Georgian Antiques

When visiting LAPADA members Georgian Antiques, it is easy to understand why they were recently chosen as Scottish winners of the British Antiques and Collectables Awards (BACA).

Their premises alone are impressive enough, and it takes a good two hours to walk around the 50,000 square feet of converted whisky bond in the historic part of Leith in Edinburgh. No wonder that this is said to offer Scotland’s largest selection of antiques.

Georgian Antiques has become a mecca for interior designers, the general public and the trade. This is the place to find anything from a prop for a television commercial to that special item of furniture for the home. Furniture on offer includes bookcases, cabinets, chairs, clocks, desks, mirrors, occasional furniture, paintings, and much more.

Stock is constantly changing, so that it is well worth paying return visits to the showrooms where helpful staff are ready to assist.

“We know our stock well and our grading system means you can be guided straight to the right section.” says John Dixon who runs this marvelous emporium. The premises are formed from an old whisky bond in which whisky was stored before being shipped. There is still a faint aroma of the famous ‘amber nectar’ which makes a visit to Georgian Antiques all the more memorable.

The stock is not only vast and varied but is constantly changing as dealers buy from Georgian Antiques in such large quantities. Private customers shop at Georgian Antiques as well. One private visitor found a pine rolling pin for £10 and a brass inlaid marquetry bookcase with good provenance and condition for £50,000.

The furniture at Georgian Antiques is mostly Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian. There is some French country furniture and a range of unusual items including a complete chemist shop’s fittings for £10,000.

At least 80% of the stock is sourced in Scotland as John Dixon explained “ In the 19th Century, there were loads of Victorian cabinetmakers in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee. Our customers are benefiting from that.”

Georgian Antiques has a team of seven cabinetmakers and six French polishers on hand and the company does virtually everything for the customer. Clocks are overhauled before being delivered and most of the furniture is prepared ‘ready to take home’.

It might be called ‘Georgian’ but this company is already doing business in ‘cyberspace’. Furniture is showcased on the shop’s web site every ten days and John Dixon is rightly proud of a recent ‘electronic’ transaction with a customer in Arizona who send an email enquiry for a specific drumhead cylindrical clock circa 1810. “We had one in stock, emailed a digital photo, completed the sale and air-freighted it out. We never saw the delighted customer.”

This has to be one of the widest ranges of antiques and collectables you’ll ever see under one roof. There is no formal entrance, stock is laid out informally but there is nothing casual about the 20 plus staff who are very professional, helpful and friendly. There are prices and pieces to suit all collectors. If you have time off in Edinburgh then this is has to be on your list.

10 Pattison Street, Leith Links, Edinburgh EH6 7HR.
Tel: 0131 553 7286.       Fax: 0131 553 6299.
E-mail: info@georgianantiques.net
web site: .www.georgianantiques.net