On September 14, 1973, I embarked on my journey as a British antique dealer, opening my first shop in Berne, Switzerland — although it wasn’t exactly a store — rather, it was a cellar tucked away in a residential part of the city. Over the following eight years, in collaboration with my Swiss partner, we expanded our operations to encompass four stores, with the largest one situated in Zurich. Our specialisation lay in English antiques, as they were all the rage during those days when the entire European market embraced the James Bond lifestyle. Occasionally, we even had the privilege of selling the odd Aston Martin located in our Zurich premises, and we cultivated a dedicated following.

In the early 1980s, I thought it best to return to the United Kingdom. There, I acquired an old brewery in the West Country and for no good reason, christened it “Talisman.” My focus remained on dealing in English antiques, yet I sensed the potential for something more. I began acquiring garden statuary, which were gaining in popularity. Many of these pieces, originally intended for indoor use, had become integral to the English garden. Suddenly, I found myself immersed in the world of 17th
and 18th-century sculpture, and occasionally, even pieces dating back to the Roman era.

Also, around this time, my good friend Bob Campion of the Old World Trading Company had shifted his focus away from furniture, and towards predominantly French fireplaces. One day, Bob contacted me, explaining that he had acquired a substantial amount of French furniture as part of a large deal in Paris and needed a place to display it. He asked if I could accommodate a truckload of these items, to which I happily agreed. Upon the delivery’s arrival, I instinctively knew my next move. After providing Bob with the assurance that I wouldn’t compete in the French fireplace market, he introduced me to Monic Fortin, a Parisian courier. During this era, the European Union lacked freedom of goods movement, causing many dealers to be cautious about purchasing from Europe.

However, Monic and I established a strong working relationship, and over the years, I regularly imported truckloads of goods. The London trade eagerly anticipated my unique shipments from West Country-based, Old Brewery.

Not too long after, a Danish acquaintance approached me, proposing an export service from Sweden (of all places) that caught my interest. His idea was that one could procure 19th-century furniture in Sweden at attractive prices. I flew to Denmark, and together we journeyed to southern Sweden. As we ventured north, I stumbled upon 18th century Swedish painted furniture, a style not particularly appreciated by the Swedes, nor the trade, at that time, who were inclined to strip it back to pine. I fell in love with this 18th-century work, distinguished by its abstract nature. On my return, I sold my first load, and for many years, I traversed Sweden in search of more treasures.

However, the landscape of business changed after 9/11 in the West Country, prompting me to consider a move to London. So, I acquired a 22,000-squarefoot modernist garage in Fulham. I spent ten months restoring it, saving it from demolition, and we officially opened in 2006.

Around 2009, I received an invitation to participate in a show in North Miami. I brought along my beloved Swedish furniture and remarkable sculptures, but unfortunately, I didn’t make any sales. The organisers asked me to return another year, and intrigued by the experience and their pleasant demeanour, I agreed. For the second attempt, I enlisted the help of my friend Nicholas Torregiani, a charming Maltese nobleman. Our stand garnered attention, but still, sales remained elusive. After the fourth day, I decided to explore downtown Miami to discover what the locals were buying. This marked the onset of the vintage modern trend, with a new generation of dealers offering such pieces. I promptly bought a 40-foot container, stuffed it to the gills, shipped it to London, and it became an instant success. People couldn’t get enough of it, and over the next years, I imported around 40 containers from that part of the world.

Around 2017, I was leaning more and more to returning full time to the West Country. I had just bought a barn complex with my wife Caryn, and the thought was to create a studio space there for me to trade from by appointment. We have also been working on 150 acres of ancient meadows, bogs and woodland. Over the past years, I just fell completely in love with my connection to the land and, the feeling I get, as I create ponds, common lakes and an environment for nature, is very satisfying and has a sculptural property to it which I am inclined to follow. Late last year, I decided to retire from what has been an exciting journey and career and look more at nature for the satisfaction of my mind and my eye.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 14 May, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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