Antiques month in London in June is off the menu this year. The good news is that the Kensington Church Street Art and Antique Dealers Association is running a virtual summer showcase online at www.antiques-london.com with items from ancient to contemporary available until June 30. It must be admitted that the theme of the showcase, Fit for Royalty, is not quite as up to the minute as Black Lives Matter but Kensington is a Royal borough with a long tradition of welcoming everyone. When it comes to the promotion of BAME art and artefacts the trade has never been backward. There is no shortage of Asian art specialists on the street and tribal art has long been admired and promoted. Items on display include a Meiji period Japanese okimono of a hawk and snake, a selection of antique Chinese stands in different exotic woods, works of art and scholars items such as a late Ming bronze paperweight. There are Chinese, Japanese and Korean ceramics and paintings from the 11th to the 21st century, Indian art including a mother of pearl hand washing basin and Chinese armorial porcelain for the west as well as exhibitions on the Georgian and Regency eras. In keeping with the theme is a gothic revival oak centre table designed by A.W.N Pugin for Morel & Seddon, commissioned by King George IV for Windsor Castle. In our new virtual world these are available to everyone without having to travel further than their own computer.
Meanwhile Masterpiece Online runs from June 22-28. There will be 138 exhibitors exhibiting online with digital presentations plus an online viewing room hosted by Artsy.
