Dream Dealers

The antique textiles trade is a collaborative one, says Celia Rufey. Here, she speaks to a few key dealers about their working practices and discovers the pieces that most pique their interest

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London is an international centre for the antique textiles trade. Dealers are a connected fraternity, selling to each other and being in touch when one has acquired a piece likely to interest another.

The dealers' clientele includes museums, interior designers, costume designers for film and theatre, textile designers, artists and private collectors. Dealers sell at textile fairs, from websites, by appointment, and use Instagram to keep potential buyers informed of new pieces in stock.