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The Best Places to Buy Antiques and Vintage Homeware Online

10 months ago

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The Best Places to Buy Antiques and Vintage Homeware Online

There’s a wealth of reasons to opt for a well-worn and loved antique over a new piece. For one, buying vintage, antique and second hand promotes sustainability and salvages pieces that might otherwise end up in landfill, for two, it supports the many antiques sellers who are helping to promote this more eco-friendly way of buying, preserving pieces with history and personality which can be owned and loved for many years to come.

What are you waiting for? Get stuck into our round up of the best places to buy antique furniture and pre-love homewares, and start building your very own collection of one-off treasures. Here are the best places to buy antiques and vintage homeware online.

The C&TH Vintage Hub / Furniture / Antiques / Interior Design

The Best Places to Buy Antiques Online

AU Bespoke

Founded by UK-based interior stylist Anna Unwin, AU Bespoke’s USP is bespoke pieces which complement simple and refined spaces. Selecting each piece on the merits of its design and idiosyncrasy, most of the pieces chosen by Unwin are handcrafted, exemplifying the best of artisanship and craft. Lovers of raw materials will also appreciate the selection of unique vintage pieces crafted from materials like onyx, marble and brass. Pair of cream and black veined vintage French marble bookends. aubespoke.com

Rose Uniacke

Looking to take your antiques hunt up a gear? In addition to designing furniture and lighting, London-based Rose Uniacke is a specialist antiques dealer, trained in furniture restoration, gilding, paint and lacquer. Whether you’re looking for a Regency penwork games table, 18th century German oak chest or Art Nouveau cache pot, the antiques arm of the brand is the perfect place to find it. Large 18th century kitchen cabinet, £65,000. roseuniacke.com

1st Dibs

A vast marketplace of old treasures – 1st Dibs lists everything from jewellery to fashion, art and furniture. Its furniture and homewares is the perfect place to find a signature piece to elevate your home, whether you’re hankering after a £14,ooo Hans J. Wegner chair, or a vintage lacquered telephone. Telephone, £270. 1stdibs.co.uk

Kept London

With a brilliant knack for curating and styling hard-to-find pieces, Kept London’s Instagram shop full of fascinating and unusual pieces which will fit right into a modern home. Its page is also brimming with styling ideas to make the most of your new purchase. Follow on Instagram @keptlondon.

Vinterior

Mid-century furniture is making a huge comeback – and one of the best places to hunt for a beautiful Danish dressing table, one-of-a-kind pair of leather armchairs or statement Art Deco mirror is online seller, Vinterior. With something to suit every budget – you’re certain to find the perfect new vintage addition to your home in its vast inventory. Vintage G Plan dressing table with mirror, £390. vinterior.co

The Happy Attic

Coloured glassware addicts you’re in luck – you’re sure to find the next starring piece for your table among The Happy Attic’s collection of Murano blue candlesticks, pink cabbage rose 1930s teacups pretty pottery, like this German 1950s jug. Follow on Instagram @thehappyattic.

The Butler’s Daughter

Making another good case for buying directly from your feed is The Butler’s Daughter. Curated by a prop stylist, on its Instagram shop you’ll find an ever-growing collection of unique tableware and crockery, plus the odd retro 50s kettle or quirky butter dish – all at the swipe of a thumb. Follow on Instagram @thebutlersdaughter.

Colourful pink tablescape, vintage pieces and flowers

Ratty Saint James

Gone are the days when you had to schlep across two fields or hunt in the backstreets of London for the perfect second hand piece for your home. Now – a new wave of sellers are doing the job just as well on Instagram. One of them is London-based Ratty Saint James, whose keen eye for iridescent Tiffany glass pieces, retro dinner services and unusual candlesticks is earning the account a fast-growing following. Follow on Instagram @rattysaintjames

