Shake-up time at H.C. Baxter

Founded in the Fulham Road in the 1930s by Horace (H.C.) Baxter, it was then run by his sons Roy and Terry Baxter.

In recent years Terry’s son, Gary, joined the firm and is now the public face of the business.

A few weeks ago, Gary was gratified at the very good trade turnout at the funeral of his Uncle Roy, who had retired from the family firm for more than 10 years but was still a familiar figure from the golden age of English furniture dealing.

Gary feels now is the time for a shake-up and last week sold a quantity of his stock at Christie’s.

Then, on May 10 and 11, much interest is expected when Baxter’s sell at Rosebery’s, London SE27 rooms a large amount of often rare workshop materials following a decision to scale down their restoration business after 60 years.

In its heyday the South London workshops employed six full-time restorers.

The Fulham Road showrooms were vacated years ago and, for the past eight years, Baxter’s have operated by appointment out of premises they own in Streatham, SW16. These have long been the location of their restoration business.

Now Baxter’s are busy trying to re-locate and open new showrooms, preferably within striking distance of Eastbourne, where Gary lives.
Gary tells me the search for suitable premises is proving problematic but emphasises that H.C. Baxter are still very much in business and will be on parade as usual at Grosvenor House in June.