Antiques Young Gun of the Year 2014

The eagerly awaited confirmation of the Antiques Young Gun of the Year awards 2014 can now be revealed! The team behind this fast growing and now very high profile movement, designed to promote members of the antiques trade, aged 39 and under, George Johnson, Mark Hill and editor of Antiques News and Fairs Gail McLeod, are delighted to announce that the awards ceremony and party will take place on Friday 4 July 2014 and will be hosted here at Alfies Antiques Market!

Winner – The Antiques Young Gun 2013 – Timothy Medhurst.
From left: Organiser George Johnson, celebrity designer Nicky Haslam, Timothy Medhurst, Mark Hill

We are delighted to be hosting the awards this year and fully support the campaign. Last year we welcomed Alys Dobbie of Nanadobbie to Alfies for two months as part of the special Judge's Prize.  

Bennie Gray - who opened Alfies in 1976 - told Antiques News & Fairs: "These days the politicians are all saying it’s the entrepreneurial spirit that will save our economy. Which I think is true - of course the antiques trade has always been one of the most fertile breeding grounds for entrepreneurs, especially those with a fine eye for design. So it is a great privilege and a great pleasure for our antique markets to welcome and support the Young Guns. We wish them well.”

Winner of the special Judge’s Prize 2013, Alys Dobbie of Nanadobbie. From left: George Johnson, Alys Dobbie, Nicky Haslam, Mark Hill

Roof Top Kitchen

The awards ceremony and party will take place in the Rooftop Kitchen when the organisers will announce not only the winners and runners up but also which winning Young Gun will be matched with which of the twelve mentors, aka Antiques Heavy Artillery.

The names of the Antiques Heavy Artillery will be announced at the party to celebrate the 25th Bath Decorative Antiques Fair on Thursday 6 March 2014.

This group of twelve has been drawn from the most experienced and well known members of the trade across all sectors, aged 40 and over, and each has agreed to donate at least three days of their time over a twelve month period, from 4 July, to mentor one winning Antiques Young Gun.

Details of the prize package and how to get involved will be released at The Bath Decorative Antiques Fair.

Visit the Antique Young Guns website and follow the updates at: www.antiquesnews.co.uk

Young Guns Judges Prize Winner Nanadobbie Opens Summer Shop at Alfies

The winning Young Guns of the Antiques Trade were announced last week at the Battersea Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair with the judge's award going to Alys Dobbie of Nanadobbie. The prize was a stand at Alfies for two months in June and July.

'I am amazed to have won a stand at Alfies. Some describe it as the aficionado for mid century design, and I am honoured that I will be a part of it'. - Alys Dobbie

The Young Guns of the Antiques Trade were set up to promote younger members of the trade as well as to highlight the green credentials of antiques. The overall winner was 21 year old Timothy Medhurst, a numismatic auctioneer and valuer who beat an incredible shortlist of twelve.

Alys Dobbie opened her first shop in Cornwall in 2006 after regularly selling vintage and retro goods at Spitalfields Market and in Clapham in London. Once the shop was established Alys went back to university and achieved a first class honours degree at Buckinghamshire Chiltern's University in furniture restoration. After graduating she opened a shop in London before moving to Brighton in 2010, taking the business with her. Since then Nanadobbie has gone from strength to strength winning Best Vintage Shop in the Homes and Antiques Awards 2012.

Another Young Gun, Robyn Alston from On the Wall Antiques will also be displaying some mirrors in Alys's new shop.

Grand opening 8th June, come and visit Alys Dobbie in her new shop at Alfies on the second floor.

www.nanadobbie.com

www.alfiesantiques.com