In a city that is so defined by its history, antiques have always had a major presence in Bath’s shops and auction houses. Here we meet five businesses whose guiding principles revolve around finding suitable homes for antique and vintage items.
Antiques and collectables play a rich role in our lives. An Art Deco circular mirror, a Chinese carved jade figure of the Qing Dynasty, an Indian Matchlock long gun or a Victorian copper coal hod all provide a connection to the past, helping us understand the lifestyles, traditions and values of previous generations. Antiques can also be a good investment because their value tends to increase over time, especially rare pieces sought after by collectors. Pieces from the past can also be a colourful expression of the homeowner’s character and interests in their home, a reflection of who they are. The most intriguing aspect of antique and vintage items is that all pieces have an engrossing story to tell, in terms of the way they were made and the lives of those who owned them. Here we introduce our local specialists: Aldridges of Bath, Beau Nash, Ma San Auction, Lawrences Auctioneers and Auctionet.
Ma San Auction
Ma San Auction specialises in the sale of Asian decorative art and antiques, with an expert focus on Chinese items.
The business was built around the expertise and trusted contacts of Danny Ma who has worked in the UK as a dealer in Chinese antiques since the 1980s. When Danny came to the UK as a student from Hong Kong at the age of just 17, he discovered the incredible range of Chinese items available here, often hidden in homeowners’ attics, because so many items were brought to this country by wealthy families in the 18th century. In the 1990s Danny established a stall in the Bath Antiques Centre in Bartlett Street, making frequent trips to China to continue to build relationships and contacts in the market. Danny became one of the top importers in the country for early Chinese ceramics and then opened The Bath Antiquities Centre on The Paragon and Ma Antiques on York Street.
Danny’s son Leon Ma (Executive Director) launched Ma San Auction in Bath in 2016, which is when the business became online auctioneers rather than dealers – this expansion was a way of reaching out to a much wider audience by running auctions using internet bidding. The business has been based in Prince’s Buildings in George Street since 2019 where the shop window displays a tempting range of larger scale Chinese items that will soon be going under the (online) hammer. Ma San holds bi-monthly sales showcasing a range of Chinese and Asian items including ceramics and porcelain, bronzes, jade, furniture, jewellery, wood carvings, and paintings. Objects range from ancient painted pottery found at sites along the Yellow River basin dating to the Neolithic period to jade animal carvings of the Yuan and Ming dynasties (1279-1644) to the high-fired polychrome porcelain of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) which caught the eyes of wealthy European families in the 17th century.
The lots in the auction are shown on the Ma San website for 2–3 weeks before the sale. The sales last all day, typically with 300 lots per sale. On the day there are lines of people at computers taking online bids as well as people manning the telephones, with 50-60 lots typically being sold each hour. The sales are run on multiple bidding platforms based in the UK, Europe, America and China, so the computers need to stay in sync.
The value of individual pieces often changes from decade to decade according to the prevailing culture and fashion. Danny says that burial pieces found in Chinese tombs were widely available in the 1990s – after the country changed its policies to promote increased foreign trade and investment – but the values have gone up significantly in recent years as pieces are harder to source. Leon tells the story of a soapstone seal that he came across in someone’s house that the owner thought was worthless, but it achieved £30,000. Another remarkable story saw a lady bring in a jade bangle that she had bought in a Chinese street market years before for around £10, which was bought at auction for £8000.
Items are sourced from the whole of the UK, including from Bath and Bristol. With many reproductions now coming out of China, both Leon and Danny are rigorous in their identification of fakes, using their exhaustive knowledge of the styles of the period, identifying marks, the type of clay, the correct weight of a piece, the quality of glaze or the style of painted decoration.
Before the millennium, Danny says that the people who were interested in collecting Chinese art tended to be from the professional and elite classes – doctors, ambassadors, governors, academics and the royal family, who were all highly engaged with the history behind the items. These days the market encompasses plenty of younger people who are interested in buying Chinese items as an investment. Buyers are most typically from China and Hong Kong, as well as America and Europe. Ma San’s reputation is such that buyers don’t need to see and handle the pieces in person, trusting the expert opinion of the specialists at Ma San.
Ma San Auction, 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED Tel: 01225 318587; masanauction.com
Beau Nash
Beau Nash Antiques stands as a beacon of timeless elegance and exceptional service. Owned by Ron Pringle and Cynthia Wihardja, the business operates two outlets on Brock Street—an antique silver shop and a showroom of furniture & decorative arts. Together, Ron and Cynthia bring decades of international business experience and boundless creativity to ensure Beau Nash remains a cherished destination for antique enthusiasts.
Ron’s journey began with three decades of corporate success across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, India, and Europe, where he grew a thriving multinational enterprise. Cynthia, an accomplished entrepreneur and consultant, has spent over 25 years elevating business performance across Asia. Their combined expertise creates a unique approach to the antiques trade.
Founded in 2014, Beau Nash started as Bath’s only antique silver shop. Inspired by a lifelong passion for collecting silver, Ron poured his business acumen into building a boutique that now boasts the largest collection of silverware in the South West. From the outset, Ron combined his love for silver with exceptional customer service. Partnering initially with silver specialist Duncan Campbell, the shop quickly earned a reputation for its unparalleled selection and personal touch.
