ABOUT ME

Why do I do What I do?

This website is the culmination of a lifetime of passion, knowledge and experience to bring you the very best in lovingly hand-crafted vintage, antique and contemporary gifts and collectibles.

Legacy

As a small child I watched with wonder and great interest as beautiful things, antiques and paintings came (and went!) into our house. When my parents were first married they had limited funds to furnish their house with so they went to local auctions to buy the essentials and came back with a hoard of treasure such as lamps, porcelain and furniture. They had discovered an exciting doorway to the most wonderful antique finds; hand-made, beautiful, quality, built to last, unique as well as practical. All for an affordable price. As my father would say, ‘you just never know what you are going to find!’.

Over the years they were able to purchase many stunning, quality, pieces at a fraction of the price when new. Growing up my friends were impressed that our décor changed so much!

Our family business

My father, it transpired, had a keen eye for buying and decided to give up the day job and began making a living as an antiques dealer, specialising in paintings. He also launched a successful business in Torquay in South Devon, selling luxury contemporary gifts, antiques and fine art.

My apprenticeship

When I was very young, I remember spending much precious time in the shop ‘helping’ him, my apprenticeship had begun. He also took me to see beautiful art in museums and galleries, encouraging an enduring  love of history.

Consequently, I inherited a passion for making interiors look beautiful without always buying new.

As I grew up, I was also taken to every auction house along the south coast. I watched with fascination as the theatre of the auction process unfolded before me, later buying and selling and conducting historical research on behalf of my father. I learnt so much from my dad, I will always be forever grateful.

Inspiration

Through his art books I learnt about Clarice Cliff; Susie Cooper; Faberge; George Jenson; Archibold Knox; Louis Comfort Tiffany; JMW Turner; the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood; Old Masters and more. He carefully nurtured and guided my knowledge teaching me, for example, how to identify a print versus an original watercolour or oil painting; and how to spot an over-painted old photograph; and the different types of prints, etchings, screen prints and so forth.

Branching out

I began buying my own art and antiques independently from the aged of 13 years quality controlled by my father! After this I never looked back, researching an object’s provenance whilst honing my skills and foraging for beautiful, hand-made heirlooms, ever since.

A career in Art

My career initially took me into the world of auctions with brief stints during my undergraduate degree in London with Phillips and Bonhams auctioneers. However, after studying for a Master of Art in Victorian Art & Architecture at Royal Holloway College, University of London, my career path led me to try a curatorial route instead. It led me to Historic Royal Palaces where I studied and learnt about the Royal Collection. Initially I became a Tour Guide at Kensington Palace State Apartments and Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. I later became an Assistant Curator in the Works of Art department at Hampton Court Palace leading an important cataloguing project of Fine and Decorative art at Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, the Banqueting House Whitehall and HM Tower of London. During this period I was fortunate to receive training from the Royal Collection Trust at Buckingham Palace. I also curated a major exhibition when I was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and wrote many accompanying articles. These were unforgettable days and immensely enjoyable.

I later relocated to the Cotswolds where I ended up managing two museums and their estates. One of them was William Morris’s Kelmscott Manor country retreat on the River Thames in Oxfordshire owned by the Society of Antiquaries of London. My MA in Victorian Art & Architecture came in very handy. Morris was the Father of the Arts & Crafts Movement and his friends and associates such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William de Morgan and Edward Burne-Jones, are all inspirations to me who left their legacy by creating stunning decorative pieces at Kelmscott still on view to the public today.

I have organised and led many guided tours including at Kensington Palace State Apartments where I was a Guide Lecturer; and Arts & Crafts historic tours, including for The Churches Conservation Trust.

Arts Consultancy

I now offer art consultancy and provenance advice to international clients alongside museums & heritage consultancy.

It seemed a natural progression therefore to branch out on my own: many years in the making.

INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS FOR YOU

My knowledge and passion enables me to bring to you stunning, quality and beautiful as well as fun ‘quirky’ pieces curated with care. The unique and the unusual sit effortlessly alongside timeless periods classics to make bold statements. Every item is researched to bring out its historical legacy as far as possible. If only the objects could speak to us. From old labels, hallmarks and signatures, we can tell so much about an object’s history, which I endeavour to reveal.

From weddings to marking that special occasion, I hope you find inspiration in my gift site.

I can also source vintage and antique pieces for larger projects, as well as undertaking research.

I am always happy to advise if you are stuck for a gift idea for your loved one and offer a bespoke gift finding service utilising my vast networks. If you need inspiration to mark that special celebration, or just want to treat yourself, do take a look at my gift pages.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Alternatively, why not treat someone special to a gift voucher? If they love all things vintage, how about a vintage buying experience with me?

As William Morris so wisely once said:

Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful

Very best wishes and happy foraging,

Sarah