Antiques in the Summer

Hows the antiques trade for you this Summer? Here is the view from an antique furniture dealer, Graham Smith from  Graham Smith Antiques Ltd:

A Long Hot Summer – or not!

Summer business in the antiques trade is as unpredictable as ever, the beginning of July was very quiet and at times I thought we might never sell anything again… perhaps a slight exaggeration but the end of the month was very good and it was almost the best job in the world to have! I spoke to an American client yesterday and business is just the same there, if people want an item they will pay well to have it, if they don’t you couldn’t get a dollar for it.

pedestal cabinet

Useful quality pieces of antique furniture have continued to sell well throughout the downturn, dining tables and sets of chairs have still commanded interest at both auction and through retail. Bookcases and all manner of boxes or trunks have been continually selling and generating enquiries, especially online.

I bought a very unusual coaching trunk last week, I think it is made for the back of a horse drawn carriage, it is shaped and has a bow end, with a good pair of brass hinges to the lid and a steel lock and key. Another unusual item of furniture just back from our restorer is a pedestal cabinet with what looks like two short drawers, one above the other, but they are dummy fronts and it is a fall front door with a spring catch at the top to release the door. The cabinet is made from very figured mahogany we think it will make a very smart telephone table or bedside cabinet.

Anyway, the news this week is full of hope for the future and an apparently imminent improvement in the economy so we live to fight another day finding quality items that will hopefully interest and delight our customers!