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The Bowes Museum Year of the Dealer trail

The digital trails highlight ten significant antique objects currently on display in the galleries at The Bowes Museum, telling the story of the antiques through the dealers who sold them to the Bowes Museum. Through these films you'll hear some fascinating stories about antique dealing and the characters involved in the history of the antiques trade in Britain.

Hear about the role that the antique dealer Harry Emanuel played in the sale of The Bowes Museum's most famous object, the Silver Swan. Or how S. J. Phillips was involved in World War II's 'Operation Mincemeat'.

You can hear about how Aberdeen-based antique dealer John Bell became one of the largest exporters of antiques in the UK, and how department stores such as Asprey & Co. became involved in selling antiques.

You can also learn more about the changing market and desire for antiques through the prices that the dealers charged for these very special objects.

The dealers include famous London-based antique dealers such as Frank Partridge & Sons, H. Blairman & Sons, S.J. Phillips, Asprey & Co. and Temple Williams, and some well-known regional antique dealers such as W.F. Greenwood & Sons and John Bell.

As well as some antique dealers from the 19th century such as Tito Gagliardi. You can also hear about the important role that women have played in the history of antique dealing.

Watch the films

Each of the ten antique object films focus on the story of the antique dealers who sold the antique to The Bowes Museum. You can also hear a curator's introduction to the trail at the Bowes Museum by Jane Whittaker, Head of Collections.

Introduction to the The Bowes Museum trail

An introduction to the digital trail at The Bowes Museum by Jane Whittaker, Head of Collections.

Asprey & Co.

Antique cabinet, c.1775, sold by Asprey & Co in c.1969 and subsequently bought by The Bowes Museum in 1979 for £80,000.

John Bell of Aberdeen

Antique bookcase c.1825, sold to The Bowes Museum by John Bell of Aberdeen in 1962 for £195.

H. Blairman & Sons

Antique Bronze Mirror made in 1867, sold to The Bowes Museum by H. Blairman & Sons in 1992 for £110,000.

Briquet & Samper

The famous Bowes Museum 18th century swan automaton, sold to John Bowes by Briquet & Samper of Paris in 1872 for £200.

Tito Gagliardi

Antique armoire sold by the dealer Tito Gagliardi of Florence, Italy, to John Bowes in 1875 for £175.

W. F. Greenwood & Sons

Antique panelling c.1750 from Gilling Castle, sold by W. F. Greenwood & Sons to the Bowes Museum in 1962 for £1,000.

Frank Partridge & Sons

Antique 18th century writing table sold to The Bowes Museum in 1956 by Frank Partridge & Sons for £2,700.

S. J. Phillips

Antique snuffbox, c.1850, sold to Josephine Bowes by S. J. Phillips in 1871 for £45.

Temple Williams

Antique cabinet, c.1780, sold by Temple Williams to The Bowes Museum in 1961 for £1,200.

Women Antique Dealers

Hear about the important role that women antiques dealers have played in the collections at the Bowes Museum.

See the films and the antiques at The Bowes Museum

Here you can see the Year of the Dealer films on The Bowes Museum website, with information on how you can see the antiques in the trails at The Bowes Museum.