Post-lockdown home revival set to start at Anthemion
AS THE season starts to change, with the first signs of some genuinely cooler weather, one of the biggest-ever autumn clear-outs appears to be under way in south Wales.
Record numbers of furniture items have been arriving at Anthemion Auctions in Cardiff, a trend that auctioneer Ryan Beach attributes to the phenomena fuelled by lockdown Britain.
“People have been forced to spend a lot of time at home,” he says of the unprecedented furniture deliveries. “And it’s made them want to appreciate and re-evaluate the spaces they inhabit.
“For a lot of people, it’s about catching up with long overdue clear-outs and organising their homes, but there is also a sense of people looking for a clean start, a chance to refresh their houses for a new season as we hopefully start to lead more normal lives again.”
The September general auction will offer an exceptional quantity of furniture from Victorian and Edwardian to modern, as well as countless other homewares including textiles, lighting, mirrors, paintings, prints and ceramics.
The upsurge in people wanting to renovate or simply reinvent their homes has also prompted a big increase in prospective auction buyers, as people seek alternative ways to furnish their homes.
“We have seen an increase in buyers who are looking to buy antique furniture, not just because it’s more unique and often affordable, but because of its green credentials,” Ryan said. “Unlike buying modern massproduced furniture, buying antique is an environmentally friendly choice… recycling at its best.”
Many types of older furniture are seeing a steady increase in demand as 2020 progresses, from solid oak and mahogany Victorian wardrobes and chests of drawers to Ercol and G-plan dining and living suites from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Now more than ever, people are looking to make their homes safe, welcoming and unique places to be.
The huge auction at Anthemion will take place on Wednesday, and the full sale catalogue is available to view online via www. the-saleroom .com. Anthemion can be contacted with any queries on 029 2047 2444 or anthemions@ aol.com