The best antique dealers across the country, as chosen by Britain's top interior designers, architects and garden designers
Amelia Thorpe asks some of Britain's best creative minds where they source their antiques.
This is the third part of our series on the experts' experts, in which we spoke to two dozen members of the Country Life Top 100 about the artisans, dealers and writers whose work and wisdom have played a huge part in their careers. The previous instalments saw them name the greatest craftspeople working in Britain and the best furniture designers.
Tim Crump, Oakwrights: I like the look of old painted furniture against the oak frames of our homes, so I recommend John Cornall Antiques, Warwickshire, who has simple painted pieces, occasionally, Shaker in style, which are hard to find in the UK. Although not an antique dealer, Shaker of Malvern, Worcestershire, makes beautiful Shaker furniture—which will be the antiques of the future.
Meg Boscawen: Katie Turton, the founder of Perpoli, has an eye for sourcing truly special pieces and a natural talent for uncovering objects with character, history and soul.
A post shared by PERPOLI (@perpoli_)
A photo posted by on
Edward Smith, Artorius Faber: Jack Laver Brister always seems to have some interesting things.
Chloe Willis, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler: Ed Foster and his mother, Val, of Foster and Gane, have an Oxfordshire shop full of interesting pieces, from antiquities to 20th-century works, and I always find something I love. My friend Molly Alexander has opened a store near us on Pimlico Road, London W1, and it is sensational. Strength, restraint and effortlessly chic.
Geoffrey Preston: Su Daybell has a brilliant eye. Her Tetbury shop, Twig, in Gloucestershire, is a place to look for unusual and unique pieces.
Shankar Kothapuram, Tom Stuart-Smith Studio: Darren Jones of Lichen Garden Antiques, Oxfordshire, always finds what you want, even before you knew you wanted it!
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
A post shared by Garden antiques and old stone flooring (@lichengardenantiques)
A photo posted by on
Bee Osborn, Osborn Interiors: Liz Morris Decorative Interiors, specialist in French, Swedish and English furniture and interiors, and Martha’s Attic, Oxfordshire, for all kinds of decorative antiques.
Angelica Squire, Studio Squire: We have found some wonderful pieces at Dorian Caffot de Fawes, London NW8, and also eagerly await the Friday drops by Four Quarters Home and Passé The Store.
Hugo Bugg, Harris Bugg: Darren Jones at Lichen Garden Antiques is our go-to dealer. He has an exceptional range of stone and garden antiques, an outstanding eye and sources that are impossible to match.
Lonika Chande: 8 Holland Street, W8, and Sauce, E10, are both wonderful for 20th-century pieces with personality, whereas Lorfords, Gloucestershire, is always a favourite for its breadth and inspiring mix of antiques and decorative objects.
A post shared by Lorfords Antiques (@lorfordsantiq)
A photo posted by on
Robbie Kerr, ADAM Architecture: Tim Corfield has been fantastic to work alongside, helping to bring his amazing depth of knowledge to shape clients’ searches.
Francis Terry: I am a huge fan of Will Fisher at Jamb, whom I have known for many years. He has such a great instinct for antiques and a love of classical architecture. He also has immense energy and, together with his wife, Charlotte Freemantle, has developed a wide range of excellent reproduction lighting, fireplaces and other antiques.
Rupert Cunningham, Ben Pentreath Studio: Molly Alexander recently opened the most beautiful shop on London’s Pimlico Road, SW1, a few doors down from her mentor Will Fisher’s great Jamb showroom. Inside you’ll find a beautifully curated blend of 18th- and mid-20th-century pieces.
