It's Monday and it's blog post time!
What a Sunday I had! I spent the day at the fantastic antiques fair at York Racecourse, a fair that never fails to deliver! Always a well organised event and I have to say that this one was the best yet! I had to quite literally drag myself away before I sold a kidney to buy more mind blowing antiques!
So, let this week's instalment serve as a tempting little insight into this fabulous triannual event, York Antique Home & Vintage Fair, everybody...!
As always, I opted to pay £10 to gain early trade access to the event. This gets you in an hour before the general public and it was well worth it! Two floors and an outside area of pure quality antiques awaited, and I wasn't going to mess about! I had my plan of action and headed straight for one of my most reliable sources. There I made two purchases straight off the bat!
Then, as I span around, there stood another one of my favourite sellers! Several purchases were made from her and within only ten minutes of being at the fair, my wallet was almost empty! I'd never spent my wedge as quickly as this, at any fair I'd ever been to!
Image: an excited me
Then I found vesta case heaven and this is where I emptied my wallet. Thankfully, there were cash machines on site, so I popped my card in and swiftly reloaded for Round 2.
Image: from left to right - (Instagram) @wrenandrust, @katherineofyorkshire, @uniquehaircombs and me
My friends and antiques associates then joined me. My regular sidekick, Claudia (aka @wrenandrust), Katherine (aka @katherineofyorkshire) and Claire (aka @uniquehaircombs). This is what I love about fairs, but this one in particular, it’s a fantastic day out with friends and I always bump into a few other friendly faces. Chatting, buying, learning and networking.
With an interest in Militaria pieces, I stumbled across a few very interesting pieces, like this unusual set. To me, it looked like a trench art game, a bit like dominoes, created by soldiers to pass some time and lift morale. This came home with me.
Image: Howard Emmerson - Instagram @howard.emmersonclassantiques
Image: Howard Emmerson Class Antiques - Instagram @howard.emmersonclassantiques
Then came my favourite find of the day. Upon venturing upstairs, I spotted a pal of mine, Howard Emmerson Class Antiques (aka Instagram @howard.emmersonclassantiques). Sat underneath a glass case was something that, instantly, I knew had to come home with me. I enquired and Howard delivered, like the reliable font of knowledge he is. He explained that these pieces were from the WW1 Gallipoli campaigns. Carved by a soldier, these pieces of stone trench art were still living in the original tin that the soldier would have treasured them in. With my mind fully blown and more cash parted with, these little treasures came with me!
This fair is a regular fixture in my antiques diary and it just gets better and better, every time I visit. This is a glowing review for a blimmin' tremendous event. I just wish it was on every week! I want to not only say a massive thank you to Richard and the team for, yet again, organising such a memorable event, but to all of the dealers who sold there too. You deserve high praise for the quality of items you were selling. I could tell that each and every one of you had worked so very hard to source the variety and high standard of pieces you were selling. So, well done all and thank you!
Image: Howard Emmerson Class Antiques - Instagram @howard.emmersonclassantiques
We all went home with our wallets empty and our bags full. We're now counting down the days until the next one, which, I understand is on 19th September 2021. So, get it in your diaries and I'll see you there!
Image: from left to right - (Instagram) @wrenandrust, @katherineofyorkshire, @uniquehaircombs
Well, that’s it for this week folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little insight into York Antiques Home & Vintage Fair. Be sure to visit their website - www.antiquefairyork.com - and give them a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for their latest updates and announcements. And, let me know in the comments section below if you too picked up something nice at the fair.
Remember, if you enjoy my posts, please do show your support by subscribing to my Blog, which you can do HERE or via the 'Home' page. And, if you're into antiques, then you might also enjoy my new Source Vintage YouTube channel, which you can find HERE. Head on over and subscribe to that too for your fortnightly dose of finds, fairs, stories and reviews.
Until next week, stay safe, keep buying those antiques and keep spreading that Source Vintage love!
Stephen
Owner Source Vintage
Shop from Source Vintage here
Great piece Steve, hope you do well with the Gallipoli Trench Art set, it was hard to part with, but that’s what the trade is all about!
Regards
Howard Emmerson
Class Antiques