My interest in antiques began when I was about 11 years old. Coming from a farming background, my parents would take me along to farm sales. In those days everything on the farm was sold by auction from livestock to machinery including all the furniture from the farmhouse! My first purchase was a Victorian jug and bowl bought for a half crown (about 12 ½ pence in today’s money). I sold it for three shillings making a profit of sixpence. I was hooked. That was over 60 years ago and I still get a buzz out of antiques – you never stop learning and find interesting things all the time.
This love of antiques led to business and I opened my shop in Crossgates in October 2017 along with my daughter Carol. We both have years of experience and enjoy welcoming new and regular customers. With every day being different it is an absolute joy.
In Yorkshire we have a wonderful history from our industrial past; Leeds, Castleford and Burmantofts potteries to name but a few of the Yorkshire potteries which produced such fine wares that they are internationally collected. Yorkshire had many engineering firms such as Fowlers who produced traction engines and all manner of innovative machinery. Kirkstall Forge and many other forges made heavy engineering products and many small engineering firms in our area made bespoke products. Textiles of course played a major part in our local economy. Burtons tailoring were the biggest in the world at one time, my own mum and several of her brothers worked at Burtons. Of course we can’t forget our great coal mining industry with pits in every town and village. All of these industries have left us with artefacts which are now very collectable and sometimes quite valuable. Old advertising, mining items and even old tins are collected.
During the many years I have been in the antiques business, of course like many other industries, fashions change over time and certain styles become more sought after. In the early days, I could not get enough of what is now called ‘brown furniture’ which is loosely described as anything in dark wood. I would much rather describe it as well-made furniture which will far outlive some of the modern rubbish which will not stand the test of time. It would seem this generation prefer to change furniture every year rather than buy something which will last a lifetime. This is not good for the planet, let alone the pocket. I am convinced the younger generation are not daft and will eventually return to buying good quality, well-made items from the past. There are signs that recovery is on the way. Emerging markets from abroad such as China, India and developing countries are showing interest in our antiques, however it would be a great shame to have all our treasures going abroad, there would be nothing left for our younger generation.
Despite ‘brown furniture’ currently being out of vogue, on the bright side, the collectables market is still very strong and it seems there is a collector for everything. I regularly see avid collectors of old postcards, coins, medals and military items!
Here at our shop in Crossgates, you are most welcome to visit anytime to browse our Aladdin’s cave of old and interesting stock, as well as to seek advice and valuation on any antiques or collectables you may have yourself. Perhaps you have stumbled upon an unusual item and don’t know what it is or when it was made. Feel free to pop in and let us take a look. Please see our advert below for our opening times.
