Debby said that it sounded like a lot of preparation for that car boot sale. Believe me, if it were a car boot sale, it would be a bung it in the back job the afternoon before. No, my Fair next weekend is this one and I am in the Dome (right hand side of the photo above). Keith and I used to have a pillar to pillar (triple) stand in the Dome, right next to the lovely couple who used to sell the copper and brass pictured above. I think they retired just before the first Lockdown, so good timing for them. This time I have a single pitch, but also have a portion of one of the nearby glass doored entrance halls into the Dome, which is planted with amazing shrubs and plants from all around the world and which thrive inside the Dome. This gets VERY hot in the summer and pretty chilly in the winter. Next weekend calls for Winter Woollies! I am being very specific with what I am taking and will even have a mock set up on my big kitchen table before I go to see that I have the look I want. I need to strike the right balance with my display. Some of the French brocante style stalls look like they have been professionally curated by window dressers and I can't compete - having totally different stock anyway. I specialize in the unusual - sometimes bizarre - pieces. Who else will have a bronze Indian temple "toy" in the form of a lion with the head of a man, which is meant to represent the Belgian king and Congo dictator Leopold II. Not a strong selling point since he was responsible for the rape, mutilation and genocide of millions of Congoese people. It's "old stock" (I have an awful lot of that, hence still doing Fairs!!) Keith was with me when I had picked it up just to LOOK at it, and ask the price, and the next moment he had bought it (paying far too much). So I am stuck with it . . . I shall have to play down the Leopold II bit . . . or not mention him at all.
I will take quilts and a Welsh blanket, small pieces of furniture including the lovely Smoker's Bow which has been professionally re-caned and looks fabulous (and it is SO rare). A gorgeous inlaid round-topped wine table with a bobbin-turned stand. A lovely little tiny-hexagons tea-cosy cover, huge wooden Welsh cawl spoons, an old ship's lamp or two, the big Turkish dough boards, and some pretty Studio Pottery ceramics. Some old lace, and those gorgeous Chinese and Burmese wooden pieces. Plus paintings and prints. A bit of everything. I will look through Keith's militaria and see what I may be able to fit in on part of the table. I'll try and add some photos later.
That sounds like a decent selection. Hope it goes well... definitely not a car boot sale!!
ReplyDeleteAs I said, some is pre-Covid stock (ship's lamps, the bronze temple "toy" on wheels, some of the better ceramics. When I had my business we were doing a couple of Fairs a month, but still some pieces might take years to sell - before the "right person" came along and fell in love with it. The ignorance of some of the folk who come round these Fairs is astounding - makes you wonder why they have even bothered to come along, let alone paid to get in, as they just walk past stalls like they are on their daily constitutional! I am feeling a bit more confident now I have polished some things up, researched, priced, wrapped etc.
DeleteI can't believe how different my thinking is these days, I used to LOVE the antique fairs and setting up my stall, now I am happy to virtually give stuff away at the odd car boot sale. All the good stuff that I used to have is virtually all gone and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact I have just found out that my son and his new girlfriend are doing car boots sales together, so I don't even have to sell things myself, I can donate them to my boy!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can still feel the passion in your words and I hope that you continue to enjoy doing the sales that you and Keith did for so many years, and finding the treasures to sell at them. It is a special world and one that you can really feel a part of.
Ooo deary me, the dealer in me runs very deep indeed and it would positively hurt to virtually give stuff away. I think when times were hard, this became ground into my persona. Yes, I have some money in the bank now as a buffer, but I still need to try and at least get my money back on stuff I bought years ago. But that's just me. I used to be dreadful with money but have improved over the years, and now I'm on my own I am VERY careful. Yes, I am still passionate about it and it brings Keith close to me when I'm out fossicking around Malvern, though I don't spend much these days. It's still a world I feel part of and have many good friends on the circuit.
DeleteIt sounds amazing. I hope you sell loads 😀
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Well, at least if you have unusual things, it does attract people to your stall, even if they don't buy anything and that draws people in too.
ReplyDeleteHope it's a great success and that you get rid of King Leopold.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great setting for a fair, even if it will be freezing! I hope you can liquidate quite a few assets & enjoy catching up with old friends.
ReplyDeleteWell it sounds a good day out in a special place. So sell a lot and meet your friends but don't work too hard.
ReplyDeleteBB WhatsApp me a pic of the tea cosy- I’m
ReplyDeleteLooking for one but have something in mind that I’ll know when I see it! X
Interesting to read a seller's point of view. I would be bogged down between what I wanted to sell and what I 'd be thinking the buyers might want. I used to have a guy at the big flea market, who'd pick up lovely really old crazed transferware and white ironstone for me at auction---I wonder if he missed me when I could no longer do the drive and walking/ plus Covid years....How I miss going.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes for a successful market.
lizzy
I'd picked up on that misunderstanding too. A pre set up mock up ahead of time is inspired! I hope you do well, obviously, but also sell some of the bigger, heavier and harder to transport items! Going in your own vehicle means you can take plenty of spare, warm clothing too as it sounds as if it will be needed.
ReplyDelete