The Year of the Dealer Digital Trail
The trails highlight ten significant antique objects currently on display in the galleries at Temple Newsam, telling the story of the antiques through the dealers that sold them to Temple Newsam. The films feature very high-profile London-based antique dealers such as Frank Partridge & Sons and R.A Lee, well-known regional antique dealers such as Roger Warner and Phillips of Hitchin, as well as local dealers such as Charles Lumb & Sons of Harrogate and W.F. Greenwood & Sons of York.
You'll hear some fascinating stories about antique dealing and the characters involved in the history of the antiques trade in Britain; such as the tale of Mr Greenwood at W.F. Greenwood & Sons in the 1930s who had to be dragged from his home (whilst playing croquet) when Queen Mary arrived at his shop in York; or the antique dealer Ronald Lee who ran his antique dealing business from some very grand historic houses in the 1950s and 1960s, including one designed by Sir Christopher Wren; or how H. Blairman & Sons managed to buy the Harewood Library Desk at auction at Christie's with their very last bid. You can also learn more about the changing market and desire for antiques through the prices that the dealers charged for these very special objects from the 1940s to the 1990s.
Antique Dealers at Temple Newsam
Phillips of Hitchin
Phillips of Hitchin was established at The Manor House, Hitchin in 1884 by Frederick Phillips, a celebrated antiquary. They were pioneers in the display of antiques in ‘period room’ settings, which they developed from the 1910s. They sold this important walnut and parcel gilt chair to Temple Newsam in 1960 for £275.
H. Blairman & Sons
H. Blairman & Sons was also established in 1884, in Llandudno, on the North Wales coast and became of the most well-known antique dealers in Britain, counting many leading antique collectors and world-famous museums as their customers. Blairman sold the famous Chippendale library desk to Temple Newsam in 1965 having bought the desk at auction at Christie’s for £43,050.
W.F. Greenwood & Sons
W.F. Greenwood & Sons trace their history back to 1829. They were established in York, and like many early antique dealers, they started life as cabinetmakers. They had a very extensive antique dealing business by the late 1800s, with several shops in Yorkshire - in York, Scarborough and Harrogate. Greenwood & Sons sold this antique bookcase to Temple Newsam in 1942 for £210 & 10 shillings.
Frank Partridge & Sons
Frank Partridge was one of 5 brothers who all worked in the antique trade. Frank opened his own antique shop in London in 1904, with the help of his brother Robert, who loaned him £1000. Partridge sold this late 17th century daybed and sofa to Temple Newsam in 1950 for £3000.
R.A. Lee
Ronald Alfred Lee established his antique business in 1949, after first working in the antique shop set up by his father Henry Morton Lee. Ronald Lee traded from some very grand historic houses during the 1950s and 1960s, including The Old Court House at Richmond in Surrey, which was a former home of the architect Sir Christopher Wren. Lee sold this pair of giltwood sconces to Temple Newsam in 1953 for £175.
Roger Warner
Roger Warner opened his antique shop in Burford, Oxfordshire in 1936 and traded from Burford for almost 50 years. His shop was always full of fascinating curious things, a real old fashioned antique shop – with Gothic cupboards, carvings by Grinling Gibbons, antique dolls, mummified cats, even an 18th century mousetrap. Warner sold this early 19th century straw-work chair to Temple Newsam in 1986 for £150.
Walter Waddingham
Walter Waddingham had antique shops in Harrogate and in London during the period after the Second World War. His father, William, was also an antique dealer in Harrogate from about 1919. Waddingham sold this 18th century library desk to Temple Newsam in 1951 for £1,850, donating £50 towards the purchase price.
Mallett & Sons
Mallett & Sons were perhaps the most illustrious antique dealers in the world. The business started in 1865 at 36 Milsom Street in Bath. John Mallet, the founder of the firm, was a jeweller and silver dealer, but it was his son, Walter Mallett, who expanded the business in the late 1800s, selling antiques, opening a shop in New Bond Street in London in 1908. Mallett sold this pair of 18th century side tables to Temple Newsam in 1958 for £1,350.
Charles Lumb & Sons
Charles Lumb & Sons were established in 1907 in Harrogate. They remained in Harrogate almost 100 years and were one of the leading antique furniture dealers in the North of England. Lumb sold this 18th century giltwood chandelier to Temple Newsam in 1950 for £159 & 10 shillings.
Hotspur Ltd
Hotspur was established in 1924 in London by Frederick Kern and his son Rob and were leading specialists in 18th century antique furniture. Hotspur sold this 18th century lacquer secretaire, made by Thomas Chippendale, to Temple Newsam in 1999 for £650,000. They had bought the secretaire at auction at Christie’s in London in 1997 in partnership with two other antique dealers, Mallett & Sons and Frank Partridge & Sons, who are also in these Year of the Dealer trails.