Tim and Belinda Chavasse
Thakeham Furniture Ltd.
Golden Square Petworth West Sussex
UK GU28 0AP 01798 342 333
Welcome to our shop, Thakeham Furniture in Petworth, West Sussex, UK.
Established in 1989, a small family firm of antique dealers specialising in fine English antique furniture.
18th and 19th century antique furniture with an emphasis on originality, good colour and patina.
Until the late 18th century mirrors were made from blown cylinders of glass slit open, flattened and polished, the backs being silvered by mercury. Pier mirrors became popular towards the end of Charles II reign – commonly placed between windows, with a console below them.
At this time a variety of materials were used for the frames, from wood veneers to silver, lacquer or needlework. The taste for gilt wall mirrors developed in the last years of the 17th century . These were often heavily carved gilt wood.
Gilding is always applied to a layer of ‘gesso’, a fine plaster of Paris that was mixed with size and applied over the wood frame. This is scraped and rubbed perfectly smooth, then covered with a layer of ‘Armenian bole’, a terracotta and glue mix that gives the gold its warm glow, then allowed to dry. The very fine gold leaf is then laid on section by section, a layer of water activating the glue each time.
Oval mirrors became popular during the 1730s, with elaborate ‘Rococo’ gilt frames featuring scrolls and shells. During the Chippendale period, Chinese and other exotic designs were used.
Overmantel mirrors, to go above a fireplace, were developed in the mid 1700s, becoming simpler in form towards the end of the century. Regency designs often feature three bevelled plates in a row, divided by reeded mouldings. Circular mirrors with convex glass also appeared at this period, often surrounded by an ebony bevel inside the gilt frame. In early Victorian times the ‘silvering’ process was developed, where a coating of pure silver was applied to the mirror back.
Gilt mirrors add a refined elegance to any decorative scheme. Here at Thakeham Furniture we stock a wide variety of shapes and sizes of gilt mirrors, to suit every room. We don’t over restore, so the gold is soft rather than bright, and we preserve the original mirror plate where possible.
We stock fine quality antique furniture from the 18th century & 19th century. We sell traditional Georgian furniture,
Regency furniture, Victorian furniture and Edwardian furniture. Browse our online antique furniture store or come and
visit our large friendly showrooms to view a fine collection of rare and important items along with practical and useful
pieces. We have a big range of furniture including pieces for formal settings to more country house antiques, through to
individual pieces to fit in with decorative interiors.
Thakeham Furniture was established by Tim and Belinda Chavasse in 1989, prior to which we were both trained and
worked as antique restorers. We still have our own antiques workshop on the premises at Petworth, and all pieces are
thoroughly checked over before being offered for sale in the showroom. Thakeham Furniture are members of LAPADA
[The London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association], so you can purchase with confidence, as we follow a strict
code of practise. Petworth has become, in recent years, the biggest antiques town in the South of England. It is a small,
pretty market town boasting over thirty antique shops, all within easy walking distance. Petworth is only one hour from
London.
We sell Dining room furniture, including antique dining tables and sets of antique dining chairs, for the living room, we
stock sofas and armchairs, many useful small antique lamp tables, also perhaps for the office or study we supply antique
desks and antique mahogany bookcases. For upstairs amongst our varied stock we have pairs of small washstands or
commodes perfect as antique bedside tables or cupboards, or larger items such as Georgian mahogany chest of drawers
of antique wardrobes. You will also find in our shop, antique clocks, mirrors and decorative items. In addition to mahogany
antique furniture we also have rosewood antique furniture, satinwood antique furniture, and people looking for
a range of antique country furniture will find antique oak furniture, walnut and fruitwood.
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