Car Boot Fairs

As dealers’ and buyers’ thoughts turn more to Pinot Grigio by the pool than art and antiques in August, only a few fairs rattle around to provide solace for those eager to earn or spend some money.

This large Burmantofts faience plaque sold for £7000 at 1818 Auctions of Milnthorpe, Cumbria. The vendor, who bought it at a car boot sale for £20, was in the room to watch bidding surge way beyond a £400-600 estimate.

Duke’s of Dorchester will offer this 9in (23cm) shell made by Lino Tagliapietra (b.1934), a master glass blower in Murano, at auction next month.

It’s doubtful that the average person associates car boot sales with burlesque dancers, but that’s the combination you’ll find at the Art Car Boot Fair 2007 in London’s Brick Lane.

POSH country house car boot sales are becoming almost as common as the more familiar down-market variety.

Rising early after a heavy night out and trawling through a muddy field with the local riff-raff may not sound like an ideal way to spend a Sunday morning. But, like thousands of Brits obsessed with car boot sales, the vendor of a William De Morgan charger in this sale had done just that to obtain his treasure.