Many dealers who do have websites have only some simple pages designed to show off typical stock.

Some can take payment, but most require the customer to contact the dealer directly to arrange payment and delivery. Seventy percent of UK dealers have a website, but only 9% say they can take payments online. Most dealers say they do not have the time to commit to running a website properly. Research suggests, not surprisingly, that smaller items such as ceramics, glass, pottery and other small items sell best online. However, even large pieces of furniture can sell over the Web, and a Web presence is a perfect shop window to entice customers to visit "offline". Perhaps the biggest advantage of a site like antiqueshunting.com is that it enables a number of dealers to club together under one large website, so that search engine optimisation and marketing costs can be shared. The company's research shows that people often start with a small purchase before going on to spend more, and are ultimately prepared to spend a lot of money online.

Goldentreasures

Books are among those objects that are readily sold on the Web, being small and portable, easily described and simple to post. Among those who have discovered the advantages of book shopping on the web are the thousands of customers of Golden Boot Group, who are members of both LAPADA and the PBFA Originally at www.goldenbks.co.uk. the firm now has a new site at www.abook4all.com. Golden Books Group has been selling used and out of print books since 1991, and has a vast selection to choose from on most popular subjects. The company also specialises in Antiquarian library building, creating tailor made libraries with the finest leather bound books. Selected paintings and antique library furniture is also (available for purchase through the site, as are early prints and old maps. The Golden Books Group originally began amongst a society of market traders, booksellers and collectors, growing in experience and expertise before opening a shop in London; a second followed in Camden Passage in the mid-90s. The Internet made easier to reach more ppeople from any location; today, the company is based in North Devon amid rolling green hills, but still offers the same level of service.

It is a particular feature of the GoldenBooks Group site that new listings are being added all the time. It is therefore wise to check regularly to see what new goodies are available; and judging by the continuing growth of the site, clearly, people do. A2Z of antiques Britain, Germany and France are united on the site of a2zantiques.com, which includes antiques listings for all three countries. Go to one site and you can search for items offered for sale from dealers not only in the UK, but on the continent as well. If you don't want to browse through items you may have already seen, you can opt to search for recently-listed items only. Another useful feature of this site is the ability to search for items that are priced at under £100, making it ideal for bargain hunters. You can also search only for items from the UK if you wish. The site charges a small monthly fee to the dealers listing on the site, which is run by a team with over 20 years experience in buying and selling antiques, as well as considerable expertise in Web design and development.

Collectors are revolting

A 'collectors revolt' against one of the leading auction sites led to the creation of specialistauctions.com. It was founded by group of avid collectors that had used the site for a number of years, but became increasingly disillusioned. As the site became more popular, they say, the sheer volume of items that were not what they were supposed to be increased. As a result, they established specialistauctions.com in late November of 2005, with the aim of creating an auction site designed specifically for specialist and collectable items. Unlike many online auctions, there are no charges for a standard listing, and there is an end of sale fee fixed at 3%. Bob Clements, who runs specialistauctions.com says that where they really differ is that each area on the site, when fully populated, will be "moderated" by a leading industry figure. The moderator will remove fakes and replicas, give advice on how to describe items and provide valuation guidance. The idea is that even someone who has no expertise whatsoever can feel confident in buying from the site. If a buyer is not happy, there is a post-sale mediation service. In addition, there is a"report this item' button, which members' can use to bring a suspect item to the attention of the moderator and siteowners.

