The Antique Trader have held shows on a number of themes from the mid-19th century up to Deco and later, but Arts and Crafts is their real strength and the catalogue for the June exhibition lists 110 items priced from just £175 for a tea caddy to £18,000 for a Voysey sideboard, although with just a couple of exceptions works are less than £9000.
There are also some out-of-catalogue pieces in the exhibition. Despite the increasing difficulty of sourcing good Arts and Crafts material, The Antique Trader has come up with a fine selection with examples by Morris & Co., Liberty, Goodyers, Baillie-Scott and Heal, as well as Voysey.
Among the exhibits is a rare corner washstand stamped Morris & Co., probably designed by George Jack, and an oak green-stained coffer with copper-patinated gesso panels depicting Diana the Huntress, designed by Godfrey Blount, founder of the Peasant Arts Society in Haslemere. This coffer was illustrated and commended in The Studio Magazine of 1893.
As leading specialists in furniture designed by Ambrose Heal for Heal & Son, The Antique Trader have unearthed some Heal pieces of particular note, including a c.1904 chestnut dresser for the showhouse at Letchworth New Town and a St. Ives wardrobe and dressing chest which are quintessential examples of the Arts & Crafts style.
Heal’s touch to enhance dealer’s solid reputation
ALREADY well-known for their two selling exhibitions a year, The Antique Trader, who work out of The Millinery Works, 85/87 Southgate Road in Islington, London N1, should consolidate their reputation for commercial yet well- researched shows with The Arts and Crafts Movement: The Core Years 1880-1910 which runs from June 2 to 27.
