While furniture dominates, the illustrations show how this dealer has diversified his stock with the inclusion of an Edwardian pond yacht and Baccarat glass. When I caught up with Billy on the final day of The Harrogate Antique Fair last week (where he had done excellent business), he said in the first week after posting he had sold eight pieces from the catalogue, showing what a potent marketing tool a good catalogue can prove. But this George II mahogany and padouk wood bureau on stand, 2ft 9in (84cm) wide, above, was still available, priced at £22,000.
Bound to sell, a catalogue winner
ONE of the best-known figures at quality fairs, Marlborough, Wiltshire period furniture specialist William Cook has just published his third catalogue, and I must say it is as good an example of its type as I have seen all year. Not only is it superbly produced with excellent illustrations, but Billy Cook’s long captions are an informative and enjoyable read.
