Pick of the week

At the time of writing, it seems that the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair will be taking place in Battersea Park (until January 30). Hatchwell Antiques have just the thing for anyone now organising a work event in their garden: a 3ft-long working model steam engine quite capable of hauling a freight train of bottles and canapés, or, indeed, comparatively small guests, around the lawns. It’s priced at £14,000. The exhibition standard model built in 1910 represents a Beyer Peacock & Co 4–4–0T London Underground condensing steam locomotive as worked on the original Metropolitan Line from Broad Street in the City to Poplar and Camden Town. There is room for a slim driver on the tender, but further carriages would be needed for bottles.