Good antique places in London?

[JBean]

I'm always on the look out for old furniture for our Edwardian house and, although I have bought stuff online, it's nicer to see in person first. Sheffield where we live is a bit of an antique-furniture-free zone - but I'm in London for a couple of days this weekend and would have time to visit shops / markets. It's not 'fine' antiques we're after, but just nice old wooden stuff - chest of drawers, wardrobes, side tables, bedside cabinets, bookcases, etc.

So any suggestions from the forum on places worth visiting in the capital?

 

[LadyArowana]

There are a few auction places, Criterion is in Islinton, and their usual schedule is previews at the weekend and auction on Monday ( you can always leave commission bid or bid online if you can’t attend on Monday ) there’s also Lots Road Auctions in Chelsea and Chiswick auctions too. https://criterionauctioneers.com/index.php/auctions/weekly-auctions https://www.lotsroad.com/

And the street tha Alfies is on has a few other places too, but central London isn’t great value compared to out of town http://www.alfiesantiques.com/

 

[MatthewC]

I lived near the old Bermondsey Antiques Market for a while, but it rapidly grew smaller and less attractive when they built a tower block c. 2008. I left 7 years ago and I'm not even sure if it's open at all now. It was open very early in the morning (like 6am to 11am) but I forget which day(s). I think the same traders go round a set of these - there was another at Blackheath Station car park with more reasonable opening hours.

Failing that sort of place, you need to get out to the suburbs or even out of London entirely - I reckon prices in the city are always a lot higher than some nice little place in the country. In fact, I think a lot of people in the trade make their living by doing buying in the country and selling to the mugs in London.

 

[JBean]

Thanks for the replies. I know what you mean about central London. I have a friend who used to buy up old wooden furniture in the NE and sell it (once subjected to some 'shabby chic' painting) for a tidy profit to some of the London vintage stores - and then gasp in amazement at the prices they would charge!

We used to live near a little market town in Hampshire where there were four antique shops on the high street, and I really miss that chance to browse through lots of lovely furniture, knowing you might quite quickly find something you liked / needed. That's why I fondly imagined a similar experience in London.

I might give Alfies a go (although some of the stores on the same street are definitely 'finer' than I can afford!) and then glumly revert to trawls through eBay...

 

[Flyfisher]

I know what you mean about central London. I have a friend who used to buy up old wooden furniture in the NE and sell it (once subjected to some 'shabby chic' painting) for a tidy profit to some of the London vintage stores - and then gasp in amazement at the prices they would charge!

Is 'shabby chic' still a thing? I thought things had moved on to 'upcycling' these days. Whatever it's called, someone will see you coming . . . :wink:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DLo6yoNgZ0

 

[Lostgardensof]

Jbean, there are loads of antique places in Sheffield. Have you tried the antiques Quarter on London Road? Most shops are full of knick backs but there are a couple of good places there for furniture.

 

[JBean]

Hi Lostgardensof. Thanks for the message. We find the Antiques Quarter a bit depressing - as you say, it's mainly bric-a-brac and lots of it isn't even really old. I watched the Antiques Roadshow TV programme when it came through Sheffield and they were very sniffy about what was on offer! The Chapel has some nice stuff but all the furniture has been painted. And there are a few places with good mid-century pieces, but very little nice old brown furniture. Where are you thinking of?

Whereabouts are you? Your house looks fabulous and the garden even more so!

 

[Lostgardensof]

Sheffield antiques emporium and Sheffield antiques Centre have nice victorian and Edwardian bits in amongst the nick knacks but you do have to hunt a bit. Dronfield antiques has a few bits but they can need a bit of restoration and are often buried underneath loads of other stuff. There used to be a good place on sharrowvale by the lescar but I haven't been in there for about a decade so it might be rubbish now. The nicholson building on the shales Moor round about sometimes has nice bits in but can be a bit hit and miss.

There isn't one place I could guarantee you would find something but the upside to that is that when you do it is often much cheaper than elsewhere. Tbh I usually buy from ebay and courier things as it often works out pretty reasonable.

I am a bit cautious about revealing my location on online forums but we are within half an hour walk of the city centre.

 

[JBean]

I've sent you a private message.