The first Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair

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From furniture to jewellery – showcased in the “Capability” Brown grounds

The town of Petworth in West Sussex is a hub of wonderful antique and fine-art shops and at its centre, the National Trust-owned Petworth House (pictured) has an extensive collection of paintings by Turner. Indeed, the 17th-century mansion was where the artist worked and lived when he was commissioned to paint the then-owner of the vast property, the third Earl of Egremont – and much of the film Mr Turner was shot on location here.

So what an artistically appropriate backdrop for the first Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair (£10 entry fee), to be held on May 8-10 in a vast pavilion in front of the picturesque lake – within the 700-acre grounds designed by “Capability” Brown. “Ever since I became involved in fairs, Petworth House has been mentioned as the perfect location for an event,” says Ingrid Nilson, the organiser of The Antiques Dealers Fairs Limited. “Best of all, it is turning into a great collaboration for the whole of Petworth.”

One of the highlights of the fair will be the painting Terwick Mill near Midhurst (£65,000) by the late West Sussex artist Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979), from The Canon Gallery. Sir Frances Grant on Grindal (Grindal being his horse), by John Ferneley Senior and from Rountree Tryon Galleries – signed and dated 1851 – is also on sale for £95,000, but it is the extremely rare pre-Renaissance portrait (price on application) of Saint Catherine of Siena (1449-94) from the Ghirlandaio family that will create a rush to Thomas Fine Art.  

Outdoor sculpture will be exhibited against the backdrop of Petworth House; one showstopper will be Paul Vanstone’s Portuguese Senator, made of Portuguese pink marble (£18,000) from Moncrieff-Bray Gallery. Antique and more modern jewellery on show includes a 1970s white enamelled snake brooch by David Webb (£18,500) and a 1980 gazelle brooch (£12,750) by Chaumet Paris – both being sold by Richard Ogden Ltd.

But as befits a town known for antiquing, the selection of furniture is a primary draw. Standouts include a George III-era mahogany bow-front dressing table (£3,450) from Guy Dennler Antiques & Interiors, and from John Bird Antiques an antique footbath (£380).

Tickets to the fair also allow admission to Petworth House and Park, which is not to be missed. Turner and Van Dykes aside, the grand staircase and marble hall are showstoppers,  and the kitchen boasts a copper batterie de cuisine of more than 1,000 pieces. On that note, Petworth boasts a well-revered Indian restaurant that I can personally recommend – Meghdoots. Antiques and aloo saag? Who knows what Mr Turner would have made of that.

National Trust property Chatsworth House also has a knockout exhibition on at the moment, or, for online finds with historical clout, try Mayflower Antiques.