Multicolour abstract oil painting by Marcel Saint-Jean

The Peanut Vendor

20th century furniture, accessories and art-led objects are the bread and butter of east London-based The Peanut Vendor. Ordinarily you can visit its fascinating collection at the main showroom in Bow, Victoria Park – a design-lover’s ideal day trip in normal times – but in the meantime, browsing its catalogue of one-off paintings, sculptures and characterful furniture from the comfort of your sofa is sure to provide hours of entertainment. Marcel Saint-Jean (1914-1994) oil on canvas, £894. thepeanutvendor.co.uk

Eesome

If abstract, contemporary pieces with a sculptural feel are more your pace – Eesome is the seller for you. Operating both on Instagram and its dedicated website, Eesome’s speciality is statement pottery and ceramics for the fashion forward and eco-conscious (think 70s Nietzsche lamp bases and asymmetrical 19th century urns). Among its fans is Rêve en Vert (the ‘sustainable version of Net-a-Porter’) which has just launched a new monthly curation of vintage picks from the seller to showcase alongside its organic linen sheets and made-to-order vases. Launching on Rêve en Vert from 23 Feb 2021. Follow on Instagram @eesomeshop. Find out more at eesomeshop.com; reve-en-vert.com

Joliette

With a great eye for art and unusual pieces like 1930s theatre seat rows, it’s no wonder Toronto-based Joliette’s beautifully-styled Instagram is a hit with interiors lovers. Founders Jenna Parkes and Holly Rockbrune demonstrate how to style their eclectic catalogue of antique French and Belgian kitchenware, furniture, art and textiles in situ on the Joliette feed – providing ample inspiration to achieve a multi-textured and layered look that’s still effortlessly fresh and modern. Plus, it offers a shared shipping service, encouraging buyers to share shipping container space and thereby reducing the number of trips needed and greenhouse gas emissions made in transit. 1930s theatre row seats, $325. Follow on Instagram @jolie.tt. Find out more at tresjoliette.com.

Vintage on the Vine

With its covetable collection of exquisite, unusual and statement one-off pieces, Vintage on the Vine’s curation of antiques hits the nail on the head. Even better – and making a case for buying second hand – you can be safe in that knowledge that your beloved new find is a truly a one-off piece to love for life, and won’t be flooding Instagram feeds in three weeks’ time. From 19th century scullery tables to 1880 French life drawing sketches – there’s something on its online store to suit every taste. French toleware candle sconce pair, £225. vintageonthevine.co.uk

Tat London

A self-titled ‘online junk shop’, Tat London is a treasure trove of original oil pantings, handmade early 20th century ceramics, rugs and textiles all curated by the expert eye of Charlie Porter. Perfect for the rookie antiques hunter – if you find hunting through second-hand shops and fairs a bit intimidating, there are plenty of pieces in the neatly–selected collection that are ideally suited to the modern home. Tat London framed oil portrait by Magnus Creutz, £528. tat-london.co.uk

The Tolstoy Edit

Curated by the glamorous Alexandra Tolstoy (a distant descendant of the famous Russian author, Leo Tolstoy), her finds are brushed with Russian Romanisticsm and folkloric wonder. Head here for maximalist furniture pieces. thetolstoyedit.com

Rehaus

If you’re looking for something stylish to sit on, Rehaus is the place to find it. Specialising in the resale of designer furniture from the likes of Herman Miller, Walter Knoll and Gio Ponti, its catalogue is filled with pieces which were made to stand out. rehaus.co.uk

Image courtesy of @tradchapantiques

Trad Chap

Do you have a mismatch, William Morris kind of aesthetic? Somerset’s Jack Laver Brister lends his stunning taste to curating elegant antiques best for country homes on @tradchapantiques and @tradchap.

Narchie

So you have a Depop account to sell your clothes? Well, meet your new interiors equivalent: Narchie, It’s a new startup app on the scene that’s sure on its way to shake up the interiors industry and its waste problem. Download the app, here.

