About Us
Apters and Fredericks have been acquiring some of the finest pieces of Eighteenth century English antique furniture since 1946. From Queen Anne to Regency, through the designs of Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite, Robert Adam and Thomas Sheraton, spanning the period when English furniture design and craftsmanship was at its height.
We look for originality, colour, condition and provenance. Be it a walnut chest of drawers or bureau bookcase, a mahogany tripod or dining table, a charming satinwood or inlaid commode, or a finely coloured rosewood sofa table; each will have been carefully selected for aesthetic beauty and excellent patina.
These days, to find a piece with all these qualities is rare, however, we know where to look and what to pay. We have skilled craftsmen at hand who can restore a piece to its original beauty when, on occasion, time and neglect has blemished it.
Using the archival wealth of London's nearby museums and libraries, we search the past to uncover information about the pieces, whilst constantly monitoring the movements of important works in the markets. It is for these attributes that our specialist experience and scholarship is sought and appreciated by our clients. Amongst these are museums and private collectors who span the world from our neighbours in central London to friends as distant as the United States, India, China and Australia.
Our spacious showrooms in London's Fulham Road are the best place to start your search for Eighteenth century English furniture. A large dining table with chairs for twenty or a breakfront bookcase can be viewed with the perspective of distance without the clutter common to many showrooms. Every piece is displayed with the respect it deserves. For those too far away a phone call is often enough to locate an item.
Buying and acquisition
Buying
If you have found our site for the first time and are considering whether we are the people to buy from we would point out just one thing: we estimate that at least 20% of our stock at any one time has been through our hands before. Some pieces have been purchased and sold by us at least three times. We believe this says more about our business, the way we look after old clients and the quality of the items we deal in than anything else and, we hope, provides prospective clients with the necessary reassurance.
Acquisition
We are always looking to acquire fine examples of furniture, mirrors and objects. If we do not wish to purchase your item, we will happily advise you as to the best course of action. If you are considering selling, there has never been a better time to deal directly with us. Taking into account that the buyer's and seller's commissions charged by salerooms can reduce the price you receive by up to 40%, add to this the time you have to wait for the next auction, the handling, insurance and photographic charges, then compared with the immediate decision and payment we offer, it is no wonder that we are receiving many more requests than at any time previously.