About

In October 2001, knowing nothing, Christopher Hodsoll took a punt on me; he was later heard to say that if he had known my schooling he would not have! There may have been a few in the trade who whispered positive noises on my behalf; to those who did, my eternal thanks.

The subsequent twenty odd years on the Pimlico Road were the ultimate education. My interests widened, deepened and grew day by day. Those who deal know there is no better job. Handling beautiful, unexpected, desirable – the adjectives are legion – objects is one of life’s great luxuries and to work alongside people and with clients who are ‘in the know’ or open to being guided, heightens that pleasure.

From Hodsoll’s cavernous spaces on the Rialto, as Christopher Gibbs called the wide pavements of the Southern side of the Road, I was lucky to be guided up to Ebury Street with Patrick Jefferson, another great mentor and friend. This lasted but a few years & to dance with financial collapse was a deep lesson – all my own doing not that of Patrick!

I was scraped off the pavement (at the kind recommendation of Andrew Webb, who is sadly no longer with us) and into the new galleries created by Rose Uniacke. A breath of fresh air on the Road and my subsequent ‘home’ for over 13 years. Here I learnt the sculptural qualities of furniture not just their inherent qualities. To place them well is as important as their history, their patina and provenance. Give them space, allow them to talk to each other; it was a fascinating time.