A Family Affair
Having dealt in antiques for over half a century, Butchoff remains a family concern, offering an ever-changing collection, ranging from modest antique finds to grandiose furniture made for Royalty.
Ian has been in the business for over 50 years, having learnt at his father’s knee, and started selling jugs and basins aged 13. A leading expert in exhibition-quality 19th-century furniture, he was a founder member – and is now a Director – of LAPADA, the UK’s largest association of art and antiques dealers, and a patron of the Wallace Collection.
Adam joined his uncle, Ian, in 1995, after completing fine and decorative art courses at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London. He specialises in business development, collection development, and customer relations and has a particular talent for interior decoration and integrating antiques into both traditional and modern settings, here in the UK and Internationally.
His brother James runs the logistics side of the business including websites & social media. He also joins Adam in Palm Beach & international exhibitions. Lastly Rainier is gallery manager and head of research and instrumental in assisting Christopher Payne in his latest book of British Furniture: 1820-1920: The luxury market, now on general sale.
Butchoff are delighted to unveil a selection of treasures for display at The Berkeley Square Fair from October 28 to November 2. In keeping with our ongoing quest to showcase prestigious pieces, three of them have Royal connections.
The first is a pair of carved plaques to William Kent’s design for the stern decoration of the Royal Barge, an open rowing boat with 24 oars, built by John Hall for Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1732. On loan to the National Maritime Museum, it is on public display.
The 1-to-1 scale plaques are each carved with the feathers and motto of the Prince of Wales, as well as the Order of the Garter. They probably date from the time of the Royal Barge’s first exhibition in 1883.
Close inspection reveals a set of 14 dining chairs to be from His Majesty’s Ministerial Home Office dating to the reign of King William IV (1830-37). Each bears a series of stamps documenting their history from the reign of William to that of King George V a century later, with the brand “HOME OF” showing they were transferred to His Majesty’s Ministerial Home Office.
A pair of cabinets made of costly exotic amboyna both bear the original label of the cabinetmakers Thomas & George Seddon. Seddon had an illustrious history including their partnership with Nicholas Morel for the complete refurnishing of Windsor Castle, arguably the most ambitious royal commission ever in England.
Our fourth highlight represents the pinnacle of Parisian furniture during the second half of the 19th century. Incorporating earlier imported Asian lacquer panels, the c.1890 ormolu mounted red lacquer meuble d’entre deux was produced by Maison Beurdeley, who are widely considered one of the most successful furniture makers and producers of objets d’art of the period. Butchoff discovered the signature of Beurdeley (“BY”) on the back of the central lion mask mount during restoration.
We look forward to welcoming you on our stand A29 at LAPADA 2025, and at Butchoff Antiques, 154 Kensington Church St, London W8 4BN www.butchoff.com
