Christopher Claxton Stevens

Christopher Claxton Stevens of Norman Adams, London, established 1923.

A conversation between Christopher Claxton Stevens and project research fellow Lizzy Jamieson.

Christopher joined Norman Adams Antiques in 1981, after beginning his career at Christie’s – and joined Stewart Whittington in running the business, which was then, unusually, a trust, following the death of Norman Adams in 1979.

Norman Adams was well known for his ‘eye’ for colour and the patina of antique furniture, and this concentration on the aesthetic, over the privileging of provenance or history of antique furniture, placed Norman Adams in a particular tradition of dealers – and it was pleasing to hear that this particular tradition was continued by Christopher and Stewart.

Photograph courtesy of Christopher Claxton Stevens