David Adam

In 1959 David left school and, rather than follow his father into the theatre, his ambition was to become an Antique Dealer. Having trained at a well known firm of Auctioneers he then started at the bottom of the rung of dealing as a “runner”. With his white van he travelled the country buying antiques and as soon as his money ran out – normally in less than one day! – he pedalled his stock to Antique Shops in London.

In 1961 David was employed as the manager of Chevertons of Edenbridge Ltd, where the turnover was less than £2500 per annum. Those were the days when a bow chest was about £10, a grandfather clock £12 and a set of eight Regency chairs £20!

David continued to search the country and soon Chevertons appeared on the radar as an important call for London Dealers in their search for stock.

In 1966 David bought the business and expanded it from The Manor House in Edenbridge, Kent , buying the adjacent  Negresco Cinema as well as two further shops  all encompassing some thirty showrooms.

These times were really the golden period of antique dealing. David travelled thousands of miles a week all over the Country on buying trips. Cheverton,s lorries followed in his path and there was a insatiable demand for the new stock arriving weekly in Edenbridge.

As the century drew to a close antique dealing had changed to a large extent, due to the lack of  supply coming onto the market and therefore a growing inability to stock thirty showrooms with good stock at sensible prices!

In 2005 David retired and he has spent the years since actively involved in the regulation of Horseracing  and Charitable work.

But his love of a lifetime spent in the Antique Trade  has always remained with him and he is saddened at the diminution in value of good antique furniture which is his passion. David now feels that at present there is a real opportunity to buy nice things at prices far below those realised twenty and more years ago. 

He is therefore dealing again, albeit in a far smaller role, from his home in East Sussex offering selected stock to his Private Clients, Members of the Home ansd Overseas Trade and  Interior Designers.