Peta Smyth & Kate Thurlow
Peta Smyth & Kate Thurlow of Peta Smyth Antique Textiles, London, established 1976, and Gallery Forty One, London, established c.1980.
A conversation between Peta Smyth and Kate Thurlow and project advisory board member Emma Slocombe.
This is a fascinating triangular conversation between Emma, a senior curator at The National Trust, and the dealers Peta Smyth and Kate Thurlow. Peta started trading from a stall in the famous Portobello Road market, before sharing a shop in Kensington Church Street in London, and then opening her shop in the 1980s. Peta developed a specialist interest in antique textiles and recalls memories of other leading specialist textile dealers such as Cora Ginsberg, of New York. We also hear her memories of Roger Warner's shop in Burford (see also interview with Philip Astley-Jones). Kate Thurlow began her business in the late 1980s; her interests were initially in Chinese porcelain before she moved to selling early furniture. During the interview Kate has some interesting reflections on the relationships between dealers and collectors.
Photograph courtesy of Kate Thurlow.