Head to Hartleys Antiques auctions for Christmas inspiration

Thomas Hartley moved to Ilkley in 1906 and purchased Robinson’s Invalid Couches

Whether you are shopping for hard-to-buy-for friends or loved ones, or adding furnishings to your home to welcome guests over the festive season, Hartleys Antiques has an impressive calendar of flagship antique and fine art events which could help.

Home furnishings & collectables

The weekly sales of general goods provide an excellent cross-section of substantial Victorian and later furniture, china, glass, small silver and plate, jewellery and general equipment. In the first sale of every month, a special collectors’ section is devoted to stamps, coins, cigarette cards, postcards and medals. In the last sale of every month, a section is devoted to vintage textiles and accessories.

Thomas' youngest son, Douglas, took over the business and in 1929 moved it to Victoria Hall, Little Lane

Antique, interior and fine art sales

At least four times a year, the collective antique furniture, 20th century high design and fine arts sales are held, with carefully categorised items supported by generous international advertising, a high quality illustrated catalogue and active mailing list of specialist dealers and collectors. Condition reports and further information on any lot are available by email or phone.

Specialist sales

Other specialist sales include toys and dolls in the autumn and fine wines and whisky before Christmas. From time to time, single owner collections of all kinds appear at larger auctions.

Since 1989, the saleroom has been run as an independent business under the banner of Andrew Hartley Fine Arts

It’s all about the history

It was in 1906 that Thomas Hartley moved to Ilkley and purchased the old business of Robinson’s Invalid Couches, setting up in business at Tower Buildings, Cowpasture Road, with departments for household furnishings, removals, undertaking and notably an auction saleroom.

His youngest son, Douglas, took over this side of the business and in 1929 moved it to Victoria Hall, Little Lane where it remains today. It was later, in 1936 that he started the new firm of Dacre, Son & Hartley with Douglas Smallwood, which grew to be the biggest independent firm of chartered surveyors in Yorkshire.

Meanwhile Andrew Hartley, the third generation of the family, had taken on the furniture and fine arts side (after a three-year spell at Cambridge University) and was ultimately able to concentrate exclusively on the chattels department, developing it to one of international status with a turnover of £3m per year.

Since 1989, the saleroom has been run as an independent business under the banner of Andrew Hartley Fine Arts, with the emphasis on personal service to both vendors and purchasers. Since 2006, the company has taken on the title of Hartleys Antiques, becoming a Limited Company in 2017.

Victoria Hall auction saleroom

Hartleys Antiques’ home of Victoria Hall was built in 1889, as a concert hall with a swimming pool downstairs. Auction sales started on the ground floor, later moving upstairs. Two major building programmes in 1988 and 2000 now provide two separate salerooms, reception area, a large secure store and cataloguing room, with a fully computerised sales service.

Auction calendar

November 3rd at 9.30am: Home furnishings & collectables including stamps, cards, coins and medals

November 10th at 9.30am: Home furnishings & collectables

November 20th at 11am: Fine wines, port and whisky

December 1st at 10am: Winter antiques & interiors

For details of viewing times, to view the online catalogues or for more information visit https://www.hartleysauctions.co.uk.