The AAADA Antiques & Decorative Arts Melbourne Fair opens on Thursday evening with the Opening Preview, where you can enjoy a glass of Scotchmans Hill wine as you browse antiques, decorative arts, design and jewellery from antiquity to contemporary, from some of Australia’s leading antiques and art dealers.
Your Preview ticket gives you entry all weekend, so after you’ve enjoyed the Opening Preview you can return the next day and take an 11am tour of the fair highlights with Andrew Dixon, who is also taking a tour on Saturday at 2pm. A retired librarian, Andrew is closely affiliated with a number of historic house museums in Victoria. Sunday will see antique dealer and expert Mark Howard touring the fair highlights at 11am. Questions are encouraged as you delve deeper into the stories behind the objects.
There are a number of talks being held over the weekend, sponsored by The Johnston Collection and featuring leading experts and artists such as Trevor Hancock, who will be looking at changing values and styles in jewellery at 1pm on Friday; Alissa Duke, who will be discussing turning books into objects of art at 11am on Saturday; Scott Coleman, who will be pondering the grandeur of British royal ceramics at 1pm on Saturday; and Genine Wallinga, who will be presenting pieces from the An Ho hoard at 1pm on Sunday. Seating is available for all talks and no booking is necessary.
You can also get a free appraisal while you’re at the AAADA Melbourne Fair, by taking an item or photo up to the stage where you’ll be matched with the right expert for your piece. This service is offered over the weekend from 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Friday and Saturday and from 2pm to 3pm on Sunday (up to three items).
The AAADA Antiques & Decorative Arts Melbourne Fair opens at 4pm on Thursday evening April 30 and runs until 4pm Sunday May 3 at the historic Malvern Town Hall in Melbourne.
Buy your tickets online and you might win $1000 to spend with a AAADA Member! Tickets also available at the door. Click here to go to the website.
