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Memento mori on so many levels.
Memento mori on so many levels.
Oak stools or are they small chairs? Curious form possibly by a firm called Garnett and Sons. Based in Warrington.
Oak stools or are they small chairs? Curious form possibly by a firm called Garnett and Sons. Based in Warrington.
1950s skinny outside lights. Slightly different, subtle cloudy green painting. #forsale
1950s skinny outside lights. Slightly different, subtle cloudy green painting. #forsale
These days I get the sense that marquetry, especially from the 19th is not to everyone’s taste. However. I find these escutcheons which half echo 17th c seaweed marquetry and half stand in the place of gilt metal mounts, rather charming.
These days I get the sense that marquetry, especially from the 19th is not to everyone’s taste. However. I find these escutcheons which half echo 17th c seaweed marquetry and half stand in the place of gilt metal mounts, rather charming.
A small pair of table lamps. Patent colza oil originally now powered by electricity. Very crisp repousse brass
A small pair of table lamps. Patent colza oil originally now powered by electricity. Very crisp repousse brass
Three steps to heaven x 2. Formica heaven.
Three steps to heaven x 2. Formica heaven.
A pair of gothic hall chairs. The design attributed to a Pugin. The father of the famous one.
A pair of gothic hall chairs. The design attributed to a Pugin. The father of the famous one.
No it’s not heavy South American silver. It’s silver glazed pottery. #jugaholic.
No it’s not heavy South American silver. It’s silver glazed pottery. #jugaholic.
Here we are in Clapham where the fight against slavery in the British dominions found its champion in William Wilberforce. But look a little deeper and there is plenty that someone could want to pull down his statues for. Maybe one day his terrible a
Here we are in Clapham where the fight against slavery in the British dominions found its champion in William Wilberforce. But look a little deeper and there is plenty that someone could want to pull down his statues for. Maybe one day his terrible attitude to women will make him odious enough to revile. I wonder if anyone is so beyond reproach that they will be allowed a commemoration in a public space? #blacklivesmatter
Some sunny glass for a sunny day. Czech 1900.
Some sunny glass for a sunny day. Czech 1900.
It’s only a piece of turned ebony. But it is rather delicious isn’t it?
It’s only a piece of turned ebony. But it is rather delicious isn’t it?
Still life representing Japan, Hawaii, England (Birmingham) and the unknown country of origin of a tube light.
Still life representing Japan, Hawaii, England (Birmingham) and the unknown country of origin of a tube light.
Some old school stripped pine has entered the house. Not exactly pure, but enough of Mr Kent to keep.
Some old school stripped pine has entered the house. Not exactly pure, but enough of Mr Kent to keep.
One of a pair, harking back to long gone Mallett days. One bought at Bonhams. Ho hum not much fun in that. But the pair bought in New Orleans. The best fun ever. Cocktails, music and weird heat for three days.
One of a pair, harking back to long gone Mallett days. One bought at Bonhams. Ho hum not much fun in that. But the pair bought in New Orleans. The best fun ever. Cocktails, music and weird heat for three days.
#kenningtonpark A bench with soaked poignant signs. It seems particularly unfair that we have been locked in for lockdown and now we want to get out and express outrage the deluge has come.
#kenningtonpark A bench with soaked poignant signs. It seems particularly unfair that we have been locked in for lockdown and now we want to get out and express outrage the deluge has come.
Crazy pottery jug. #jugaholics simulating beaten copper. Great for lemonade in the garden. Locally made at Doulton, Lambeth but retailed by a firm called Keller in Paris.
Crazy pottery jug. #jugaholics simulating beaten copper. Great for lemonade in the garden. Locally made at Doulton, Lambeth but retailed by a firm called Keller in Paris.
Raspberry ripple glass sweetmeat dish. Perfect for summer.
Raspberry ripple glass sweetmeat dish. Perfect for summer.
Wilting in the late spring heat.
Wilting in the late spring heat.
#challengeaccepted yours truly. Brushed and scrubbed for practically the only time.
#challengeaccepted yours truly. Brushed and scrubbed for practically the only time.
Possibly the last lockdown rearranging. A little less stuff and a little more nature. Loving our Pat Albeck. Much missed. Our show @colefaxandfowler was around this time in 2017.
Possibly the last lockdown rearranging. A little less stuff and a little more nature. Loving our Pat Albeck. Much missed. Our show @colefaxandfowler was around this time in 2017.
Memento mori on so many levels. Oak stools or are they small chairs? Curious form possibly by a firm called Garnett and Sons. Based in Warrington. 1950s skinny outside lights. Slightly different, subtle cloudy green painting. #forsale These days I get the sense that marquetry, especially from the 19th is not to everyone’s taste. However. I find these escutcheons which half echo 17th c seaweed marquetry and half stand in the place of gilt metal mounts, rather charming. A small pair of table lamps. Patent colza oil originally now powered by electricity. Very crisp repousse brass Three steps to heaven x 2. Formica heaven. A pair of gothic hall chairs. The design attributed to a Pugin. The father of the famous one. No it’s not heavy South American silver. It’s silver glazed pottery. #jugaholic. Here we are in Clapham where the fight against slavery in the British dominions found its champion in William Wilberforce. But look a little deeper and there is plenty that someone could want to pull down his statues for. Maybe one day his terrible a Some sunny glass for a sunny day. Czech 1900. It’s only a piece of turned ebony. But it is rather delicious isn’t it? Still life representing Japan, Hawaii, England (Birmingham) and the unknown country of origin of a tube light. Some old school stripped pine has entered the house. Not exactly pure, but enough of Mr Kent to keep. One of a pair, harking back to long gone Mallett days. One bought at Bonhams. Ho hum not much fun in that. But the pair bought in New Orleans. The best fun ever. Cocktails, music and weird heat for three days. #kenningtonpark A bench with soaked poignant signs. It seems particularly unfair that we have been locked in for lockdown and now we want to get out and express outrage the deluge has come. Crazy pottery jug. #jugaholics simulating beaten copper. Great for lemonade in the garden. Locally made at Doulton, Lambeth but retailed by a firm called Keller in Paris. Raspberry ripple glass sweetmeat dish. Perfect for summer. Wilting in the late spring heat. #challengeaccepted yours truly. Brushed and scrubbed for practically the only time. Possibly the last lockdown rearranging. A little less stuff and a little more nature. Loving our Pat Albeck. Much missed. Our show @colefaxandfowler was around this time in 2017.

