The Canny Collector: brown is back

The Summer Fair has taken some giant leaps, writes Daniel Morris

So who wants brown furniture these days? If we believe what we read, no one. Well, I say: don't believe all that you read. It's taking time, but the old guard with their deadly flock wallpaper are gradually fading away and a new breed of young enthusiastic dealers is beginning to make its mark.

There is no better place to see this shift in emphasis than at the rebranded Summer Fair at Olympia in west London, which opened on Friday and runs until Sunday, June 18.

 

Among the younger exhibitors worth looking out for are Andrew Lamberty and the Berg Brothers. Both focus on 20th century design, but not the household names with museum prices. This is an area of the furniture market which is sure to attract increasing attention, so some well-considered purchases now could prove a wise investment. I was particularly drawn to a French 1930s console table attributed to the Dominique design partnership (£7,200).

If 20th-century steel and marble is not your bag but the finest quality Georgian furniture is, then Edward Hurst's stand should be your first port of call. Architectural furniture with great surface colour and patination off-set by plain white walls - he catches the eye of the seasoned collector and the passing designer in a single stroke.

He is exhibiting a remarkable pair of English hall chairs (£8,500) which are sure to find a new home very soon. Made for the Earl of Castlemaine in about 1720 and with wonderful shaped and painted backs, they are one of the best examples of the English baroque in the fair.

In a similar vein, James Graham-Stewart, another of the younger exhibitors, is showing a collection of stunning 19th-century Sumatran ceremonial cloths, which are Rothko-esque in their simplicity and make a great impression juxtaposed with a rare and unusual architectural armchair made in England in about 1700 (cloths £4,000-5,000; armchair £24,000).

Meanwhile, as growing numbers of people want only to live with objects they can actually use, what could be better than turning off the flat screen television and indulging in some good old fashioned chat over a game of backgammon, using a great piece of 19th-century furniture? Tarquin Bilgen, yet another of the under-40s, is exhibiting a fine quality French "tric trac" table (£9,800). The French name for the game comes from the sound of the pieces being moved around the board.

Living in simple, uncluttered surroundings does not mean we have to be uncomfortable, however. Everyone needs a good armchair or sofa to sink into occasionally. And no one made them better than the Victorians, in particular a company called Howard & Sons. In terms of value for money, quality, comfort and durability, a good Victorian upholstered armchair or sofa wins hands down against the modern replicas sold in out-of-town warehouses. Another of the younger dealers, Max Rollitt, has created a niche for himself in this area. He will be exhibiting several examples ranging in price from £2,000-£5,000. While other major international art and antique fairs are tip-toeing into the 21st century, the Summer Fair has taken some giant leaps. Gone is the plethora of tedious stands selling boring furniture and in their place is a wonderland of breathtaking displays, some clad in chain-mail, others lined in ermine, all showing works of art to their best potential. This is all complemented by lectures, an advisory service for buyers, a restaurant with two Michelin stars, and a VIP service. The organisers and exhibitors have done what they can. Now it's up to the public.