Owl and the Elephant
This online vintage emporium o!ers a smorgasbord of quirky mid-century school furniture, rugged industrial lighting and sweet contemporary accessories, "nds Sophie Hannam
Based in Surbiton, Greater London, Owl and the Elephant was started by vintage-lover Liz Daborn in 2014. With help from her husband Mark and their daughter Beth, Liz scours markets all over Europe to track down trendy vintage pieces that wouldn’t look amiss in their antiques-filled family home.
When did you open?
I have always loved hunting for unique vintage pieces for my home and in 2014 I decided to take the plunge and turn my hobby into a business. I love what I do and my only regret is not doing it sooner! We are an online-only shop which, so far, is working well. Customers are always welcome to come and view pieces by appointment, but it’s our ultimate aim to have a warehouse or a shop in the future.
What will we find?
I buy the sorts of things that I would like to have in my own home: a mixture of industrial and mid-century furniture, lighting and accessories. As so many people work from home these days, I always look for French desks and chairs, plus Eastern European industrial lighting. We also sell some real classics such as Ercol sideboards and Danish chairs. Sourcing items is one of my favourite parts of the job, and my family and I travel all over the UK, France and Belgium buying privately and searching markets. I’ve learnt that an early start is essential for finding the best pieces, even if a torch is required in winter!
What is your favourite piece?
We have a great range of industrial chairs in stock at the moment, most of which were made in Germany during the 1930s and 40s as ‘modern working chairs’ for offices and factories. They have an enduring style that works well in contemporary interiors and look perfect in a home office or at a breakfast bar. We always try to stock a good range of pieces and prices range from £5 to £745. To see more industrial and vintage finds, visit owlandtheelephant.co.uk