It began as a companion to the famous Bath event, but Bruton’s decorative antiques fair is fast gaining an equally enviable reputation

Key to the look and feel of the Bruton Decorative Antiques Fair is the way the stands are curated and displayed. The idea is to show people how antique pieces can be used and incorporated into their own homes. You could find curious interpretations of random objects – antique dolls’ houses as cocktail cabinets, any possible object converted as lamps or planting vessels, huge illuminated shops signs as wall art, absolutely any garden related object or furniture brought indoors and architectural elements used as accent pieces.

Younger dealers working in the antiques trade also re-imagine the use of traditional furniture making oak and mahogany relevant in 21st century interiors. So, for example, Somerton dealer Mary Hossack of Life Interiors combines country furniture and upholstered 19th century pieces with contemporary lighting, art and mirrors.

This year sees new exhibititors coming to the event, which takes place at Haynes Motor museum. They include Youlls Antiques with its French provincial furniture and specialist Art Deco furniture dealers Shine On Design from Brighton. TV antiques specialist and decorative dealer Mark Stacey Antiques will also be appearing along with Denis Perry Antiques from Ashburton.

Returning dealers include Alchemy from Bruton, Quillon House Antiques, also Bruton-based, and Sherborne’s Macintosh Antiques.

Also returning this year is Mark Hill. A previous visit turned up a surprise for the BBC Antiques Roadshow expert, author and lecturer when he came across an early Victorian miner’s hat being offered by Bruton exhibitors Hiscock & Shepherd for £95. Apparently, the little hat just spoke to Mark and later research revealed that his ancestors had worked in the mining industry in Timsbury, a few miles from Bruton. He may not find such a personal connection this time around, but Mark will still be leading tours around the fair on the Saturday, which will be streamed on social media channels throughout the day.

The Bruton Decorative Antiques Fair runs from October 19-21. Friday, 2-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am–5pm. The Trade Preview is on Friday 19 October 11am–2pm.