Bibury Antiques Fair to be held online during lockdown is one of the stories, places or details that helps explain why the Cotswolds stays with people long after they leave.
So, whether you are planning a visit or simply enjoying a little Cotswold inspiration, we hope this helps you understand why Bibury Antiques Fair to be held online during lockdown deserves its place in the list.
02/05/2020
The Bibury Antiques Fair, which is usually held at the Bibury Village Hall, Bibury, Gloucestershire, every month from April to November is to continue online under an initiative announced by Iain Brunt, founder of www.antiques.co.uk.
Rather than postpone the fair until the present COVID-19 lockdown is over, the fair will be selling antiques, decorative and vintage items at www.antiques.co.uk/seller/4448/Bibury-Antiques-Fair
May’s fair was launched yesterday (May 1) and will run until Wednesday, May 27.
Bibury is a small fair, with a maximum of 12 dealers, many of them semi-retired and struggling as they have been selling via their local antique centres which are now closed.
A number of beautiful vintage items have been listed on the site including a Burr Yew Tea Caddy (c 1760, £385), a Royal Winton Grimwade Novelty Rooster Teapot (c 1936 £45.00) and a very rare Perpetual Calendar (£90).
Organiser Andy Briggs, who has a restoration business, Echo Antiques based in Standlake, Oxfordshire, said: “I have been running my own restoration business since 1993 and have been involved in running antiques fairs since 1996.
“Over the year’s things have changed, but nothing so strange as these times. Now I am ready to move more towards internet sales, having added my own items for sale on www.antiques.co.uk and now for the dealers of our fair which is usually held in Bibury Village Hall.
“I’m pleased the Bibury fair will continue and I will encourage organisers of other fairs to also go online.”
Fantastically for Andy and the other dealers, a pre-event launch sale has already occurred: a nicely boxed Victorian silver knife and folk set made in 1875.
This online fair is part of the www.antiques.co.uk initiative to support antique fairs and dealers during the lockdown period.
www.antiques.co.uk has approached nearly 40 community antique fairs across the UK to offer them this lifeline during the lockdown.
“This has been a very concerning time for the industry, one which I have been in for over 40 years. We wanted to introduce a number of changes to our site to allow dealers and private clients to more easily buy and sell and in particular to offer local antique dealers the opportunity to sell – I am glad that it is working for Bibury and look forward to it working for others.”
Recently www.antiques.co.uk introduced a “pay for play” facility: a flat £3.75 fee for selling on the platform. www.antiques.co.uk also has a valuation service which can value antiques and collectables for as little as £10 – and within 48 hours.
