Wednesday, August 26, 2009

DID YOU KNOW LONDON'S GROSVENOR HOUSE ANTIQUE SHOW IS NO MORE?


The creme de la creme of antique fairs on the international circuit is closing its doors. This past June the show celebrated its 75 year existence, and was the only show to have royal patronage. Collectors of museum quality pieces are dwindling away in a time where people are choosing to live a more casual lifestyle.
Another sad casualty of the economy and changing tastes in the interior design industry---

THE GROSVENOR HOUSE ART & ANTIQUES FAIR
COMES TO AN END AFTER 75 GLORIOUS YEARS

It is with great regret that The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair and Grosvenor House announce that The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair will no longer be continued.

For 75 years the hotel and the art and antiques trade have enjoyed a happy and productive relationship, but it has been decided in consultation with the British Antique Dealers’ Association and The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair Executive Committee that the Fair is no longer financially viable. The closure of this much- loved fair, however, presents an opportunity for the trade to mount a new event commensurate with maintaining London as the centre of the art market.

"It has been a privilege for Grosvenor House to host the Art & Antiques Fair for so long and I am delighted we were able to celebrate its 75th anniversary together", said Anthony Stewart-Moore, General Manager of the hotel, "I would like to pay tribute to Simon Phillips and the Executive Committee of the Fair as well as its long- standing Director, Alison Vaissière and her organising team for working so hard for so many years to produce one of the finest art and antiques fairs in the world.”

Simon Phillips, Chairman of the Fair, said that the 2009 event had been a great success and commented: “It is a great disappointment to me that The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair has come to an end. I quite understand that it no longer makes financial sense to continue the Fair. It has been a very long and happy partnership but most great events have a lifespan and a Diamond Anniversary is a fitting point on which to end on a positive note.“

The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair was launched in September 1934 to great acclaim. It was a groundbreaking event setting the standards that all others strived to follow. The final Fair – an acknowledged success - was held in June 2009.

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