We deal in mid century modern furniture and decorative arts. Based in Clifton, Bristol and with outlets in Cambridge, Bridport, Ludlow and Barnes, London.
We buy good pieces from you, we sell gorgeous things, we source wonderful items at your request and we value for probate, insurance, divorce, sale and asset division.
We also look after private collections of art for those collectors who have a passion for their collections but are limited on time to undertake the administration that can be involved. For example buying at auction to increase the size and quality of the collection, Organising the sale of items that are inferior or do not fit the evolving context of the collection, organising insurance, packing, transportation, negotiating loans to museums or exhibitions and handling scolarly enquiries.
Some of our stock is available to hire for magazine shoots, house setting and filming and we can source mid century modern furniture items or anything unusual or quirky for interior designers, location managers and set designers. We also provide pieces for commercial interiors including board rooms, receptions, bars and restaurants.
We are a small team who met during our fine art valuation degree course many years ago. With a vast range of expertise we can value most things from the 15th century to present day, ranging from furniture, pictures, books, jewellery, silver and ceramics. We do not have a showroom any more but can arrange for you to view any of our items and we are happy to travel to view your items for sale or any piece that requires a valuation.
Find Art Galleries in Essex
February 29, 2020(0)Interested in buying art in Essex? You’re in luck! There are many great art galleries in Essex. However, which is the best gallery for you? As with trying to choose the ‘best furniture shops in Essex‘, what makes the ‘best’ gallery depends on you. What are your preferences? What are your goals for your collection?…
Ercol Furniture
February 29, 2020(0)The history of Ercol furniture is one of grit, talent and determination. Founded in the 1920s, Ercol combined craftsmanship with innovative machining to produce beautiful and functional furniture. Began in High Wycombe and now in Princes Risborough, Bucks, the company continues to produce beautifully crafted wooden furniture. Please note that we are currently not purchasing…
Best Furniture Shops in Cambridge
February 26, 2020(0)When searching for the best furniture shops in Cambridge, you’ve got to know what ‘best’ means for you. For instance, are you most interested in authentic one-of-a-kind pieces? Or is a wide selection and convenience more important? Perhaps, keeping the budget down is your biggest priority. Figuring out where you stand in terms of price,…
An Expert’s Guide to Mid-Century Modern Furniture
February 23, 2020(0)21st-century interior design loves mid-century modern style. You see this in the mid-century modern-inspired pieces offered by current retailers. However, while many may imitate, ‘mid-century modern’ recalls a specific 20th-century design movement. Born of two World Wars and the Industrial Revolution mid-century modern’s iconic pieces are emblems of their time. Are you interested in mid-century…
Eight Reasons to Support Boutique Businesses
February 22, 2020(0)A bad Christmas can mark disaster for a small business. Sadly, it really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’. Seven Reasons to Shop Locally Supporting local businesses makes a big impact on your community. Independent businesses from boutique furniture shops in Cambridge to local gift shops and clothiers, help create a vibrant…
Whitefriars Glass Drunken Bricklayer Pattern
February 21, 2020(0)James Powell and Sons, also known as Whitefriars Glass, was one of the most important manufacturers of British art glass. Founded in the 17th century, Whitefriars made its mark on modern design after the Second World War. In particular, the textured vases designed by Geoffrey Baxter. From 1967, Baxter designed some of the most recognisable…
John Piper, British War Artist
February 20, 2020(0)John Egerton Christmas Piper (1903-1992) was an English artist with a long and varied career. His early work in the 1930s reflected interwar Modernism. However, he found what some consider his most authentic expression as an official war artist during World War II. In particular, his depictions of ruined and bombed churches propelled him into…
Find Art Galleries in Cambridge
February 18, 2020(0) Interested in buying art in Cambridge? You’re in luck! There are many great art galleries in Cambridge. However, which is the best gallery for you? As with trying to choose the ‘best furniture shops in Cambridge‘, what makes the ‘best’ gallery depends on you. What are your preferences? What are your goals for your…
FLOS Lighting
February 16, 2020(0)Sergio Gandini founded FLOS in 1962 in Merano, Italy. Since then, FLOS lighting has set the standard for design-led lamps. We believe that light is more than just a basic need, it is a living substance that helps us to express new ideas and explore new emotions. It makes sense of the past, it brightens…
How to Shop for Second Hand Furniture
February 15, 2020(0)Second hand furniture shops in Cambridge offer some of the most unique and exciting pieces for your home. While the continued trend towards mid-century modern design encourages manufacturers to copy these iconic designs, shopping around for second hand items can get you the genuine article. Moreover, not only do authentic 20th-century pieces embody the classic…
Investing in Antique Furniture
