I have been dealing since 1970, when I opened a stall in Jones’ Arcade on Portobello Road and was there for six years. 1n 1976, I opened a small shop on the Kingston Road in Wimbledon, opening evenings and weekends, going full time in 1980 when I also opened a shop in Camden Passage. A move to a large shop in Wimbledon Village came in 1983 and I shut the Camden Passage business. The shop was closed in 2006 to concentrate on selling at fairs and on the website.
I have exhibited at the Olympia Summer Antiques Fair for around 40 years, as well as some of the Spring and Winter events; I showed at the last fifteen years of the great Grosvenor House Fair and at every BADA Fair until it was taken over. For many years I was at the New York Ceramics Fair and occasionally Baltimore, Chicago and Palm Beach.
Concentration on table glass came about because it seemed to be a neglected but interesting field (and after all everyone uses it) and have largely 'learnt on the job'. I have been lucky enough to have help from several older dealers as I was progressing most now sadly not with us. I have now seemed to have become an ‘elder statesman’ and am on various Vetting Committees,
Miller’s Antique books asked me to write the Glass edition in their Check List series in 1994, which sold over 40,000 copies and is in three languages, I still sell second hand copies. I have written several articles for antique and design magazines and have at odd times appeared in some of the older TV programmes. Fifteen years ago, I was honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Corning Museum of Glass (the world’s premier glass museum) one of only a handful of non US Fellows. I have also been involved with supplying glass to English Heritage for Hampton Court and Audley End, sold to the V&A in London and the Metropolitan Museum in New York as well various regional US museums. .Also various films and TV series, including ‘Gentleman Jack have used my glass.
Currently getting older and only working from a few selected fairs, this website and a couple of other selling platforms. Some years ago, my wife Lan joined the business and has helped point me in new directions and is now an important part of the operation.
In short, I am a dealer in 18th , 19th and 20th century English and European glass English ceramics and things that interest or amuse me. Nearly all items were originally designed to be used, a drinking glass will still work irrespective of age or cost and a vase should look good with or without flowers. I supply collectors, designers and decorators, trade customers home and abroad and of course clients buying for their home and table.
All items can be packed in house and shipped world wide at cost.
Happy to give advice (freely) and value (for a charge).
Mark