Jogja Jogja

Needling Away At the Designer Market Spring Fair, 22-27 April 2008, features selling exhibition by Fine Cell Work.

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair at The Marquee, Battersea Park, London SW11 continues to go from strength to strength, having just experienced its busiest fair to date (in January). The Fair was awash with leading interior decorators looking to buy the best in unusual period design (see Notes overleaf).

The organisers are delighted to announce that the Spring Fair Foyer will feature a colourful display and selling exhibition of textiles by Fine Cell Work, a Registered Charity that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products on their behalf. Many well-known designers, such as Kaffe Fassett, Melissa Wyndham, Sandy Jones and Nina Campbell are associated with the charity, and the Foyer display will include items made to designs created by them exclusively for Fine Cell Work.

The Fine Cell Work display will include tapestry and suzani-style cushion covers, patchwork quilts and other exciting ideas, all for sale, that will be hard to resist taking home to add a special zing of colour to a decorating scheme.

Decorating is what the Decorative Fair is all about: more than 130 exhibitors take part at the event, bringing a wonderful array of stock from traditional English furniture to fabulous ‘fifties lighting and mid-century modern design. Dealers are careful to select stock which appeals for its practicality, price and character – these one-off items can’t be found on the high street and can add a wealth of individual style to a home.

Trends from the last Fair, evidently appealing to the designer market at present, include:
- chrome Anglepoise and over-sized industrial-type metal lighting
- sofas and chaises longues of all periods, of more unusual design (especially with original upholstery)
- large-scale furniture (extra large cupboards, chests, tables, chairs)
- smaller, decorated mirrors, especially with silvered frames
- chandeliers of all sizes
- chinoiserie and japanned items
- late Victorian/early C20th leather seating in traditional style, but of unusual form, sold well.

Up and coming: lots of early 20th century Heals furniture was spotted at the last Fair. Its simple designs based on the Arts & Crafts style, often executed in pale wood (young oak, etc) gives it a very modern and light look. At present these are very reasonably priced items, and are sure to go up in value.