Thomas Woodham-Smith

 29 Hanover Gardens, London SE11 5TN

info@woodhamsmith.com              

 

Today I am a dealer and an Art advisor. In this website I hope to give an idea of my taste and trading philosophy which is - in brief - to focus on quality of manufacture and originality of design, whilst not being bogged down by so-called periods. Great design from any age grabs my attention and I hope that I can in a small way grab yours.

I have been in the antique trade all my professional life. In 1985 I joined Mallett, associate directorship followed 4 years later and after 10 years the full management of the subsidiary business Mallett at Bourdon House as well as election to the PLC board. This company I ran for a further 10 years always striving to deliver novelty, quality and a healthy profit. In 2006 It was decided by the then CEO to sell Bourdon House, this was done and I moved over to the Bond St shop where I was appointed Managing Director


In the meantime I had become fascinated by the genius photographer and furniture designer Willy Rizzo; I sought him out and mounted a successful joint exhibition in London and New York with the clothes designer Paul Smith. This was followed two years later by a second and Mallett continue to offer pieces by him.

In addition I had overseen and managed the merger of the long established restoration business Hatfields with the Mallett restoration workforce and created new Hatfields whilst simultaneously negotiating for Mallett the purchase of new freehold workshop premises in Clapham, Scholars House; sadly they later sold the building. But the business continues to trade.

In 2008 with the London antique fair scene in decline and the English furniture world depressed I put together a consortium to set up the Masterpiece fair. After a long search we found its permanent home at the Royal Hospital. Each year it has developed and improved and is delivering great results for many dealers. I am no longer involved but remain a shareholder, having been Creative Director and the founding Chairman.

In 2010 I left Mallett to concentrate on Masterpiece, private dealing and consultancy. I remained a buying consultant for Mallett until 2015.

In 2015 I was, for a heartbeat, enticed to become joint CEO of the Fine Art Auction Group, which includes Mallett, the auctioneers Dreweatt Bloomsbury, and is a subsidiary of the stamp traders Stanley Gibbons.  That only lasted for a couple of months but it was both challenging and delightful despite its brevity.

In 2019 with Harry Van Der Hoorn of Stabilo I bought 80% of the BADA fair and set about regenerating it. We changed the name to The Open Art Fair and held our first edition in March 2020. Sadly for us and the exhibitors this was the eye of the storm for the first wave of Covid 19 and we were forced to close after only two days of exhibition. We shall see whether the fair can survive.

I hope to develop many other ideas and would like assist others to bring to fruition their creativity and energy.

If you have need of any advice or guidance please feel free to get in touch.