We were at the Edinburgh Antiques and Collectors Fair organised by B2B Events last month and had some interesting finds to share...
Reputed to be the largest fair in Edinburgh, this one certainly attracted quite a crowd. We took a train to Edinburgh Waverley station and transferred to a courtesy bus (waited at the bus stop on Market St., next to St. Christopher's Inn, 9-13 Market St.) This photo shows the queue outside the Royal Highland Centre, where the fair was held. Entry fee was £3 from 10am onwards. Dogs enter for free!
This was quite a good sized fair with plenty of stalls to browse. Items ranged from antique silverware, ceramics, to vintage clothings, kitchenware and collectibles. One thing we liked about it was that each row of stalls was given an alphabet. In a sense, it's easier to find back the stall where you had something in mind but could not commit in the first instance. This could only be possible at a fair of course. You don't really have the luxury to 'come back' to the item at a car boot sale. There was also a canteen-style food corner serving hot food and beverages. Good place to have lunch, re-organize your thoughts and rest those tired legs!
Our first purchases from the same stall. The one on the top has very nice patina. Not sure of its age, but has lots of character. Fully functional as a trinket box. The one below is a vintage music box. The mechanism is a Thorens Movement (made in Switzerland) and it has a lovely tune of 'Auld Lang Syne'.
And then we spotted these lovely leather items and bought them off 2 very kind old ladies. The item on the left is a set of 4 silvered outdoor cups (probably for hunters) in a nice leather case. The one on the right is made of leather too. Any guess what that is?
No, we didn't buy this, of course! Just a unique antiques shop signage we encountered at Edinburgh city centre on our way back from the fair.
Overall, the Edinburgh Antiques and Collectors Fair wasn't too bad. Honestly, it was smaller than expected. However, we were treated visually with a good variety of items, enjoyed ourselves and the prices were OK. More importantly, we learned a great deal from chatting with those dealers and listening to the stories behind each and every item. To be able to own a piece of history and in the process get to know more about how the past very much lives in the present was a real treat for us.
6.5/10 was our score for this fair.
Alright, folks! That's all for now. Stay tune for more!
P.S. The next Edinburgh Antiques and Collectibles Fair is on 17-18 November.