In 2021, Cynthia joined Beau Nash, bringing fresh perspectives to the business. Under their joint leadership, Beau Nash expanded in 2022 to a second outlet focused on classic interiors, giving customers an even wider range of curated treasures.
What sets Beau Nash apart is their human approach. There’s always time for a quick chat, or at least a wave and a smile. The dog bowl is always filled with water. The service from the owners and the team is always helpful, honest, and friendly.
Fashionable antiques are set up in an immersive, home-like setting rather than the traditional crowded layouts of most antique establishments. This simple yet transformative idea helps customers visualise how pieces would fit into their homes.
“We are not just selling antiques; we are in the service business,” Cynthia explains. “In everything we do, we aim for customer delight.” This philosophy is evident every day. Ron, for instance, is often seen meticulously polishing a client’s purchase while chatting about its history or swapping stories about rugby. Cynthia’s effort to remember faces and names creates a truly personalised shopping experience.
Beau Nash has earned the loyalty of both UK residents and international visitors. Local Bath residents appreciate the convenience of home trials, allowing them to experience the item before committing to a purchase. London home owners appreciate their biweekly delivery service that helps save costs. International clients value the ease of global shipping, making it simple to acquire unique pieces from Bath to anywhere in the world.
Since opening the second shop, Beau Nash’s impact has grown significantly. “Our firepower has increased threefold,” Ron notes. “The two outlets support each other, strengthening the Beau Nash brand image.”
Whether a client seeks a giltwood overmantle mirror, a Victorian armchair, or a silver sauce ladle, they’re guaranteed more than just a transaction. They receive an experience defined by attention to detail, heartfelt service, and an unwavering commitment to quality—hallmarks of Beau Nash’s old-fashioned yet refreshingly modern approach.
Beau Nash, 28 and 31 Brock Street , Bath BA1 2LN; Tel: 07535 137808; beaunashbath.com; antiquefurniture.shop; @beaunashbath
Aldridges of Bath Ltd
Aldridges of Bath was established in 1976 by John Street, after a period of 25 years with Jolly’s Auction Rooms as managing director.
The mid-1970s was a very buoyant period in the world of antiques, with a healthy home market and a booming export market, particularly to the USA, so it was a particularly good time to start this new venture, Aldridges of Bath. Two years later, John’s youngest son Ivan joined the firm as a 17-year-old and began the long and rewarding process of learning the business. “I feel extremely lucky to have entered the business when it was at its peak. We were regularly dealing with large properties and estates, with all manner of rare and interesting items coming through the doors, so gaining knowledge was relatively easy, and a great deal of fun”, says Ivan.
In 1996, on his father’s retirement, Ivan took over the running of the business, but by this time the market was gradually starting to change for a variety of reasons and today it is very different. In the 1970s and ’80s, places like Bath, Bradford-on-Avon and Warminster were teaming with antiques shops, centres and markets, but now there are far fewer. Buyers’ tastes have changed, particularly with regard to furniture, and today good Georgian pieces have become much more affordable and are extremely good value for money compared to 30 years ago. The same can be said of all manner of the traditional areas of furnishing and collecting, with a shift to, and a growth in, more contemporary tastes and styles. One important thing that hasn’t changed, for both traditional antiques as well as more contemporary items, is that anything of outstanding quality or rarity can still command high prices at auction, despite changes in buying trends.
Over the past 20 years Alridges have seen a rise in demand for certain types of Chinese ceramics and works-of-art, greatly facilitated by the presence of the internet. On that note, the internet has brought about probably the most radical change. Auction firms large and small can now present their entire sale catalogue to buyers all over the world, in a way that hitherto was not possible. In fact, because the on-line bidding platforms available today are so efficient and convenient, the majority of UK buyers also place their bids in this way, even people who are within easy reach of their local saleroom.
Despite some seismic changes, Aldridges are still going strong after nearly 50 years and Ivan says he feels privileged to have been involved in such a fascinating and absorbing business, and to have had the opportunity to handle a good many rare and valuable items. Notable examples include a pair of marble sculptures of Putti (winged, chubby male children) representing Day and Night, dated 1715 which were sold in the early 1980s for £26,000 (approximately £80,000 today); a stunning pair of Art Deco emerald earrings which sold for £50,000; a Chippendale period library for £36,000; and a very rare Chinese porcelain bowl made in the early 18th century, sold for £260,000.
Ivan says, “The beauty of this job is that you never know what might turn up next. During routine valuations, in the course of the same week, I was asked to value not only a rare historic autographed letter by Oliver Cromwell written during the Civil War, but also a live tortoise!”
Aldridges of Bath Ltd, Phoenix House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 9ES; Tel: 01225 462 830; aldridgesofbath.com
Lawrences Auctioneers
Lawrences Auctioneers in Crewkerne are one of the UK’s major Fine Art Auctioneers, regularly holding sales that exceed over £1 million and with a team of specialists whose combined expertise covers 400 years in the industry.
