Happy Easter!

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April 1st 2021

We hope you are all in good health. The sun is shining, the office windows are open and the adjacent field is teeming with life. Rabbits darting along the hedgerows to the sounds of birdsong. The sun feels extra special after what was a very long winter and spring is in full swing. Bringing with it a feeling of rejuvenation, growth and hope.

Here in the UK the lockdown has begun easing with public gatherings being able to go ahead along with various outdoor sports and events. So the weather could not have been timed any better.

Here at the Mark Goodger Antiques HQ we had our first outdoor tea break of the year this week which is always nice.
 

Featured Stock

Pairs?

Many items come in matching pairs. Tea caddies, knife boxes, decanters. However, some seem to be paired by coincidence or something else?!
We have a few examples of this quite unusual phenomenon.
This first example of tented top tortoiseshell tea caddies.

Aside from the obvious differences in the veneer, they are almost identical despite coming from two different manufacturers.

Whether this was a particular trend or the favoured style of tea caddy, it strikes us as very unusual that they are so similar.
We have another pair of tortoiseshell tea caddies that are almost identical…

Again, the tortoiseshell panels the most obvious difference, with this being unique to every tortoiseshell item, and the escutcheons are different. However, the feet and mounted silver are near identical. The interesting thing we found when looking at these caddies is the manufacturers were on adjacent streets in the Birmingham Jewellery District. (Deakin & Francis are still there today!)

Again we are not sure whether this is just a coincidence or a collaboration between the two companies, or even a competitive angle. Where one caddy design would be a “copy” of another.
We would love to be able to put our finger on the exact reason why these “pairs” are exactly that, but all we can do is speculate.
Either way, we think they look great together!

Don’t forget to check in to the website regularly so you don’t miss out on our new stock!

Looking for something specific? Don’t forget to use the search tool on our homepage!

We are listening to your feedback and appreciate some items are a little out of reach, so we are now accepting layaway payment methods.
Contact us for more details about the item you’d like to purchase.
Email: sales@markgoodger.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 1604 863979     

It started with a sewing box.

I can’t tell you exactly what the next piece to grace the collection was, but it may have been a French kingwood and rosewood table or dresser box that contained the most exquisite Baccarat crystal perfume bottles.  After that we discovered English regency.  Glorious regency.  Then William IV.  This soon became our focus, and we have built a wonderful collection.  Some scrupulously restored, some all original, but each one more amazing than the last.  Fabulous fitted sewing boxes complete with tools and reels.  Tea caddies with fine inlay and cut crystal mixing bowls, even a rare sewing box made near Niagara in Canada.  A gift to a much-loved sister from the Vicar of Cromford in 1833.

While both my husband and I very much enjoy collecting the pieces, and I’ve been a collector of miscellaneous things for decades, it’s the history of these pieces that most absorbs me.  I am particularly thrilled if we find a piece that I can trace back through the ages, like the Niagara piece, or another that sports a plaque from when it was dedicated to a much-loved teacher by her students.  I gradually learned to be able to date the pieces I came across, and to help others identify their pieces and where and when they might have been made.  I’ve even recently begun a small Facebook group for other box lovers such as us.

We are grateful for all the amazing pieces Mark has helped us add to our collection.  Not only that, but he has done some truly amazing restoration work for us.  We are all about saving history.  Sometimes sewing box interiors are too far gone to save.  They don’t always come through the years having been well cared for.  But Mark and his team know exactly what “sympathetic” restoration means. 

Mark and the team are masters of their trade.  Highly skilled and really the only ones we entirely trust to work on these pieces.  We will continue to look to Mark to provide and restore only the finest quality pieces for our collection.

To think that it all started with a sewing box.

———————————————————————————————————

Huge thanks Alyson for this lovely article and insight into your world of collecting, something that we must mention is our collaboration on your project above, the replaced ruching of the silk panel which we know took you hours of work, and what a wonderful piece of work this is. xxx

We would love to hear from you, tell us your story so we can publish it in this newsletter, we can add images and will liaise with you. Rest assured your identity will be kept strictly private.
Click here: mark@markgoodger.co.uk  or call Mark on +44 (0)1604 863979

We have started to upload content to our youtube channel. This will include featured items that will give you a better look at some of the wonderful items we have available. Click on the play RED PLAY button to view.

We are also planning on a few video features on some of the subjects and questions often asked. All in due course.

Founded By Dealers for Dealers

We are very excited to announce we are now part of a new website platform founded by Dealers for Dealers. 2Covet have some really exciting ideas and we are pleased to be part of their journey together. More hot off the press news will be revealed in our next newsletter.

2Covet provides a transparent, reliable marketplace that connects world-renowned dealers and their most exceptional pieces with discerning buyers and collectors, in order to foster mutually beneficial relationships.

2covet has also taken over The Chelsea Antiques fair.

The Date has now been announced for Sept 21-26.

