Welcome, once again, to "Blog Post Monday"! If you're an avid follower of my blog, you'll know that throughout last year, I was fortunate enough to do a series of interviews with some seriously big names in the antiques trade. I absolutely loved doing them and you seemed to enjoy them too. With that in mind, I wanted to continue with them this year, so I have been busy reaching out to some more stars, in the hope of persuading them to take part in my small, but mighty, antiques blog...
Over the course of the next few months I will be featuring the following industry legends; Charles Hanson, Jo Roberts, Tara Franklin and Adi Higham (Take 2), to name but a few... I'm very excited about this and I'm sure you are too! So, to ensure that you don't miss them, sign up to my email list from "create account" at the top of this page.
However, kicking off our industry interviews for 2021 is 'Etoile Brocante's' very own Kate Plumpton. Now, I was super excited about this interview because not only is Kate an antiques dealer, but she's also an agent to the stars, and we're taking about some big names here...!! So, get that kettle on and let's find out what Kate had to say when I caught up with her last week...
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. Where did your love of buying and selling antiques begin?
Kate:
My mother was an amateur dealer. We were brought up on fairs in village halls and my brothers and I were experts at finding silver at jumble sales. We were her secret weapons, as children were allowed in first to get to the toy stall. But we would go directly to the bric-a-brac stall in search of treasures - silver, china, brass etc. We were quite good at it. That was probably the start but they were always around so I guess it was a natural progression. We became much keener after our parents passed away and we did our first fair at Ardingly selling off lots of the family heirlooms. We were hooked quite quickly on the vibe and the characters. It felt very natural and progressed from there. Now we buy mainly in France, Belgium and Holland.
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. Do you collect anything and if so, what?
Kate:
I chop and change all the time. But I am very partial to paintings. I've got quite a good religious collection, I love Madonna's and anything with lots of decoration. I'm very keen on taxidermy so there is always something stuffed somewhere in the house. Putz sheep, marotte heads, mercury glass etc. But next week it could be ding ding all change. Who knows, that's the joy of collecting. But I am trying to be good and declutter the house. My daughter asked if we were living in a religious shrine the other day....
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. What is your most memorable find?
Kate:
There have been lots over the years. Sometimes it's not something that's expensive but something you've been looking for. I'm not sure I've found my most memorable find yet. I best keep looking!
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. Who is the most famous name on your books?
Kate:
I'm very lucky to work with some super interesting talent. I suppose much of my time is spent with Joanna Lumley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Helena Bonham Carter. But I really enjoy working with everyone, famous or not. Everyone is important to me. There is as much pleasure in getting someone their first job as there is in landing a job for a known client.
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. Do you have any famous antiques dealers on your books and if so, who?
Kate:
Yes, I look after Adrian Higham from The Bidding Room.
Q. Who would be your dream client and why?
Kate:
I have my dream clients. I honestly feel incredibly blessed. Most of them have been with the agency for many years so the relationships are built on a solid foundation. I'm very lucky.
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. What is the most obscure request you've had from a client?
Kate:
Goodness me. There have been so many. As agent/managers you become quite involved in people's lives. I've had to sort out all sorts of things over the years but I wouldn't divulge names or situations. It's a bit like a doctor/patient relationship. Some things have to remain private!
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Q. How do you find the time to be both agent and antiques dealer?
Kate:
Actually, they compliment each other really well and lots of the clients have an interest in antiques/brocante so it's been a shared interest. Some even come to see me at fairs. My first job will always be as an agent and that has to be where my loyalty lies at this moment in time. But so far, it works fine. With creative use of time, it's incredible what you can fit into a day. Fortunately, I've worked out how much I can do and so far there haven't been any major conflicts of interest.
Image: Instagram - @etoilebrocante
Well that's it for this week folks! I hope you enjoyed this interview with Kate as much as I did! A massive thank you to Kate for taking the time to chat to me, I really do appreciate it. Remember, give her a follow on instagram @etoilebrocante and go check out her super antique finds at her website etoilebrocante.co.uk .
So, as always, leave your comments for me below, I really do appreciate them, and until next week, stay safe, keep buying those antiques and keep spreading that Source Vintage love!
Cheerio!
Stephen
Owner Source Vintage
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