February 14, 2020(0)Collecting can make a worthwhile investment. From collectibles to fine art, collecting can be an enjoyable and rewarding form of investment. In this post, we explore antique furniture buying for investment. Firstly, ‘buy what you love’. While perhaps cliche, successful collectors show that following your passion is essential to success. As when choosing art for…
Best Furniture Shops in Essex
February 12, 2020(0)When searching for the best furniture shops in Essex or Cambridge, you’ve got to know what ‘best’ means for you. For instance, are you most concerned with finding authentic one-of-a-kind pieces? Or are you most interested in a wide selection and convenience? Perhaps, keeping the budget down is your biggest priority. Figuring out where you…
Pieff Furniture
February 10, 2020(0)Pieff Furniture was the British furniture brand of the 1970s. Pieff was an evolution of Production Facilities Ltd., based in Lye, West Midlands. Founded by Fred and David Bates, PDL originally made mostly cateen furniture. However, after Tim Bates joined the business in 1966, the company began to produce high-end furniture. Sold through Harrods, Heals…
A Brief History of Phillippe Starck Chairs
February 8, 2020(0)The work of French designer Phillippe Starck represents some of the most enduring and significant work of the 20th-century. Driven by a commitment to ‘democratic design’, Starck aims to offer superb quality, elegant design and affordability. As you will see, nowhere is this more evident than in Phillippe Starck chairs. …my concept of democratic design…How to Shop for Second Hand Furniture
February 7, 2020(0)Second hand furniture shops in Essex and Cambridgshire offer some of the most unique and exciting pieces for your home. While the continued trend towards mid-century modern design encourages manufacturers to copy these iconic designs, shopping around for second hand items can get you the genuine article. Moreover, not only do authentic 20th-century pieces embody…
Richard Artschwager’s ‘Blps’, Christiaan Nagel’s ‘Mushrooms’ and other street art you have passed but not noticed!
February 5, 2020(0)On a recent trip to the Jeffry Museum and the Whitechapel Art Gallery London, we noticed some strange sculpted mushrooms sitting on top of buildings in and around Kingsland Road, Old Street and the Hackney Road. None of us (and we all frequently travel to this area) had spotted them before and fascinated, we couldn’t resist…
Treasures you could be sitting next to…in your flip flops!
January 29, 2020(0)I was captivated recently by this portrait entitled ‘Chinese Girl’ by the Siberian artist Vladimir Tretchikoff. It had been heavily promoted and was for sale by auction at Bonhams. It was the star of the show and sold for a whopping £982,000 (inc) nearly double it’s estimate. It produced probably one of the most iconic…
10 Celebrity Art Collectors
January 27, 2020(0)Welcome to another edition of interesting (and perhaps not so interesting) art and design facts and musings from the lady herself. In this week’s edition… 10 Celebrity Art Collectors Its not a new thing this ‘I’m a Celebrity get me Another Monet’ world we live in. Art has been collected by the famous for eons.…
Dido Elizabeth Belle – A Black Girl at Kenwood
January 26, 2020(0)Sometimes researching pieces within our collections throws up some truly fascinating stories. They are engrossing and perhaps take up far too much of our time and this story is no exception. It relates to a portrait medallion by James Tassie of Admiral Sir John Lindsay (1737 – 1788), a British naval officer. His tours of…
A Hidden Gem – Don’t Dismiss Value in Your Little Treasures
January 24, 2020(0)Cataloguing the (rather Marmite) nail sculpture by David Gerry Partridge recently, its stark, cold nature reminded me of a little sculpture that we had the pleasure of handling a couple of years ago. It was that classic Only Fools and Horses moment where Del Boy sells the watch at auction and becomes the ‘millionaire’ he…
Our Lynn Chadwick Find Steals the Show
January 22, 2020(0) Missing Lynn Chadwick Maquette Discovered An unassuming sculpture subjected to years of natural wear and tear that had stood forgotten on a mantelpiece for over 50 years has been identified by Fine Art Valuation Ltd and sold at Sothebys in London. The sculpture by Lynn Chadwick, R.A (1914 – 2003) entitled ‘Maquette I Inner Eye’…
“We have discovered the meaning of life” over a beer….
January 20, 2020(0)“We have discovered the secret of life” was the most bizarre announcement made in the Eagle pub in Cambridge on the 28th of February 1953 by Cavendish Laboratory scientist Francis Crick. He was, as we now know, referring to the discovery of the structure of DNA (the genetic code) by himself, and fellow scientist James…
Birmingham Medical Institute – sale of rare book collection
January 20, 2020(0)The July book auction at Dominic Winter’s rooms at South Cerney was given over to the second portion of the rare book collection consigned by the Birmingham Medical Institute. Most of the books and pamphlets were published proir to 1820 and were on medical topics. We received commissions from clients for a number of items…
The Saint and ‘The Third Man’
January 20, 2020(0)One of our specialists recently visited a client where an interesting story emerged. The conversation turned to the film world and eventually to “The Third Man” released in 1949 starring Orson Welles as Harry Lime. The screenplay was written by Graham Greene and the film became a block-buster. The theme music, played on a zither,…
Time to reconsider Antique Silver as an investment?
