The three ages of dealing at LAPADA – bringing new life to the past for the future

Celebrating the best of art and antiques in the creative surroundings of LAPADA’s Berkeley Square Fair is with us at last – and we hope you all have the most wonderful time. But it’s also a time to remind ourselves why LAPADA matters, not just to the trade itself, but also to the public.

What better way to illustrate this than with three members whose association with LAPADA began at different times.

Having trained as an economist with degrees at the Courtauld Institute in art history and with an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, Michael Goedhuis first set his sights on the world of investment banking, working in New York and London. But it was art that was to capture his full attention when he joined Jacob Rothschild (now Lord Rothschild)’s Colnaghi.

There he specialised in Persian, Mughal and Islamic art, curating and selling major collections to numerous institutions including the Rothschild Collection to the Shahbanu of Iran and the Vever Collection to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

Setting out on his own accord, Michael now has a gallery in Cadogan Square, where China, Japan and India all engage his interest. He became the first dealer in the West to focus on Chinese modern and contemporary art, including a pioneering exhibition at Sotheby’s, New York, in 2001, China Without Borders.

Landmark exhibitions followed across the world.

“Most of his activity since then has been directed at describing both the resurgence of cultural activity in the China of today and the key relevance of Chinese Ink art to contemporary aesthetics,” his gallery explains. “In addition to representing the best contemporary Chinese artists, his activities now include exhibiting work by the new generation of Western artists, painters, sculptors, and designers.”

Although long established, Michael is a relatively new member of LAPADA and says: “My first experience with LAPADA was last year and I found it surprisingly versatile in terms of the dealers that were there. I very much like the fact that the clientele at LAPADA is thoroughly cosmopolitan and draws in the best and the greatest from all over central London.”

Two works he is bringing to the Berkeley Square Fair illustrate this well. The first is Good Times: Mountain of Mist 2020, by Yao Jui-chung, a stunning landscape view in gold leaf and ink on handmade paper in individual panels. Framed, it measures 108 x 75.5cm.

From the West, artist Emilie Pugh has created Anthropic System II, 2021, an extraordinary abstract work using six layers of burnt kokuze paper that echoes a view of spiral galaxies. At 150 x 120 x 120cm it is an imposing piece.

“What’s not to love about the LAPADA Fair,” says Mark Goodger, who is celebrating 25 years as an independent dealer in the finest antique boxes and accessories – most notably, wonderful 18th century tea caddies – and 35 years in the business this year.

“Set in a stunning location, it’s truly one of the best fairs in the world. For me and fellow dealers, it’s an invaluable platform to showcase our finest goods, and it delivers in every way. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with new faces and reconnect with existing clients, strengthening relationships that fuel confidence in our online sales. The prestige and atmosphere of the LAPADA Fair make it an essential event for all of us.”

That prestige comes from LAPADA itself, the UK’s largest art and antique dealers association, whose brand and reputation are the must-haves for those in the trade wishing to attract the best clients.

“It’s hard to believe that 35 years in the industry have flown by!” says Mark. “From the moment I started at 15, assisting cabinet makers to make furniture for Habitat, I knew I had found my calling. My dream came true when I landed an old-fashioned apprenticeship, learning alongside master craftsmen—cabinet makers and French polishers who generously passed down their skills and secrets. All this while attending High Wycombe Furniture College to perfect my trade.

“Fast forward to today: buying, restoring, and selling has been an absolute thrill. Let’s be real—Antique Dealing, there’s no other job quite like it! And can we even call it a job? We’re like kids in a sweet shop, and the passion just keeps growing. We can’t get enough!”

You can view Mark’s specially produced 25th Anniversary catalogue online. Keep an eye out, too, for Mark’s stand this year.

“We always try to make a show stopper wherever that may be, just so people stop and look. LAPADA is known for the beautiful trees of Berkeley Square growing within the fair itself; I will be bringing my own interpretation of this and have created my own tree on the back wall of my stand, hung with Continental fruit tea caddies in the forms of Apples, Pears and other rare fruit tea caddies.”

Callum Jackson is standing at the fair for the first time. Although he already has five years in business under his belt as a dealer, Callum is still only 30.

“On the plus side, I’m young enough to have grown up in the age of modern technology

and this means that I can provide all of my own tech support, which is handy as 95 per cent of my business is online. I do everything from web development to cataloguing and standing at fairs. I have high standards and want to keep my costs down, so doing almost everything myself is the way to meet both of those objectives.

“The biggest challenge is getting accepted by other members of the trade and the public. It’s a question of trust and it can be extremely hard to break through. People buy from who they trust and people they know, so they want to be reassured that you know what you’re doing and are offering only the best pieces.

“That’s why becoming a member of LAPADA has been so important. As a guardian of standards and quality, LAPADA’s procedure for admitting new members is the perfect guide. First you become an associate member, and you can only become a full member after you have proved yourself after a few years. I’m also a member of the Cotswolds Antique Dealers Association (CADA), and to get the associations on board like this is an absolutely vital step in gaining the trust of the trade and buyers.”

Callum’s advice to others of a similar age thinking of turning their hand to dealing is: “Chase the objects rather than the money – the money will come anyway if you always look for the best things. And build a platform on your own speciality so that is what you are known for.

“Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that antiques are all about brown furniture. The sheer scale of extraordinary things out there waiting to be discovered never ceases to amaze me. You have no idea about what you’ll buy next, and that’s where the thrill lies.”

Currently, Callum is particularly thrilled with what he thinks may be a unique item: a Japanese Komai iron charger, c.1930 with a gold inlaid central scene depicting thatched roof housing with Mount Fuji in the background framed by shallow relief twin dragons.

Mark Goodger’s inspirational Tree caddies, which can be seen on the back wall of his stand at the fair, and a close-up of some of the tree’s hanging fruit, caddies made from Apple Wood, pear Wood and others.

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