It has been announced that Leeds University have recently launched two resources that will be used in conjunction with the study and research into the British art and antiques market.
The first of these two is an interactive map of the British Isles, which tracks the demographic chances of the trading of art and antiques from 1900 to 2000. The second resource, and arguably most relevant to the world of antique pocket barometers, is the Centre for the Study of the Art and Antique Market.
These two welcome new resources are part of an ongoing project which is focusing on the history and importance of the changing antique trade during the 20th century, and how this trade has impacted the economy in the UK.
The two and a half year project first started back in November 2013, where information was initially gathered to shed light on any significant activity within the trade during the 20th century. This could have been anything to do with companies, or individual dealers.
Now the website has been unveiled, with details of over 2100 dealers who each have their own data set, which shows where they would have been located at any time during the 20th century.
An initial estimation has stated that around 7000 dealers a year started or closed during the 20th century, and the website is hoping to have approximately 100,000 data sets on the map by the time it is finished.
The database of the website will continue to grow in the coming years, and beyond, as, at present, it only has 2/3% of the data they wish to have. Upon receiving or discovering new information, a team will verify said information, in order to ensure its accuracy and suitability for the site. Work is being done to allow dealers to upload their own location and information to the site.
At present, the team are applying for follow-on funding to their original £250,000 funding to safeguard the continuation of the project, and will hopefully act as a single and complete database of information surrounding antique traders.
Image: MEETinLEEDS under Creative Commons.