Free valuations and home visits are offered throughout the West Country and beyond and the company oversee the entire auction process from the initial visit and valuation through to research, cataloguing, marketing and sale. Auction sales are marketed to a global network of collectors through various online auction platforms to ensure the best possible price.
The company was set up by Simon Lawrence around 50 years ago and was bought by Helen Carless in 1992, who ran Lawrences for 30 years. In 2022, when Helen retired, Lawrences was bought by Swedish company Auctionet.
Matthew Lacey is a senior valuer with 40 years’ experience as an Auctioneer and General Valuer for auction houses. He visits clients; looks at their treasures; gives the clients information; provides an estimate price; advises them on a reserve; and, when everything is agreed, puts the items into a suitable sale. The valuer’s role also deals with managing people’s expectations. “You might see a Chinese bowl and have established its potential value. However, on closer inspection it has a hairline crack, which can diminish the price dramatically,” says Matthew.
While online auctions are crucial to the way that Lawrences operate, people can still view the sale items ahead of the auction in the company’s Crewkerne saleroom. Online auctions, allowing buyers to view and bid online, take place every day with each online promotion lasting 6-10 days. Traditional hammer sales still take place for specialist areas including militaria, medals, coins and banknotes, pictures and furniture, silver, jewellery, clocks and rugs.
While 90% of the items seen by valuers are worth between £25 and £5000, they often encounter items that are worth far more. Matthew recalls a visit to a property in the New Forest. He walked in and saw a small pewter panel on an ebonised base. He told the homeowner that he thought it could be by the sculptor and letter-cutter Eric Gill. Research established this was the case and it sold at auction for around £40,000.
Many people sell items when clearing an estate after someone has died, or when downsizing. Because buyers’ tastes are constantly changing, the valuation process can bring both uplifting and disappointing results. A good example of an antique bureau twenty years ago might have achieved £800, Matthew explains, but now the same bureau might only achieve £100. “People live different lives today and many do not seek the Downton Abbey look where the whole house is dressed up in period furniture – they prefer to have one or two interesting pieces.”
Current trends for buyers include mid-century modern, named pieces and modern British art. Collectors also like small items such as novelty silver, spoons and 18th-century glass and ceramics because they are easy to store. Impractical pieces such as a teepoy (a three-legged stand holding a tea caddy) or a workbox do not sell well because they take up space but do not have a purpose.
For Matthew, who travels around constantly visiting people’s homes to value items, the rewards of his role are driven by the interesting people he meets. “I enjoy going to new properties because you never know what you are going to see. But it is about the people because everyone has a story. We can learn so much about the items from the owners’ recollections.”
Lawrences Auctioneers, The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB; Tel: 01460 73041; lawrences.co.uk
Auctionet
Swedish company Auctionet was set up in 2011 by founder and CEO Niklas Söderholm. Auctionet holds online auctions, creating a marketplace where auction houses from all over Europe sell furniture, art, design items and collectibles. The concept was to provide a solution to the fact that the auction industry had not been taking advantage of the rapidly changing, tech-fuelled demands of the 21st century.
The company launched in the UK in 2019 and purchased Lawrences Auctioneers in 2022 because they wanted a well-established provincial auction house that was selling in high volumes so they could demonstrate the effectiveness of their auction model. Andy Sagar, who previously worked at Lawrences as Operations Manager, is now Managing Director of Auctionet’s UK operations.
“Auctionet’s core philosophy is based around what is known as Lean Processing (LP). This is the idea that the way in which you work should be done at maximum efficiency and with as little waste as possible”, says Andy.
The items are sold at online auction, much like eBay, but all items are carefully inspected, described and photographed by experts, so buyers can see a comprehensive range of pictures and information about each item, allowing them to bid with confidence.
This is achieved by Auctionet working with individual auction houses to create a system that will process and sell items quickly and efficiently. This means not wasting working hours on manual processes that could be automated. “We help our auction houses to create physical set-ups within their premises that allow them to create a flow system of goods so that items can pass through the necessary stages of cataloguing and photography. Then the system takes over with an automated bidding mechanism so buyers can see all the information they need online – this is called continuous online selling”, says Andy.
When buyers scan a barcode on an item they can see all the photographs, the description, the condition assessment, the stage of bidding, and can get a shipping quote. When they choose to place a bid the system will also tell them whether they have hit the reserve price. This process allows Auctionet to upload, process and sell items every day.
While the hammer price of items such as brown furniture, ceramics and glassware has dropped over the last few years, the cost of handling them has gone up with increased storage costs and wages. Also when physical sales only happen bi-monthly or quarterly, there are peaks and troughs in income. With over a million buyers on its books Auctionet sells items faster, reducing the cost of selling an item so that the margin is higher.
Buyers are able to purchase items from the 77 auction houses Auctionet has on its platform across Europe and can order transport on virtually all of them which means they can have them delivered either to their door, or to their nearest Auctionet-affiliated auction house.
Auctionet is currently working with seven auction houses in the UK and is expecting this to grow significantly in 2025. Buyer numbers are increasing by about 5000 per month. “There is a big future ahead of us. We understand that the UK market has its own identity and we are not trying to remove that – we are just helping the market to thrive.”
auctionet.com