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The Company Millington Adams is set up by 2 partners who have a keen interest in antiques who have been collecting for some 15 years. As a natural extension of their hobby, Millington Adams evolved with the need to furnish their 18th century listed home and with experience gained after many visits to antique fairs, sales and detective work over the years. Both partners enjoy tremendously meeting people while out on the road and so Millington Adams was the catalyst to continue that enjoyment. We are above all enthusiasts who might not know everything there is to know about all aspects of the trade, but make up for any lack of experience with research and enthusiasm. Stock Research has shown that there are 2 distinctive ends of the market. At one end dealers will be keen to obtain items which are not of the highest quality, possibly mass produced early 20th century copies of older designs. These may end up looking like bargains at an antique fair but in reality may not be up to much and are often shipped abroad by the large container load. The other end of the spectrum are rare and completely original pieces of extremely high quality, which on first glance may look no different to a piece which is 1/3 of the price, however have some special features or rarity which in turn commands a higher price, this is really the top end of the market. Millington Adams always try and acquire top quality pieces for our stock, however we would like to think that our antiques are accessible to a broader spectrum of customers, so consequently we make sensible decisions and obtain perhaps not the esoteric top rung of the ladder, but items of similar quality, that perhaps do not have quite the same rarity value or exalted history. This does not mean to say that we will never have a very rare piece in stock, just that we aim to offer you the highest quality whilst maximising value for money and affordability. Paintings We try and buy original artist oils and watercolours that are signed or have strong attribution. Where these paintings are executed on canvas, we will clean if necessary and only re-line if absolutely necessary to stabilise a picture. Our pictures are carefully conserved by an ex Victoria & Albert Museum and Manchester City Art Gallery conservator.Where possible we will keep the original frame, where not possible we will fit a new English made frame comparable with the style and type of the period. Our pricing philosophy on pictures is to offer them at the best price possible, there are no excessive mark ups! Descriptions Descriptions of our antiques are given as accurately as possible and always in good faith. They are based on our own opinion and also that of experts we have consulted. Even highly regarded expert opinions will differ as to age and origin of a certain piece. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of any statement as to authorship, attribution, age, origin, provenance and condition of any item whether or not such statement forms part of the description of any such item. Whether any such statement is made orally or in writing, it is an expression of our opinion given after careful consideration and research. Such a statement must not be taken as a representation of fact. We may modify a description of an item if further information becomes available, for instance this may involve re-dating an item or a change of provenance. Conservation & Restoration There is a tendency in some quarters of the antique business to "over restore" furniture. Often this involves the polished finish of the piece. Some dealers will tend to completely strip and "spray" polish away what might have been a very nice lived in look and patina. You can normally tell when this has been done as the piece will look virtually like new. We try where possible to always maintain the original finish, preserving the original patina and colour, for period pieces this involves the use only of linseed oil and beeswax, the same materials that were used to finish furniture right up to late Victorian times. If we have to re-polish a later piece then this will always be done by hand, as much of the original patina and colour as possible will be left to show through the new finish. Secondly, If in doubt we will tend to under restore as it is always possible to do more but never possible to go backwards! Our restorers regularly prepare furniture for Olympia and other major fairs in London and are well attuned to a sympathetic restoration. We are convinced that with this careful and thoughtful handling you will like the look and quality of our furniture, pictures and clocks, we have tried to maintain as much of its colour, patina and history as we can. Payment, Delivery & Guarantee We accept payment by personal cheque, bank transfer, Switch, Visa debit cards, personal Visa credit cards, personal Mastercard and American Express. Once we have received payment we will arrange delivery of the piece to you, if in the Northwest of England this will be generally within 1-3 days, if you live further a field we will endeavour to deliver at the earliest opportunity to you. You may of course collect any item directly from us at Knutsford. We would like you to be 100% happy with any piece that we offer, if you have try a piece at home and don't feel it is right for you within 10 days of purchase, we will happily refund your purchase price as long as the piece is in the same condition as when it was delivered and there are no new marks or damage, in addition, staining to any upholstered item. We look forward to being of service to you. |
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