About
Sheldrake, started by Alice Dickie & Chloe Shann, sells antiques and decorative objects chosen for their character, beauty and craftsmanship.They source their stock from the UK and Europe and are based in Warwickshire, where they have an in-house furniture restorer.Each item that they stock would happily have a place in their own homes. They look for furniture that is elegant; unique items that catch their eye, and objects that have an interesting story and exude a certain charm and grace.They sell to passionate people and partner with interior designers, helping them source furniture for their projects.What is your biggest source of inspiration?“We take our inspiration from soulful buildings and spaces that have been shaped by use and still feel very much alive, whether that’s old houses with layers of history and stories built up over centuries or ancient churches with their faded murals and worn carvings; and all manner of objects that add character and depth, whether distinctive country house furniture, Scandinavian painted objects, vernacular pieces and folk art, William Morris or early 20th Century British artists, designers and writers.”What makes your approach to design different?“We’re not governed by a certain period or style, we aim to showcase objects with a certain ‘something’ that can stand on their own whatever their context or surroundings. We want to make antiques more accessible and less intimidating for people who might not ever consider owning them. We believe that antiques have never been more relevant than in today’s fast-paced, short-attention spanned, chuck-away, consumerist world and we are all worthy custodians of something unique, old and special. A George III walnut chest of drawers, for example, which was made over 200 years ago by an extremely skilled craftsman, can be placed by your bed where it will no doubt collect piles of books (and probably its first water glass mark) and where it will remain until it gets handed on, complete with scuffs and dents, made by you and your family that add to its perfectly, imperfect patina.”In your opinion, what makes a design timeless?“A certain charm or grace, which is almost impossible to explain in words. It is an elegance, an outline, a tone. It will shine and, for some inexplicable reason, you will want to own it.”