January 20, 2020(0)Alongside other commodities (notably oil and gold) silver has seen a steady rise again this month, unavoidably tempting dealers with ever-increasing overheads to liquidate their stock via the refineries. To me, this suggests that posterity will benefit from a higher density of fine quality antique silver compared to ‘ordinary’ quality stock, most of which will…20th Century Art and Design
January 15, 2020(0)The terms Retro, Vintage and Iconic are pure 20th century and the design of this period still plays a key role in the decoration of 21st-century homes. Our expertise encompasses furniture, lighting, ceramics and sculpture from the Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernist and Contemporary movements. It was a period of great change…
Mrs Fox Travels….
January 12, 2020(0)The iconic Mrs Fox logo was taken from the title page of a folio of 24 Russian cartoon prints published in the 1970s. The folio was heavily researched but another set has never been discovered and the Mrs Fox logo remained a one off until….. Venice A first visit to this historic city to take…
About Our Valuations
January 12, 2020(0)Our great passion is to work with collectors to create the most wonderful collections of art. We are here as art advisors to guide you through the art world whether it be purely for the love of art or for investment. It is such a great honour to work with our collectors and watch their…Eight Reasons to Support Boutique Businesses
January 11, 2020(0)A bad Christmas can mark disaster for a small business. Sadly, it really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’. Seven Reasons to Shop Locally Supporting local businesses makes a big impact on your community. Independent businesses from boutique furniture shops in Essex to local gift shops and clothiers, help create a vibrant…Death of a Celebrity
January 9, 2020(0)Mrs Fox recently purchased a remarkable and monumental portrait of an extremely famous and iconic music artist. A man of how shall we say, advanced years; he will remain nameless for reasons that will become clear. She purchased it because of its wow factor. The image, which depicts just the head and shoulders, forces its…
Valuations
August 20, 2012(0)Our team are all RICS approved degree qualified fine art valuers and we value high net worth items for the purpose of probate, insurance, capital taxes and divorce. We can also provide one-off catalogues or inventories and advice and documentation relating to theft and recovery of stolen goods. All documentation is fully illustrated and provided…
Collection Management
August 20, 2012(0)Most collections are constantly evolving and need some form of management. Consequently we take on a curatorial role that involves: Cataloguing Collection management system set up Loans Insurance Transport Restoration and repair Responding to scholarly enquiries Research However our team are also experienced business people in their own right who understand the art of negotiation,…
Collection Building
August 20, 2012(0)When a client comes to us with a requirement or dream of creating a new collection of art they often come with a very loose brief. It is only with thorough research that we can define the collecting criteria and set about putting it together. This involves visiting museums, other public and private collections, perusing…
Fine Paintings
August 15, 2012(0)Gosh where do we start? Portraits, landscapes, military, maritime, sporting, still life, watercolour, oil, pastel and ink drawings – the list is endless. Between us we have a wealth of experience, the ability to find what we are looking for and a thirst for knowledge that gets the results we need. From a single valuation…
Fine Furniture
August 15, 2012(0)Our work for fine furniture collectors ranges in period from the 17th century to the first quarter of the 20th century, across Britain, Europe, the Far East and the Americas. Sometimes it is for interior design purposes to furnish a room or home, for others it is a particular cabinetmaker or stylistic period that appeals.…
Contemporary Art
August 15, 2012(0)Perhaps more than any other type of art, contemporary art represents a here and now, fluid, high risk/high return opportunity for our investors and collectors. It is part of a living and breathing culture, a reflection of your take on how you see society today. As a collector, it gives opportunities to commission work from…
British and European Ceramics
August 15, 2012(0)One of the oldest art forms, from early basic functional flatware to later exquisitely decorated figurines, ceramics reveal much about our tastes and habits. As some of our most beautiful and treasured objects, they took pride of place not just in palaces, stately homes and churches but in our own dining rooms and on our…
James Tassie Portrait Medallions
August 15, 2012(0)Portrait medallions of important people were very popular during the 18th century. They were to be found in oval wooden frames hung on the wall or mounted into rings or medals. By far the greatest portrait medallion artist and modeller was James Tassie. He was a Scotsman who traded very prolifically from his shop in London…
Rare and Antiquarian Books
August 15, 2012(0)Our rare book specialist has been in the business for 50 years; buying, selling and advising collectors and institutions worldwide in every field from incunabula to modern first editions. We hold an extensive reference library containing bibliographies of all the major writers and subjects. For centuries collectors have indulged their passion for book collecting in…
Portrait Miniatures
August 15, 2012(0)We have been extremely privileged to have had access to some of the finest collections of portrait miniatures in the world. They represent the best examples of British and Continental artists from the 16th to 19th centuries. Some are narrow in their sphere, perhaps just one artist, sitter, location, or family and others that are…
Jewellery and Silver
August 15, 2012(0)Investing in jewellery, perhaps more than any other art form, is the most personal and satisfying; affording the collector an expression of their most intimate taste. Whether used for personal adornment or collected for investment purposes there is a huge choice of materials, designs and stylistic periods to choose from. From the early craftsmen working…