Chelsea is the longest established event of its kind having run consecutively since 1951. The proposed 2021 Fair will host around 30 dealers, initially inviting 2Covet members and former Chelsea exhibitors. Displays will reflect the stunning architecture in the newly refurbished Chelsea Old Town Hall, adding style and elegance to the event, which is anticipated to be open for seven days, Monday to Sunday, offering a sumptuous selection of art and antiques accompanied by tempting food and drink.

More information can be found HERE

BREXIT
We are geared up for Brexit and everything should be ready to keep our shipment times as speedy and efficient as always. However, due to Brexit related issues with customs clearing, some shipments are experiencing severe delays due to a backlog of paperwork in certain European countries. We are aware that France, Germany and Italy are currently affected by the backlog. However, there could be delays with any European imports so please keep this in mind if you are purchasing from inside the EU. Please rest assured we monitor shipments every day and have good communications with our shippers.

We are not liable for any extra customs or VAT charges that may occur.
If you have any concerns or questions, please get in touch.

Purchasing online
With no exhibitions and unable to see, inspect or handle our pieces, we understand this can be frustrating. More and more of us having to come to terms with purchasing goods online, which is not what we’re used to – but please feel free to call or email with any questions you may have regarding any of our items, we are only too happy to hear from you and always here to answer any of your questions.

If you happen to see an item on our website click the ADD TO CART blue button and proceed to purchase or contact us by the ENQUIRE blue-button.

For your peace of mind! All our items come with an authentication certificate with an image, as well as our latest catalogue, care instructions and separate invoice for insurance purposes. On top of this, our items come with a 14-day no-quibble money-back guarantee and are all fully insured for when shipping.

LAYAWAY PAYMENT OPTION
Many have now taken advantage of our LAYAWAY payment process; making what would normally be outreach purchases more affordable. For more details, please contact us here sales@markgoodger.co.uk

NEVER MISS A NEWSLETTER..!
If you ever miss a newsletter or are a new subscriber – our previous newsletters can be found in the “catalogue” section or our website; they are added a few days after the initial email as we like to give you, our subscribers, the first look.
Click on the grey banner to view now. 
 

A warning about fakes!

More and more of us are shopping online during these times, which has unfortunately seen a surge in rogues out there keen to prise you of your hard-earned money. Please be careful when buying antiques online, fakers have been extremely busy and making lots of money!

So many flaws hidden by clever photography, added inlays, period caddies re-veneered and turned into what appear to be rare unusual designs – these unscrupulous fraudsters giving us dealers a bad name! 
So please, do your homework thoroughly on the person/dealer and the item you are looking to buy.

I am happy to give my opinion and will not charge you for my time especially if you’re a customer of ours. I do this for many of my collectors, after all, I am as keen as you to help build the best collection money can buy. 

WE ARE STILL OPEN!

Following government guidelines, our showroom is still open for click & collect by appointment only. All government guidelines have been taken to make sure your visit is safe. However, our online services are still the best way of purchasing.

Certain postal restrictions are in place due to the coronavirus. Prior to purchasing, if you are uncertain of any postal restrictions where you live, please get in contact and we will look into it for you and be happy to assist.        

Tel +44 (0) 1604 863 979
Mob. +44 (0) 7779 654 879
sales@markgoodger.co.uk

DATA PROTECTION ACT
To view our privacy policy please click HERE

SOCIAL MEDIA
Want to keep up with our latest news and gossip?  We feature on all the platforms listed below, so connect with us!  

FEEDBACK
Please don’t hesitate to let us know of any glitches on our website, or how we can help improve your online experience.   

SHOWROOM 
Visits are by appointment only. If you have any questions relating to future appointments or an item you are considering purchasing please get in touch.
 

Email Address: sales@markgoodger.co.uk

Telephone:         +44 (0) 1604 863 979
Mobile:               +44 (0) 7779 654 879

Website & Online Payments

We now only accept payments for items online! So if you see something you like please go ahead and purchase the item before it gets snapped up!!  
This can be done by clicking on the “Add to Cart” button on the item you would like to purchase.

Then click on the shopping cart icon at the top of the page and click on “proceed to checkout” button on the dropdown menu.

Payments can also be made by bank transfer, paypal, or we can invoice you through our website give us a call on:
+44 (0) 1604 863979
If you have any other questions relating to payment. Please bear in mind that the facility to deliver an item to an address other than that of the registered card-holder is only available for existing customers.

SEARCH & SOURCE SERVICE
Send us an email with as much information as possible and we’ll get straight on the case for you. We may even have that coveted piece in our ‘special reserve’! Click the link to get in touch: sales@markgoodger.co.uk

And finally…. thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Please forward it on to friends & colleagues who may be interested.

Mark Goodger
& all the team.

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Email Address: sales@markgoodger.co.uk

Telephone:   +44 (0) 1604 863 979
Mobile:         +44 (0) 7779 654 879