LAPADA Berkeley Square fair returns to splendour
27th September to 1st October 2024 (Preview Day - 26th September)
Originally laid out in the 1700s by architect William Kent, tree-lined Berkeley Square is now in the heart of London’s West End. A stone’s throw from the chic shops of New Bond Street, the Hatton Garden jewellery quarter and afternoon tea at Claridge’s, it has also been the location for LAPADA’s annual London fair since 1993, a highly anticipated event until 2020 and Covid-related disruptions. But, this October, following a three-year pause, the familiar pavilion will open its doors once more.
The LAPADA fair, now rebranded as LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair, brings together over 100 dealers, who between them showcase thousands of years of extraordinary objects, ranging from Roman antiquities to antique jewels once owned by the Russian royal family. An afternoon at the fair feels a bit like visiting an interactive museum, where you can see and touch examples of the finest craftsmanship on the planet, talk to an expert, and perhaps make the purchase of a lifetime. It’s the ultimate destination for connoisseurs and antiques collectors.
Freya Simms, CEO of LAPADA, explains there is a pressing need for the event, especially following the recent closure of several major fairs. Originally set up to fulfil the London art market’s need for a top-level fair, this year’s edition will be their most ambitious ever. ‘For the first time, the Berkeley Square Fair is open to non-member dealers,’ says Freya, which led to several new and existing top-level exhibitors confirming their participation.
Everything offered at the fair is meticulously vetted for quality and authenticity by 70 leading specialists, who scrutinise each item to check its authenticity, that it hasn’t been significantly altered at a later date and that any attributions are correct.
On the eve of the fair a panel of judges, including museum curators, top interior designers, and journalists, is asked to select the best stand, and to choose the best objects across eight categories, including silver, furniture and textiles – they’re on the lookout for exhibits that are truly the best of the best.
We asked some of the members of this year’s selection committee why they’re excited about the LAPADA fair:
Alex Collins is an assistant curator of ‘Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney’ at The Wallace Collection.
I am a specialist in French 18th-century decorative arts: everything from furniture to tapestry, porcelain to silver. The LAPADA fair is a rare opportunity to see incredibly high-calibre works of art and talk to world-class dealers about their passion for the things they’re selling. I love discovering the stories behind these wonderful objects. Sometimes they’ve belonged to important people, and the personal expression of their taste tells you a lot about them. But the stories can also be quite unexpected. During the fair, I am also looking forward to giving a talk about The Wallace Collection’s exhibition of dog portraits, which has been our most-visited exhibition ever.
wallacecollection.org
Kate Gordon, founder of London Art Studies.
I think the joy of the fair is in the discovery: you never know what will catch your eye. It is really the element of the unexpected which stands out, for me, at LAPADA. For that reason, I’d suggest sticking to a grid when wandering the booths – up one aisle, down the next. Otherwise, you do miss certain stands and have to retrace your steps. It is also helpful to have dimensions of a room, if you’re thinking of a dining room table or a large piece of furniture. Figure out what makes you curious and want to learn more – or simply what pleases your eye – and then find a dealer you have a rapport with. The conversation (and the knowledge that comes from it) is the best part of the process. My family have been buying from McKenna & Co since I was a teenager. I recently gave a pair of their earrings, which I was given for my 21st birthday, to my niece for hers.
londonartstudies.com
Jo leGleud is co-founder of the interior design studio Maddux Creative.
If we’re at the phase of a project when we’re ready to go shopping, then we’d take a client to a fair like LAPADA, and get them excited. There’s an element of keeping an open mind – you never know what you might find at a fair – but also knowing your room dimensions and being realistic about what is going to work. Researching in advance the various dealers and deciding who to head for is also a good idea. Even if you don’t find the perfect piece, you can make contacts with dealers who share your vision, and they might be able to help you source what you’re looking for. I’ve recently bought a house and I am a textile addict (I studied textiles and worked as an embroiderer in the fashion world) so from a personal point of view I am really excited to see specialist dealers like Witney Antiques and the Boccara Gallery in one place.
madduxcreative.com
Louise Bradley is one of the UK’s leading interior designers.
My approach to design is intuitive and I channel so many sources of inspiration. Attending an antiques fair such as LAPADA is akin to visiting a meticulously curated museum. My advice is to enter this experience with an open mind and allow yourself to be inspired by what you see, while considering how and where these pieces will enhance the home. Many creative ideas flow from being surrounded by such a vast array of art, antiques and design, so I am looking forward to seeing interesting pieces that will add character and integrity to a space. Introducing antiques into the home does exactly this. It adds narrative and personality, lending rooms a feel of complete distinction. I have always used antiques as a source of inspiration, so the breadth and depth of dealers at LAPADA Berkeley Square is particularly exciting to me.
louisebradley.co.uk
FAIR TICKET OFFER
Readers of Homes & Antiques can access 30 per cent off tickets to the fair with code HA2023 at lapadalondon.com/book. Buy now to visit between 26th September and 1st October.