Get to know the people and personalities that make the BADA, as we delve into their businesses, passions, and insights on buying and collecting. Through a series of interviews, we uncover their stories and discover what drives them in the world of art and antiques.
Andreas De Jong
Andreas De Jong Ltd specialises in English and Irish 18th and early 19th century furniture. Building his career over the last 15 years in the London trade, Andreas worked his way up from managing conservation workshops to now running his own dealership. With a lifelong passion for fine English antique furniture and still working closely with some of London’s great galleries, he pursues the rare and extraordinary, focusing on supplying collectors, interior decorators or anyone looking to have that special centrepiece in their home. Below is an interview with Andreas De Jong.
What would you say has been your biggest personal achievement in your career in fine art & antiques so far?
Since I started out in my teens studying restoration, I have always been drawn to lacquered and japanned furniture, especially early 18th-century fully fitted japanned bureau cabinets. And for the last 20 years, I have always dreamed of being able to buy one. A few months ago, that dream finally came true!
How did you first discover your love for fine art and antiques?
It goes back to my days in the Netherlands. I was 17 years old and did a three-month internship with a restorer that was very much focused on restoring for the trade. At that time PAN Amsterdam was coming up. We started working at 8.30–9 am in the morning and finished at 2–3 at night every day just to get through the workload. And I have never enjoyed anything more. Handling these amazing objects was just effortless and I knew I was meant for this.
Had you always wanted to work in the industry, or did you have a career change?
No, I always wanted to do something with history and art and so the logical option was to start a career in conservation and restoration, as this allowed me to learn an in-depth knowledge of antique furniture and then use that as a stepping stone to becoming a dealer.
If you weren’t a dealer, what would you be?
Well my family has a building business and I was meant be the 4th generation, luckily my youngest brother has instead stepped up since!!
Could you tell us your three top tips for buying and collecting antiques?
First and foremost I think you should only ever buy what you love. Be educated. Buy the best you can afford.
Could you tell us your three top tips for what to look for when buying furniture?
Do I love it? Is the item period? And is it a great example of its type?
But that is all theory. Mostly, what happens is that you see something and you think YES! What seems to happen is that passion takes over and you just can’t resist!!!
What is an experience or an object that has shocked or surprised you in your time collecting and dealing?
A little while ago we got an item in the workshop, and every time we moved it, we kept hearing a faint rattling noise. It was the strangest thing because nothing was loose. After a few days, we figured out that there was a secret compartment with a small box inside holding a handful of small items, all dating back to the early 19th century! It was the most astonishing thing ever!
What is a common misconception about the world of art and antiques?
The amount of effort that goes into sourcing, research, restoration, upholstery, fabrics, photography etc. What goes into each item behind the scenes is huge!
Will you ever stop collecting or dealing?
I can’t imagine I would!!! However, I do think the market will change a lot over the next few years with AI and 3D printing for example but I like to think that it will allow us younger dealers to make a mark like the greats of the past did in their time.
What is one item you couldn’t do without?
A great chair! I love the interaction between a period chair where a maker did his best to create a fabulous item.
And for us, being given the opportunity to complement their work by choosing a great fabric! It’s so interesting how much you can get it wrong and the item sinks completely, or get it right and the object really becomes something special!
Do you have a collection in your home?
Well yes, I work from home so a large part of my stock are items I live with daily.
Who do you admire in the world of art and antiques and why?
Well that has to be Richard Coles, we have worked together since I was 21 and he has taught me so so much. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him.
What is an item that you wish you had never sold to a client and kept for yourself?
I bought a single X-framed stool with carvings on both ends that I absolutely loved! It sold immediately but it was the best version of that particular model I had ever seen and I happily would have had it for myself instead.
What events have you got coming up and where can we next view your stock?
I have nothing planned yet, but I do very much hope that I will be able to do my first independent fair in the near future!! So fingers crossed!
Who would be your dream dinner party guests, dead or alive?
Oh, I would love to have a large dinner party with all the St Martin’s Lane cabinet makers!!! They were so groundbreaking at the time, creating a whole new language of styles, design, techniques and craftsmanship. I can’t even imagine how cool it must be to meet all of them!
Can you tell us a little known fact about yourself which is unrelated to the Antiques Trade?
Well I have another secret passion I don’t share much about normally! But I love German trains, especially the period between 1950 and 1990. They were so innovative with their designs and colours. And yes, I do have a model train track. And for those who share my passion, it’s Märklin all the way!