OUR STORY
Also Antique Furniture grew out of a simple idea.
When we began restoring our own period home, we quickly realised that modern furniture rarely had the character, craftsmanship or sense of permanence we were looking for. Antiques did.
We are drawn to old furniture not simply because of its age, but because of everything that comes with it: the story it carries, the patina acquired through years of use, the quality of its materials and the craftsmanship that has allowed it to survive.
Every piece in our collection is chosen individually because something about it catches our eye. Sometimes it’s the colour, sometimes the proportions, sometimes the craftsmanship, or simply the feeling that it belongs. Above all, we choose pieces we genuinely admire and would happily have in our own home.
Our tastes are broad, and we’re happy to be led by the furniture itself rather than a particular period or style. From early oak and Georgian elegance to beautifully made Victorian and twentieth-century pieces, what matters to us is the quality, character and individuality of a piece – and that it has plenty of life still ahead of it. For us, that longevity is part of the appeal: good furniture shouldn’t need replacing simply because fashions change.
Condition matters, but with old furniture we don’t expect perfection. The marks of age – old repairs, knocks, wear and occasional historic woodworm – are often part of a piece’s story and, provided they don’t detract from its integrity or usefulness, are something we’re happy to embrace. Where restoration has been carried out, we believe it should respect the original piece rather than disguise its age. We describe condition openly and accurately, to the best of our knowledge, so you know exactly what you’re buying.
Some pieces pass through our workshop in the Yorkshire Dales, where any work is undertaken sympathetically, preserving the marks, patina and character that make old furniture what it is, while allowing it to continue to be used and enjoyed for years to come.
We hope you’ll enjoy browsing our collection as much as we’ve enjoyed finding it – and perhaps find something worth living with for many years to come.
ALex & SOphie
WHY BUY ANTIQUE?
It was made to last.
Much of the furniture we sell has already been in use for a century or more. Good materials, skilled craftsmanship and traditional construction have allowed it to survive – and, properly cared for, there is no reason it shouldn’t continue to do so.
No two pieces are quite the same.
Years of use leave their mark. The mellowing of timber, worn edges, old repairs and variations in colour give antique furniture a depth and individuality that is difficult to reproduce. These aren’t flaws to be erased, but part of what makes each piece unique.
It makes sense environmentally.
The most sustainable piece of furniture may well be one that already exists. Choosing antique keeps well-made furniture in use rather than requiring something new to be manufactured in its place.
Many British antiques were also made from materials sourced much closer to home. Oak, elm, ash, beech and other native timbers were widely used by regional furniture makers, often using wood available locally. The result is furniture closely connected to the places in which it was made – built from natural materials, by local craftspeople, to be used and repaired over a long lifetime.
Of course, not every antique was made from local timber. Woods such as mahogany, walnut and rosewood were traded internationally and became an important part of British furniture making. But whether made from native or imported timber, the environmental advantage today is simple: the material has already been harvested, the furniture has already been made, and keeping it in use extends that investment for another generation.
Antique furniture was also made in an age when repair was expected. Joints can be repaired, surfaces revived and damaged components replaced, often allowing a piece to remain useful for generations rather than being discarded when something goes wrong.
Quality you can see.
Antique furniture has had a rather long test of its construction. A chest of drawers that has been opened and closed for 150 years, or a table that has survived generations of family life, has already demonstrated something about the quality of its materials and making.
That doesn’t mean every old piece is exceptional simply because it is old. We look for furniture that combines good construction with pleasing proportions, useful design and character – pieces that still deserve their place in a home today.
Furniture for living with.
​
We don’t believe antiques need to be treated as museum pieces. They were made to be used: tables to gather around, drawers to fill, cupboards to open and chairs to sit on.
For us, that is one of the pleasures of antique furniture. You become part of its history for a while, before – hopefully – it continues on to another generation.