All the Fun of the Fair!
Alice Roberton talks to Clare Powell, co-organiser of The Vintage Bazaar and owner of Daisy Darling Atelier
As a young girl, Clare was enchanted by flea markets and discovered that vintage and antique items held a special place in her heart. Later, she noticed a need in the south-west for a venue where people could find high- quality vintage and antique textiles, French brocante, and decorative antique items all under one roof. Thus, The Vintage Bazaar was born. Running for over a decade and hosting events in Frome, Somerset, and online, this June marks the launch of The Vintage Bazaar Brocante Jumble.
What are your early memories of visiting antiques fairs? One of my earliest memories is searching for mourning jewellery as a young teen goth! I’ve always found the search so exciting and been thrilled by how much one can learn from the dealers. As I grew older, my collecting reached the point where I had to start selling at fairs myself to avoid becoming a serious hoarder! Now I design, print and sell my own textiles under the name Daisy Darling Atelier (daisydarling.co.uk).
Tell us about your events The Vintage Bazaar started after I’d visited the Vintage and Handmade fair (vintageandhandmade.co.uk) in Chipping Sodbury. I had such a great time and knew that Frome would be the perfect place to bring together all the great dealers I knew for a vintage event. I got together with fellow dealer Liz Van Hasselt (thewasherwoman.blogspot.com) to put on the first one, and the feedback was so good that we decided to run more. I now co- run the event with my great friend, the textile artist Woo Gilchrist (@ wgtextileartist). The events are a real feast for the eyes, with beautifully curated stands and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere.
Tell us about adding online events and a new jumble sale to the roster Our online events came about as a response to the pandemic, as we wanted to provide vintage enthusiasts with a safe way to shop. They feature virtual stalls hosted by our vendors, where shoppers can browse and buy items just like they would at an in- person fair. The jumble will be an annual event, where dealers will be selling items from a yearly clear- out. It will have the feel of an old-fashioned jumble sale, but everything on offer will be beautiful antique textiles, vintage fashion, and decorative antiques.
What are your thoughts on the changing perception of buying ‘pre-loved’? There’s been a real shift in attitude in recent years. People are becoming more conscious of the environmental and ethical implications of their purchasing decisions. Buying vintage is not only a sustainable choice, but also a way to express individuality and support small businesses.
Can you recommend any other west country fairs? I like The Frome Independent and The Shepton Flea; these are friendly, relaxed fairs where the dealers are happy to discuss their stock and one can still find a good bargain.
The Vintage Bazaar Brocante Jumble launches on Saturday 15th June at The Cheese and Grain, Frome. For more details visit thevintagebazaar.co.uk; @thevintagebazaarevents
Kent, TN8 7AD. chiddingstonecastle.org.uk
30th Sunday Kempton, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ. sunburyantiques.com
West & Wales
1st Llandeilo Antiques Vintage Fair, Crescent Road, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19 6HN. derwenantiques.co.uk 1st–2nd International Westpoint Antiques & Collectors Fair,
Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ. continuityfairs.co.uk 2nd The Frome Independent,
Frome town centre, Somerset, BA11. thefromeindependent.org.uk 8th Summer Vintage & Makers Market, National Wool Museum, Drefach, Felindre, SA44 5UP. cowandghostvintage@gmail.com 9th Lostwithiel Antique & Collectors Fair, Lostwithiel Community Centre, Pleyber Christ Way, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0HE. antiquefairscornwall.co.uk 9th Frome Flea Market & Craft Fair, West Woodlands Showground, Frome, BA11 5ES. ashtoncommoncarboot. com/fromeshowgroundfleaandcraft 15th Carmarthen Vintage, Antique & Makers Market, St Peter’s Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen, SA31 1PG. mischievouscowevents@gmail.com 15th The Vintage Bazaar Brocante Jumble, The Cheese and Grain, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BE. thevintagebazaar.co.uk
16th Salvage Fair, Broad Street, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3AB. salvagefairs.com 14th–16th Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN. iacf.co.uk; @iacfantiquesfairs 21st–22nd The Country Brocante Summer in Somerset Fair,
Yarlington House, Yarlington, Somerset, BA9 8DY. thecountrybrocante.co.uk 29th Matford Antiques Fair,
Matford Centre, Matford Park Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter, EX2 8FD. continuityfairs.co.uk 30th Bath Vintage & Antiques Market, Green Park Station, Bath, BA1 1JB. vintageandantiques.co.uk
JUNE AUCTIONS
4th The George Farrow
Collection, Roseberys Auction Room, 70–76 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London, SE27 0JD. roseberys.co.uk 5th Modern British & 20th Century Art, Woolley & Wallis, 51–61 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SU. woolleyandwallis.co.uk 6th Scottish Paintings & Sculpture ft. J.D. Fergusson at 150, Lyon & Turnbull, 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3RR. lyonandturnbull.com 7th Iconic Design Auction: 1860 to the Present Day, Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, DE65 6LS. hansonsauctioneers.co.uk 7th Antiques & Interiors, including Designer Fashion,
Tennants, The Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5SG. tennants.co.uk 11th–12th Fine Interiors, Sworders, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE. sworder.co.uk
13th Centuries of Glass, Fieldings, Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, DY8 1JN. fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk
13th Interiors, Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE. dreweatts.com 13th The Interiors Sale, Cheffins Fine Art, Clifton House, 1&2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA. cheffins.co.uk 13th The Collectors’ Auction,
Anderson & Garland, Anderson House,
Crispin Court, Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1BF. andersonandgarland.com 14th Summer Jewellery and Watches, Fieldings, Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, DY8 1JN. fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk 15th 20th Century Design,
Tennants, The Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5SG. tennants.co.uk 18th Fine Jewellery, Silver & Watches, Chorley’s, Prinknash Abbey Park, Glos, GL4 8EU. chorleys.com 19th Fine Arts & Crafts, Woolley & Wallis, 51–61 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SU. woolleyandwallis.co.uk 19th The Ombersley Court Library, Chorley’s, Prinknash Abbey Park, Glos, GL4 8EU. chorleys.com 19th Arts of India, Roseberys Auction Room, 70–76 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London, SE27 0JD. roseberys.co.uk 19th Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs, Lyon & Turnbull, 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3RR. lyonandturnbull.com 24th–25th Antiques & Interiors,
Bellmans, Newpound, Wisborough Green, West Sussex, RH14 0AZ. bellmans.co.uk 24th–25th The House & Garden Sale, Mallams Auctioneers, Dunmore Court, Wootton Road, Abingdon, OX13 6BH. mallams.co.uk 25th Glorious Trains Auction,
Special Auction Services, Plenty Close, off Hambridge Road, Newbury, RG14 5TR. specialauctionservices.com
25th Old Master, British and European Art, Sworders, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE. sworder.co.uk 25th–26th Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art, Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE. dreweatts.com 25th–26th Silver, Jewellery, Asian, Whisky, Antiques & Interiors, The Cotswold Auction Company, Bankside Saleroom, Bankside Trading Park, Love Lane, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 1YG. cotswoldauction.co.uk 26th The Music Auction, Anderson & Garland, Anderson House, Crispin Court, Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1BF. andersonandgarland.com 26th Fine Art & Antique Auction,
Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers, The Joyce Building, Station Rd, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 1RE. trevanion.com
26th Country House Sale, Mallams Auctioneers, Grosvenor Galleries, 26 Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2SG. mallams.co.uk