First up, in your words how would you describe the sorts of antiques you collect and sell?
Eclectic… I like buying all kinds of things: marriage wardrobes from southern Germany, Spanish olive urns, Art Deco mirrors, Georgian chests of drawers and so on. It’s much more about the individual piece than any kind of parameters of epoch or style.
Do they reflect your own personal taste?
Yes definitely. I do try and keep to the rule that if I wouldn't want it in my own home then why sell it? Having said that, I do acknowledge that my tastes are occasionally more ‘trad’ than my audience’s, so sometimes have to accept that the odd piece I like probably won't sell well and leave it.
Tell us about your most fascinating find to date: where did you discover it and what was its story?
Tough one, I think possibly a beautiful mid -19th century Spanish folk chest. It has all these incredible witches’ marks and carvings on it which are supposed to keep evil spirits away. I have it in a bay window so it’s in a good place for that.
Has there ever been something you’d found and couldn’t part with?
Oh so many things! It’s the joy and the curse of the job all at once. Sometimes I just keep pieces for a short while just to enjoy them and then let them go again but my husband does get bored of things always being moved around!
Are there, in your eyes, any big no-nos with antiques in the home?
No, they are beautiful, built to last and often one of a kind so what’s not to love…
What would your advice be on choosing the right antiques for your home? How do you pick a period?
I wouldn't focus on trying to choose a piece defined by a period; I think that’s creating unnecessary constrictions. It’s got to be more about what job it’s got to do, the space it’s needed for and what shape or design really grabs you. If you can afford to be patient and wait for something that makes your heart sing you’ll treasure that piece forever.
Any common pitfalls to avoid? Scale, for example?
Yes, measuring for purpose is important. Antique wardrobes, for example, are often too shallow for a modern coat hanger’s width and so are better off having shelves added and being used for a cupboard. Or some antique chairs have really tiny seats and so are uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time. It’s always worth really thinking about how much use an item is going to get and whether any quirks are going to be a deal breaker on a daily basis.
What about combining eras in one room: does it work? And if so, which styles do you love to mix?
I mix all kinds of styles and finishes, for me it feels much more natural to have a blend… I think if you confine yourself to just having furniture from one period in a room it can tend to feel stuffy and museum-esque.
Can you share any insider intel: the best antiques markets in your eyes?
I live near Newark Antiques Fair so I often go there and I do think it’s one of the best. Then there’s The Saleroom for auctions and Shiply for moving stuff.
Which is your most treasured antique at home and why?
A Georgian linen press which has been in my family for generations; my parents didn't have the right space for it but they hung onto it in a shed for decades and I always loved it. We have converted it internally into an enormous drinks cupboard, complete with a marble slab in case of spillages, shelves for glasses and lighting so you can see what you are doing, all of which makes me so happy.
If you were designing a dream room to dress with antiques, which would it be and what would you want to put in it?
I am actually a huge fan of a formal dining room. Lots of people don’t bother with them anymore and opt for open plan kitchens instead but I feel like there’s a magic to a room that’s not used daily. It also lends itself to regency furniture which I adore. So, I’d love a huge three-pillar regency dining table with lion paw feet surrounded by 18th century Swedish Gustavian dining chairs. A Chinoiserie chest on stand for napkins etc, a breakfront dresser to display beautiful snow white porcelain, a chaise longue in the corner for that guest that gets it a bit wrong, a large marble topped 18th-century French sideboard so everyone can help themselves to food and a vast contemporary tapestry from Sussy Cazalet to break it all up a bit.
Five in Five
Every month, we ask our favourite antiques dealers which pieces they would pick from the Rebecca Udall collection. New pieces that blend seamlessly with the old...
1. You’re pouring a drink. What drink and into which glass?
Mexican Lime Soda by Fever Tree and Tequila with fresh chilli and plenty of ice into the Millefiori Murano Glass Tumbler – I am in love with these!
2. You’re setting the table for supper for six. Who’s around the table and which tablecloth?
The Classic Linen in Black Cherry because it would look amazing with my curtains, and it’s made from Belgian Flax which is a beautiful and sustainable material. The guests would be my siblings and their spouses as my sister lives in Chile and my brother until recently, Hong Kong, so a get-together is rare and very special.
3. Still on supper – what’s your signature dish and which crockery would you be serving it on?
Puddings, recently it’s been a ginger biscuit based whipped chocolate ganache topped ‘cheesecake’, out of the book Mezcla. It would look incredible on Claudia Wavy Footed Bowl
4. You’re getting ready for bed. What’s your pre-sleep ritual and which bedding do you want to climb under?
I live in an extremely cold old house so I have to have a boiling shower before bed to warm me up and a post bath moisturise with Bramley’s Juniper, Sweet Orange & Bergamot which I buy by the litre. Then I’d love to dive in between the Georgiana Ladderstitch Bed Linen in Dusky Blue – it’s incredibly pretty and feminine without being overly girly which is perfect!
5. You’re in the mood for treating yourself to something. What little object for your home would you pick from the collection and where’s it going?
I would get a set of Celia Cereal Bowls in Denim Blue. It's a stunning pattern and exactly what I am missing from my crockery collection.
