An artist taking part in Oxfordshire artweeks made a King Charles mannequin to showcase at a monthly market.

Emma Davis, from Oxford, made the mannequin from a shop mannequin acquired from Baby Gap, she has several of them in her studio in Rectory Road, Oxford.

She said: “I thought he would make a fine addition to my stall at the monthly Magdalen Arms flea market – luckily we were under awning and he and I kept dry throughout the torrential downpour add day.

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“He was not for sale, and he’s now back in my studio where he can be visited during artweeks.

“I have a collection of strange things on the ground floor of my little studio and will be exhibiting my mixed media artwork upstairs.

“I have a full-sized ET replica and a human skull bowl left to me by an eccentric neighbour.”

A regular stallholder at the market, Vez Hoper, who also does PR and marketing for the covered market, took photos of Ms Davis with her King Charles Mannequin.

She said: “What I like about the market is that it had an appropriate nod to the coronation, but it wasn’t dominated by it in any way.

“Each seller has their specialism, their own identity.

“I sell vintage curios, china and clothing, and I like finding amazing, beautiful things that I can sell onto other people that I can’t afford to own myself.

“It’s a way of satisfying my own shopaholic nature, but selling everything on afterwards.

“I do end up keeping a lot of the things I can’t sell on, but it’s okay because I go to the market for the social element just as much as the selling element.

“It’s a lovely social occasion, even to just come and have a cup of tea, lovely rolls or a few of the great snacks on offer.

“We’re a tight knit bunch of people and we love meeting random people who come through to browse.”

Florence Fowler, the landlady of the Magdalen Arms, who started Magdalen flea market, spoke about her desire to expand: “I’ve often mentioned that I’d love to have a whole road for the market, but I’ve never approached it with the neighbours.

“I lived in London for a long time, and spent lots of time at Portobello Road. I miss London a lot and this market, and the pub, are a way of bringing London with me to Oxford.

“I started the market 15 years ago, but it was small and irregular back then, and with some help I relaunched it 9 years ago and it’s becomes regular affair.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1