Punch The Clock

If you’re after mid-century minimalistic design (essentially if you’re the type to love Kinfolk and Cereal magazines), Punch The Clock should be your go to choice. Sign up to their newsletter to get the latest updates on what’s for sale. punchtheclock.net

Medium Antiques

Medium

Medium Room is all about vintage and antique art pieces, that’s well priced. Think ochre, think Cézanne inspired, think laissez faire strokes that build up stunning figurative nudes and portraits. Not one to miss of the list. mediumroom.co.uk

Image courtesy of Max Rollitt

Max Rollitt

Widely recognised as one of the best, trusted antique stores in the world in terms of quality, Max Rollitt is your go to for beautiful, historical, rare antiques.

There’s a wide variety to choose from: chairs, tables, mirrors: but it’s probably most well known for it’s beautiful canopy beds.

maxrollit.com

Image courtesy of Pearl Lowe Antiques

Pearl Lowe

If you love any of the following: lace, House of Hackney, a maximalistic aesthetic, o anything clashy brashy and kitchy, or you’re simply on the hunt for the final finishing touches for the home that adds a bit of artistic creativity: head on over to Pearl Lowe’s antiques section. Her lace tablecloths are the perfect addition to any summer tablescaping.

This isn’t the place to head necessarily for stocky key pieces of furniture, but more for interior accessories that add a bit of delight to the home.

pearllowe.co.uk

blue piped second hand sofa by Lou and Pickle

Lou and Pickle @louandpickle

Lou & Pickle

Certainly an interior editors’ secret: @louandpickle is your best bet for beautiful second hand rugs. Sometimes dabbling in the odd blue piped arm chairs, screens and wardrobes, (some are truly gorgeous!), the Sussex-based gram is very much on first come first served basis so if you absolutely love something, keep an eye on their stories and grid posts, and slide in quickly to their DMs to beat the queue.

Instagram: @louandpickle

Knosen Antiques (@knosenantiques). Photograph: @chauntevaughn Chanté Vaughn

Knosen Antiques

Answering all your needs in the world of pine, Knosen Antiques (@knosenantiques), is your go to IG account for all antique pine furnishings. Think mainly beds, wardrobes (with the odd tables peppered now and again), this is one to follow. Petra Palumbo and Matilda Goad are fans, which is all you really need to know.

Instagram: @knosenantiques Photograph: @chauntevaughn Chanté Vaughn

Lorfords Antiques

Lorfords Antiques’ selection of vintage furniture is astounding – and the largest in the UK. Choose from a Regency marble and gilt chess table, or a pair of 19th century French walnut armchairs – exquisite pieces that have stood the test of time.

lorfordsantiques.com

Scene by Chloe

In a previous life Chloe McDonald was a luxury fashion buyer, but in 2020 she left her job to fulfil her life-long dream of being an antiques dealer. Be first in the queue for her weekly stock drops by signing up to her newsletter.

scenebychloe.com

Second Abode

A passion project for founder Roman Dennis, you can be sure every piece stocked on Second Abode has been selected with love. Discover beautiful vintage glassware, small furniture items and one-off objects – ideal for crafting a space that’s totally unique and individual.

secondabode.co

The Antik Store

Founded in 2019 by Georgia McGivern, The Antik Store stocks one-off vintage homewares. Everything is carefully picked by Georgia, who travels around the UK and Europe to find unique items, sourcing from small sellers and charities.

theantikstore.com

Haines Collection

Nearly 400,000 tonnes of home textile waste ends up in landfill each year. Haines Collection was set up as a platform for unwanted textiles, wallpaper, lights and tiles that otherwise would be headed for the dump.

hainescollection.co.uk

The Old Cinema

Expertly and lovingly curated by The Old Cinema’s experienced team, this Chiswick High Road stalwart (it opened in 1978) is the place to head – physically or digitally – for high quality furniture, homeware and lighting.

theoldcinema.co.uk

Found by Sasha Wilkins

Hit follow on Sasha Wilkins’ (also known as Liberty London Girl) vintage channel, and you’ll want to buy the lot. You’ll be stocking up on 19th century china, Art Deco champagne coupes and French opaline vases in no time.

@foundbysashawilkins

Image: The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair

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Photos: Unsplash / Alyssa Strohmann