Admiring the finer things at Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair

The Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair, at the Harrogate International Centre, runs until Sunday and will encompass a huge variety of periods, trends and styles.

Yesterday (April 14) Marina Reaks, of Harrogate, admired a silver-mounted English scent bottle, engraved with flowers, original stopper and hallmarks, while working on the Young Collectors stand, at the event.

Ron Hodgson, of Ashleigh House Fine Art, based in Cambridge, has brought a collection of Victorian oil paintings, including a night scene of Whitby by artist Walter Meegan.

“It was painted around 1880 to 1885 and its in the original frame, its a lovely, lovely painting,” Mr Hodgson said.

Speaking about the appeal of Victorian oil painters he said: “Fundamentally its a nostalgia thing but the artists of that period painted in considerable realism and there are members of the public who really appreciate a tree to look like a tree and clearly understand what the painting is about.”

The annual event attracts dealers from far and wide.

A spokeswoman for the show said: “There is something to interest everyone and the dealers, many of whom have shown here for years, are more than happy to discuss the objects they love and explain about investment, ownership and use of the beautiful pieces that will be on show.”

A number of dealers are at the event. Showing fine art will be Baron Fine Art, Walker Galleries of Harrogate and Haynes Fine Art.

Jewellery is represented by Licht & Morrison, Howards of Stratford and Saul Greenstein of London.

Silver will be shown by Jack Shaw & Co from Yorkshire and there will be pottery and porcelain from Roger de Ville, John Newton and Valerie Main.