The site is currently keen to hear from potential moderators in several areas; moderators receive a percentage of final sale fees in return for their input. Although it has only been online for about six months, this site is already making an impact. By March 2006, it had grown quite substantially, notching up a million individual page views and 1.4 million page views in April. The sale has around 3,000 new users looking at the site daily, with many loyal members logging on four or more times a week. There are currently between 3,000 and 3,500 items on the site, and this is constantly growing. Objects offered on the site are varied, and include some genuine rarities, including Chinese terracotta figures and Ancient Greekartefacts - Bob Clements says he is well aware that many people are nervous of buying over the internet, and offers the following general tips: "Ensure the site you are buying from has a valid Security Certificate. Naturally, we have secure site using the latest encryption methods to ensure the safety and security of our users. Visitors will see the logo of Comodo on every page of our site, they are an independent online security specialist who provide their services to us. "Ask questions. If a seller or buyer is not prepared to answer your questions quickly and in a pleasant, business like manner, walk away from the deal. If you are buying a watch or clock, ask the seller to take a picture of the item with the time set at one you specify and send the picture to you by email. If they can't do this, they may not have the item in their possession You could extend this to requesting an item be photographed on a copy of a newspaper with the date clearly showing. Ask for references from other buyers - particularly for higher priced items. Call the referee yourself, ask questions, be polite. Check feedback ratings as a buyer and a seller. If available, look at feedback from more than one site. In our case, a seller's feedback for both our site and another firmly established site is available. If problems are encountered, contact the site owners. Responsible business people will always listen to their clients and take whatever action they need to, to resolve a problem.

Issue 1088 20th - 26th May 2006 Antiques Magazine

Antiqueshunting.com are delighted to announce a special promotion for antiques and fine arts exhibitors at Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair; the Antiques and Audacity Fair; and the Prestige Ceramics Fair.

Each antiques and fine arts specialist exhibiting at the above fairs has been invited by Antiqueshunting.com to upload their stock of fine antiques onto our website as part of a free 3 month trial.

To find out more about each fair, take a look at our Antique Fairs and Events section.

If you are a specialist exhibiting at Olympia, the Antiques and Audacity Fair or the Prestige Ceramics Fair and have not received our invitation to your free 3 month trial please contact us.

Pennard House Antiques
Based in a glorious country house in beautiful Somerset, Pennard House Antiques are major specialists in antique mirrors and country furniture and have also developed a business of sourcing specific items for customer's requirements. At the house, 4 miles south of Shepton Mallet, you will find antique dining tables and armoires from the French countryside, quality English country furniture, elegant English and French antique mirrors, rare garden pieces, kitchenalia and exclusive French textiles. If you're in the area it's well worth a visit - and they offer Bed & Breakfast if you're looking for somewhere to stay.
If you can't get to Pennard House Antiques to view their collection of fine antiques, you can browse their stock and contact them through www.antiqueshunting.com.

Stock Spotlight

Cherrywood Farmhouse Table c.1840 Asking Price: £3250 View Item	Small painted mirror with decorative crest. Asking Price: £750 View Item	A set of 8 19th Century French walnut chairs Asking Price: £1850 View Item

View Complete Stock | View Specialist Contact Details

The Art Deco Fair, on 28th May, has a date-line of 1975 and is the first of its kind in East Anglia, with up to 100 nationwide dealers selling Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts and Retro. Items on sale include ceramics, glass, textiles and clothing, furniture, advertising items, metal-ware and much more!

Venue Details:

There is easy, one level unloading, and free parking for up to 1300 cars.
Quality refreshments are provided by Chilford Hall.
Admission fees are only £3 for adults, and accompanied children under 14 will get free entry.
Opening times are 10 - 4.30pm.

Further Details:

Please phone Christina Warren, Luigi Haigh and Sam Reynolds from East Anglian Antique Fairs on 01284 749779 or email logney@aol.com.

Venue: Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey

Antiques and Audacity is a fair that attracts exhibitors and visitors normally only seen at the larger London fairs. The Fair is held at Loseley Park, a beautiful house built in 1562.

Dates:
19th - 21st May 2006

For more information visit the organisers website:
www.antiquesandaudacity.com

Contact Details:
1, Leverton, Nr.Hungerford, Berks. RG17 0TA
Tel.01488 683986
Fax.01488 681222
Email: janhicks@antiquesandaudacity.com

The following article appeared in the May edition of Antiques Magazine.

Hunting for antiques

Antiqueshunting.com brings together the stock from a variety of dealers around the globe onto one website, making it easy to browse the stock of many dealers at once. It is simple to use; antiques are listed by category and you can view stock online, with the asking price and contact the seller directly.

Antiqueshunting.com has spent considerable time and money researching the market, and has found that many in the trade still fail to make the best of the technology available. The 2004 LAPADA member survey carried out by the firm found at fewer than 10% of dealers attracted more than 10,000 visitors a year to their websites. Many dealers who do have websites have only some simple pages designed to show off typical stock. Some can take payment, but most require the customer to contact the dealer directly to arrange payment and delivery. Seventy per cent of UK dealers have a website, but only 9% say they can take payments online. Most dealers say they do not have the time to commit to running a website properly.

