CONSULTANCY
I have been a furniture expert for the past 15 years. My career began at Phillips and Bonhams auctions, before moving on to work with Christopher Hodsoll and later with Patrick Jefferson on the Pimlico Road in London.
From 2009 to 2022 I held the role of Head of Product at Rose Uniacke, alongside sourcing all historical furniture and objects for the design studio, shop and fairs.
Collecting, research, historic design and dealing have all been lifelong passions of mine.
A recent client suggested that my… “expertise is at the crossroads of discovering things, and placing them into context, with a great care for the price you pay and the value you get….”
Interiors Consultancy
I specialise in sourcing with a particular expertise in authentication and pricing. I work with interior designers and individuals to acquire pieces in a cost-efficient way for specific projects. This might be period antiques, 20th-century design or a bespoke piece of furniture from a contemporary designer-maker. I am also able to curate collections.
During the early stages of a project, I also help with defining a ‘blueprint’; putting together historical references and examples of completed interiors alongside potential furnishing layouts that allow clients to define their own likes (and dislikes) in order to better present their vision to their architect, interior designer and build team.
Valuation, Sales and Acquisition
The foundation of my expertise is built on the five years I spent working as a porter and saleroom manager in the auctions. On a day-to-day basis, hundreds of different objects passed through my hands and invaluable lessons were learnt from auction specialists, private vendors and the antiques trade across all its fields.
This and the subsequent years of experience have honed my eye to seek and spot what others may miss. I can advise on the sale of single items or the whole contents of a house.
This process begins with an initial scouting visit, an inventory being drawn up, descriptions and values being allocated with the help of outside consultants where required and then a proposal as to how best manage the dispersal of the collection.
I offer a discrete and educated sounding board; often advice will be not to sell, or I might spot something that would potentially have slipped through unnoticed by a general valuer or indeed the family itself; a recent project saw many tens of thousands of pounds worth of furniture and sculpture avoid the skip and be slowly dispersed to appropriate buyers.
In the case of acquisition, a longer term, focused relationship is built with individuals looking to start or expand upon their collection and interests.
Since leaving the Pimlico Road in July 2022, I have worked on a variety of private family collections in the UK and Europe. This process can involve providing an overview of an entire collection or more detailed advice on individual elements.
Outcomes have resulted in valuable discoveries, the renewed (or entirely new) appreciation of belongings and the ability to consider how to handle the whole.
