Special pieces I've kept as a Vintage Dealer
My first ever blog post and feeling a little nervous. I will keep the text short as I am not a writer nor terribly good with words - I’ve always been drawn towards visual images and photography, give me a magazine and I’ll devour the images but unlikely to read the accompanying article!
So what is this post all about? Well I plan to share a little more throughout this year of my journey both past and new in terms of becoming and being a vintage dealer - I therefore thought a good place to start would be to share with you the items I have found but kept for myself! Perhaps not as many as you’d think, but some key pieces that either I’ve stumbled across and realised how perfect they are for our home or items that have a little meaning to me.
Granted these images are not perfect but they are a reflection of me and our home as a family of 5 plus dog - in other words always something to do but never quite finding the time so its a miracle I’ve managed to post this at all!
Magistretti Carimate Chairs by Habitat
Our beautiful Carimate Chairs, we have 3 at home sitting around our dining table (also second hand). Fully restored in our exclusive red stain and lacquer finish. I’m super proud of these and they’ve taken me on a journey over the past few years from sourcing to restoration, from finding 25 in the back room of a church in London to seeing them in they’re new destination in a hotel on the other side of the world! We’ve sold many over the last few years, they often come to us in pretty poor condition with the seats particularly needing attention. I love the restoration process and being able to give them another 30 years of life. We often source and restore these chairs directly for clients so please feel free to get in touch if you’d like us to find some for you or anything else for that matter.
Nick Munro Coasters
Spiral coasters by British designer Nick Munro for Habitat. Made in Manchester they came to me in the original box, never used - there was no way I could let these go. Considering they were sold via Habitat they’re surprisingly hard to come by although lots of copies have been made since.
Photo Frames by Ikea
I found this pair of frames very early on, still boxed I don’t think they’d ever been used and therefore I really didn’t want to part with them! Paired with postcards at 50p each from a Beatrix Potter exhibit in Ambleside.
Steel Lampshades
What can I say about these steel lampshades (they came as a pair) - found on Ebay purely by chance they were never intended to be keepers! They happened to arrive on my birthday alongside a pair of (not vintage) H&M aluminium table lamp bases - and when I realised how well they sat together, even though I had lots (and lots) of messages from people wanting to buy them I decided they had to stay - happy birthday to me!
Hamilton Burr Oak Coffee Table by Heals
I originally sourced a square version (as seen here in Terence Conrans Countryside Home) of this table a fair few years ago but once a round one landed I knew they needed to be switched. I sold the square one and kept this circular one which is perfect for your living space. It really needs restoring but we can’t have everything - its on the list of ‘things to do’ but very near the bottom when its just for us!
Table Top Accessories
Ronda Armchairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Spanish brand Casas
My beloved Ronda chairs, I found this pair in the early days of sourcing via Facebook Marketplace. I didn’t know what they were when I bought them but I thought they were ‘something’ - it took me around a year to confirm what they were - as I said it was really days! Sourced from a council estate in Huddersfield, greeted by a couple in their dressing gowns (it was in the afternoon - I was pretty uncomfortable!) the chap then proceeded to tell me he’d got them from a house in Wakefield that ‘looked like a castle’! Secured for the very reasonable sum of £40 they were mine. I have pondered many times since about what else would have been in that house that looked like a castle! They’re perfect for our awkward square bay window so haven’t left since. We have a pair available on the website (this pair were not secured for £40!).
Habitat Fluido Metal Artwork alongside Original Ceramic Artworks by Romarin Glazebrook
I am truly obsessed with these Habitat Fluido Nickel Wall Panels that were originally featured in the 2003 Habitat Catalogue in both a dark Nickel finish and bright shiny silver, they were available in 3 sizes - this one here being the largest at 90cm x 90cm. I’ve sourced and sold many, including differing patterns and a cooper version released a little later but still ace. Considering they were released over 20 years ago they feel particularly contemporary and I've seen them work well in both modern and older homes. This is also my small collection of artworks chosen from our Romarin (sometimes Rosemary) Glazebrook collection of ceramic works secured following her passing last year. We still have a small number available via the website.
John Kelly J1 Series Bedside Tables
All for now, thank you for taking an interest! Ali x