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Mark Dodgson

Mark Dodgson of The British Antique Dealers' Association London, established 1918.

Mark Dodgson 14A

A conversation between Mark Dodgson and project lead Mark Westgarth. This interview is the fourth interview in an extension to the Oral Histories project, called 'BADA Voices', and which is supported by the British Antique Dealers' Association.

Mark Dodgson is Secretary General of the British Antique Dealers' Association and in this fascinating interview Mark tells us about the history of the BADA and some of the key events in the history of the art trade and the role that the BADA played in those events.  Mark joined the BADA in 1989 as assistant to then Secretary General, Elaine Dean, before taking over as Secretary General in 2008.

During the interview mark tells us about the history of the BADA, and his other role as member of the Art Trade Liaison Committee (later known as the British Art Market Federation). Mark outlines the wide range of activities that BADA have been involved with over the years, from the negotiations that surrounded the debates on the introduction of VAT in 1974, to the support work that the BADA were engaged with following the contentious introduction of the auction 'buyers premium' in the late 1970s and beyond.

Mark also tells us of the day-to-day business of the Association, running workshops, working with HM Customs on Export certificates, lobbying Central Government Departments on issues such as the recent discussions on the restrictions on the trade in elephant ivory, as well as the BADA support of the educational programmes at West Dean College.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Dodgson and The BADA 2016.