Preston Park Museum Year of the Dealer trail

The trails highlight ten significant antique objects at Preston Park Museum, telling the story of the antiques through the dealers who sold them to Preston Park. You'll hear some fascinating stories about antique dealing and the characters involved in the history of the antiques trade in Britain.

Hear about how the dealer S. J. Phillips was involved in World War II's 'Operation Mincemeat'; and about how Liberty & Co started selling antiques.  Or hear about Alfred Law, who was one of the founding members of the British Antique Dealers Association in 1918.

You can also hear about the significance that local antique dealers from the North East played in the development of the collections at Preston Park Museum, and more about the changing market and desire for antiques through the prices that the dealers charged for these very special objects.

The dealers in the trail include some famous London-based antique dealers such as S. J. Phillips, The Spanish Art Gallery, Fenton & Sons, Liberty & Co., and Law, Foulsham & Cole, as well as stories about antique dealers much more local to Preston Park such as Harry Armstrong, Caedmon Antiques, Harbourside Antiques and Piercebridge Antiques.

You can also hear about the important role that women have played in the history of antique dealing.