The Beedham Collection at Bishop & Miller

The Beedham Collection at Bishop & Miller is a sale you won’t want to miss. Spanning centuries, the collection features Tudor chairs, Elizabethan beds, and early Medieval figures, offering an opportunity to acquire pieces that haven’t been seen on the market for many years.

Sourced from the private collection of the Beedham family, second-generation antique dealers, this collection is as rare as it is remarkable. There are few eras that captivate the imagination of people quite like the Tudor period, with Henry VIII still looming large even 500 years on! So, if you’re new to collecting medieval and early modern antiques, what should you know?

The Auction Room Report: Auctionet's specialist Kayleigh Davies shares her insights on the exceptional opportunity at Bishop & Miller.

Two key things are important to consider: authenticity and condition. Reproductions abound, so looking for signs of age, construction and wear is vital. Provenance can be really helpful in establishing this too. Ensure you check the condition, as items from this period can be fragile and may have seen some repair or restoration in their lifetime.

An incredibly rare Tudor Henry VII/Henry VIII oak enclosed armchair, English, circa 1500-1530.

This chair offers both great provenance and great condition. A rare surviving example of an armchair from the early Tudor period, it remains largely unrestored and we can track its history with reputable dealers.

An exceptionally rare pair of Charles II Jamaican cedar armchairs, circa 1660-1670.

Another highlight is a pair of Restoration era armchairs. A single chair would be nice, but a pair is always special. What makes them truly interesting is their construction from cedar. During this time many British chairs would be made of oak or walnut, but greater trade was happening with the British colonies in the West Indies and fashionable furniture was being crafted from indigenous timber there for export. Cedar wood is known for its deep colour and clean grain without knots. These rare survivors tell us a story about international trade while also looking fabulous at over 300 years old.

An important and documented Tudor Hamstone coat of arms, of Robert Martyn and Elizabeth Kelway of Athelhampton hall, Dorset, circa 1530-1540.

It’s not always that we’re lucky enough to come across something that is so well documented, but this coat of arms comes with a great history. You can still tour Athelhampton House and Gardens in Dorset, but unfortunately the gatehouse that this armorial once decorated was taken down in the 19th century. The gatehouse was illustrated a number of times prior to its dismantling, so it’s possible to see this piece sitting in its original home.

When it comes to collecting items such as these, rarity, condition and provenance all play their part. However, so does curiosity and imagination. Who sat in these chairs over the centuries? What stories could they tell of banquets and royal intrigues? What did they really think of Henry VIII’s marriages? The opportunity to connect so tangibly with history is partly what makes this collection so irresistible.