Bank Holiday treasures with Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair

Opening for the twelfth consecutive year, the three-day event taking place from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10 will be opened by Lord Egremont, whose family previously owned the property.

“Now under the auspices of the National Trust, Petworth House holds a magnificent collection of the nation’s art for visitors to the property to enjoy,” said spokeswoman Gail McGuffie

“This year’s Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair, organised by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited, features a plethora of disciplines from some 60 dealers gathering in the marquee, specially constructed for the occasion, overlooking Petworth House and its 700-acre deer park designed by Lancelot Capability Brown.

“The fair is a wonderful opportunity to see so many specialities from dealers around the UK congregating from as far north as Aberdeen, as well as some of the nation’s treasures, as there is a reciprocal arrangement between the National Trust and the fair organiser, so that antiques fair ticket holders can visit Petworth House, its grounds and Pleasure Gardens free of charge over the three days of the fair. In return, National Trust members can have complimentary access to the fair on all three days.

“There are a number of highlights to be found amongst the variety of disciplines heading to this popular event in West Sussex with many more to be discovered in person. Reindeer Antiques brings a rare example of work by a female cabinet maker, Ann Lee Warner. This early-19th century lacquer cabinet on its original lacquer stand is decorated inside and out with mythical Chinese landscapes, flowers, bamboo and vine leaves. It retains its original brass maker's label which is engraved with Ann Lee Warner Fecit A.D. 1815, priced at £21,000.

“Continuing with furniture, William Cook always produces a great looking stand, this year with a Regency period mahogany 52-inch centre table attributed to Gillow, circa 1810; a Queen Anne walnut chest on stand retaining the original handles and cabriole legs, circa 1710 and an early 19th century French mahogany console table with the original marble, circa 1820 planned to be on show.

“Furniture destined for Walton House Antiques’ usual stand in the foyer entrance, which it shares with Cambridge Fine Art, includes a fine George III Regency writing table in the manner of Gillows of Lancaster with fluted legs, circa 1810, with a price tag of £3,450.

“Oriental Rug Shop exhibits again bringing a variety of sizes and traditional designs, which work so well with the antique furniture, including a pair of Persian Kashan rugs, signed, approx. 200 x 140cm, circa 1930, £2,250; a late 19th century north-west Persian Kurdish long rug, approx. 325 x 125cm, £4,250 and a Bakhtiari garden rug, approx. 200 x 150cm, circa 1930, £1,750.

“Three clock specialists are exhibiting at this year’s Petworth Park fair. Frodsham Clocks is joining regular exhibitors the BBC Antiques Roadshow horological expert, Richard Price and also Olde Time. A top-quality piece from Frodsham Clocks is a Mercer eight-day mantel chronometer no: 608, dating to 1926, set in a burr yew case with brass banding signed by the retailer T.S. Cuthbert, Glasgow, £16,500, usually used as an aid to marine navigation. Only a few hundred of these chronometers were cased as mantel clocks to be used domestically; this one comes with its original key.”

The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair will be in The Marquee, Petworth House and Park, Petworth, GU28 0QY from Friday to Sunday, May 8-10; Friday 11.00 to 19.00, Saturday 10.30 to 18.00, Sunday 10.30 to 17.00. Website: www.petworthparkfair.com.

Tickets: £10 including programme (and re-admission) through Eventbrite https://PetworthParkFair2026.eventbrite.co.uk

Tickets include complimentary access to Petworth House and Park over the three days. Free entry to the antiques fair for National Trust members.