Research suggests, not surprisingly, that smaller items such as ceramics, glass, pottery and other small items sell best online. However, even large pieces of furniture can sell over the Web, and a Web presence is a perfect shop window to entice customers to visit "offline".

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a site like antiqueshunting.com is that it enables a number of dealers to club together under one large website, so that search engine optimisation and marketing costs can be shared. The company's research shows that people often start with a small purchase before going on to spend more, and are ultimately prepared to spend a lot of money online.

The Art Deco Fair, on 28th May, has a date-line of 1975 and is the first of its kind in East Anglia, with up to 100 nationwide dealers selling Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts and Retro. Items on sale include ceramics, glass, textiles and clothing, furniture, advertising items, metal-ware and much more!

Antiques For You, held on 18th June is a large non-stand fitted Antique Fair with a date-line of 1945. Up to 100 dealers selling quality antiques of all descriptions, with price tags of a few pounds up to that special one-off purchase.

Both fairs are held in the light and airy Exhibition Hall, the largest in East Anglia, in the grounds of the Vineyard, amongst its lovely period buildings. There is easy, one level unloading, and free parking for up to 1300 cars. Quality refreshments are provided by Chilford Hall.

Admission fees are only £3 for adults, and accompanied children under 14 will get free entry. Opening times are 10 - 4.30pm.

Future dates for your diary: The Art Deco Fair 19th November. Antiques For You 20th August and 5th November.

For further details please phone Christina Warren, Luigi Haigh and Sam Reynolds from East Anglian Antique Fairs on 01284 749779 or email logney@aol.com.

Entering the competition involves answering a set of 10 questions concerning the businesses beginnings, barriers, challenges and future plans. Ron Pethick CEO stated that he feels Antiqueshunting.com's chance are good. "We are the sort of young ambitious business they are looking for." Competition entry closes 28/4/06, and the winners will be announced in August 06.

Antiques For Everyone Fairs are the largest vetted Antiques Fairs with volume attendances of 15,000 visitors to each event. Every item for sale is vetted for authenticity, date and condition - the details given on each item's label are also checked. The Fair is datelined and divided into Section 1 and Section 2.

If you are in the area why not take the time to visit the Fair and come and see us on stand L19 in Section 2. We've got 2 great offers:

For Dealers - get 3 months subscription fees free with a special promotion code only available from our stand at the NEC.

For Collectors - enter our free prize draw to win an antique ring box.

Event Details:

Opening Times:
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Admission: £10.00 (on the day)

Advance Tickets: £8.00

Transaction fee of 50p applies.

Free Car Parking & Visitor Guide

Box Office: 0870 736 6060 ]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.antiqueshunting.com/news/pressreleases/11 Antiqueshunting.com are proud to announce a further positive step in aligning the antiques market with modern consumer business. Antiqueshunting.com is pleased that a major funding agreement has been reached between Antiqueshunting.com HSBC and the DTI, in support of the on line Antiques and Fine Art company's future plans. Antiqueshunting.com has secured DTI support through HSBC for £100,000. This money will be used to further develop and expand Antiqueshunting.com online functions, and to promote the site as a destination for customers searching for quality Antiques via the Internet. CEO, Ron Pethick, stated:

"Our pipeline of new on line functions was strategically developed to ensure that we deliver innovative solutions to assist both dealers and customers This agreement further consolidates our position as the destination of choice for both dealers and customers for antiques online, ensuring we stay one step ahead of the competition. The money reaffirms our commitment to use advanced technologies to deliver the finest service online".

The Conference was organised by the Antiques Trade Gazette, Olympia Antiques Fairs, BADA, LAPADA, SLAD, the ABA and Lennox Cato, with the full support of the regional associations. It was chiefly sponsored by the Dreweatt Neate auction group, and others including Antiqueshunting.com, a new Internet based Marketplace for Antiques and Fine Art.]]> Sat, 02 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://www.antiqueshunting.com/news/pressreleases/2 Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://www.antiqueshunting.com/news/pressreleases/1