About Us
AD antiques was formed in 1997 by Alison Davey. Alison's background
is not in the fine arts; she graduated from Edinburgh University in 1995
with an MA and thereafter practiced in the field of Criminal Justice.
Her last appointment was at Edinburgh prison where she undertook risk
assessments and therapeutic intervention programmes with long term prisoners.
Throughout her training and employment she developed an interest in the
decorative arts and during this time she began "trading" at car boot sales.
This quickly developed into a passion / obsession and for several years
used her annual leave to attend and exhibit at show-ground antiques fairs
throughout the UK. In 2000 Alison decided that she had to get the dealing
bug out of her system once and for all; she resigned her job, moved to
Staffordshire and began trading full time.
During the early years the business retailed all manner of decorative
arts including glass, metals, jewellery from the arts and crafts and art
nouveau movements. However Alison developed a particular interest in British
Art Pottery. The appeal comes as much from the social and political dimension
that inspired the manufacturers as to the aesthetic quality and originality
of the ceramics. The designers and factories of the era that were pushing
the boundaries of creativity, chemistry and design. Many of these studios
were actively rebuking the machine age and supporting the social philosophers
of the day who were proposing the return to local crafts, the dignity
of the worker and the movement away from elaborate ornamentation to simpler
lines and design.
In business Alison too was pushing her own boundaries - she stepped up
from the Showground fairs and embarked on the Vetted Fair Circuit. These
fairs were mainly traditional antiques fairs with no tradition of British
Art Pottery, but over the years she established herself and her client
base - one year AD antiques exhibited at 37 antiques fairs across the
length and breadth of the UK! Simultaneously she developed a website and
was able to keep in touch with clients and showcase her stock on line.
In 2003 she was joined by her partner George Kingham and it is their combined
experience, stock and knowledge that has allowed AD antiques to flourish
into an established and well regarded business exhibiting at the UK's
leading antiques fairs and selling some of the finest examples of British
Art Pottery. AD antiques regularly stocks artists and factories such as
Martin Brothers, William de Morgan, William Moorcroft, Doulton Lambeth,
Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian, Ruskin and Wedgwood. In addition we also
try to have available examples of small studio factories such as Della
Robbia, Compton and Morrisware that along with their larger contemporaries
made important contributions to the British Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau
and Art Deco Movements.
Like Alison, George served his apprentiship from the bottom up. He has
dealt in ceramics for 20 years, selling his car to finance his business
start up. Prior to his venture into the world of antiques George has had
numerous colourful jobs including grave exhumation, equine groom, and
retailing electrical equipment at Camden Town Market. It was whilst at
Camden that George purchased his first antique, a silver plated salt cellar,
which he put proudly alongside his electrical equipment! His interest
in ceramics was developed through his Grandmother, Jean who was a prolific
collector of commemoratives. It was here that George was first introduced
to Doulton and it is in this factory that he developed his experience
and expertise. Over the years his interest broadened into other pottery
and porcelain factories; in addition to British Art pottery he has dealt
in Crown Derby, Royal Worcester, Meissen and Sevres and had a good working
knowledge of many ceramic factories. He has had a regular stand at Portobello
Market and has traded widely in the UK and the USA. He has also purchased
a number of important collections including Museum archives.
Alison and George are committed to the highest standards of product and
service. The company is diligent in their research and labelling and offer
specialist advise to collectors and auction houses. AD antiques always
guarantees its products to be exactly as described. Occasionally items
of stock have restoration (of the highest standards) but this is always
detailed to clients in the form of comprehensive condition reports. In
amassing a collection, buying with an eye to investment or simply decorating
a home clients are assured that they are purchasing items that are genuine
and in the condition described. It is both this experience and integrity
that mean that Alison and George are regularly asked to offer an independent
assessment of the authenticity and condition of the stock of their peers
at vetted antiques fairs and provide consultation to major auction houses.