I love The Old Cinema and have always been intrigued by this treasure trove of antiques housed in a striking Edwardian picture house in Chiswick, West London. Now, if you are looking for the perfect vintage piece and it’s hard for you to get there yourself, you are in luck. One of the latest brands to join Cezanno, you have the opportunity to pick from a specially curated selection of antiques and vintage goods from one of the ‘100 best shops’ in the world (as picked by Retail Week). I went along to meet Will Hanness, son of the founder and the current manager of this collective of antiques dealers.

Will told me that the original concept, back in 1979, was to create a collective of highly reputable dealers trading in affordable antiques, based in a large High Street Location. We asked him what has changed over the years.

“For the first couple of decades, we stocked primarily traditional Victorian antiques. When ‘brown furniture’ went out of vogue at the turn of the millennium we diversified the range to include later eras and styles; vintage, industrial, mid-century, Americana…But twenty years later mahogany is making a long-awaited comeback! 

Do take a look at some of the beautiful mahogany pieces on Cezanno – apart from being stunningly well made, many of them are also great value.

https://www.cezanno.com/georgian-mahogany-bureau.html 

Despite having been a regular visitor, until recently I didn’t realise that The Old Cinema was a collective of traders. So, I asked Will a bit more about that.

He told me that he and his father did trade themselves but that the 40+ traders were an important part of the setup. To become a trader there, they look for dealers who have something special – traders need to be able to “source high quality, interesting and unusual stock, presented at competitive prices. The best dealers travel far and wide to establish a strong supply network and partner with top restorers.“

Couldn’t you just see yourself curled up on this lovely old Chesterfield sofa?  You can tell it’s been restored, but it still has that lovely weathered patina that comes from age.  

https://www.cezanno.com/vintage-leather-chesterfield-sofa-c-1960.html

Surprisingly for me as an ex-West-Londoner used to visiting The Old Cinema in person, I learnt that their focus these days is on building an online presence. Of course, Cezanno is an integral part of that – as Will himself says, “It’s an exciting new project with excellent branding, it feels more exclusive and curated than other online marketplaces.”

That said, not everything that you’ll find at The Old Cinema in person is online. To fit with the Cezanno offering, Will explained that they were making a special edit for Cezanno customers – individually selected quality pieces, neatly ordered into era and style.

What inspires someone like Will to go into the family business?  I asked him whether, when he was growing up, he thought he’d end up running The Old Cinema. It’s obviously a passion that has been with him all his life – he told us that as a child

“I often thought it would be meaningful to contribute to something that might one day span several generations.“    

That, for me, encapsulates the essence of Vintage and Antique furniture. Those things you buy new or second hand in your youth that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren and that are still valued just as much today as they were fifty years ago. It’s not just about trends, it’s about the emotional connections that are born from good quality pieces over time.  I love this little French bureau with decoupage – a carefully restored and painted desk that would fit just as well in a modern house as in a Victorian terrace.  It would look beautiful in my bedroom and is so dainty and unique that I’m sure my Goddaughter would covet it for herself.

https://www.cezanno.com/painted-vintage-french-bureau-with-decoupage-top.html

I asked Will about his own favourite period and style.

“Personally, I love 19th century English antiques and I’m excited to see if period furniture will be embraced again over the next decade. I also really like Indian architectural pieces, they are often beautifully carved and seem to come with in-built ‘good vibes’.”

His own favourite piece right now just happens to be an Indian architectural one. A unique pair of brackets. 

“I love this Pair of Yali Brackets from Tamil Nadu – a decorative statement piece that would be great at the entrance to a garden porch surrounded by lots of plants.“ 

I love them too – vintage pieces that would fit as easily into a contemporary setting as in a home furnished with Antiques. And something quite unique that you won’t find anywhere else.  If you like Indian pieces too but can’t find a home for architectural fittings, then something like this fabulous chest from Gujerat would make a real statement without taking up too much space.

https://www.cezanno.com/early-20th-century-bone-inlay-teakwood-wrinting-trunk-from-gujarat.html

Finally, I asked Will about investing in Antique and Vintage furnishing. His answer works just as well for contemporary pieces like the ones you will find elsewhere on Cezanno and is something we might all bear in mind if we are buying for the future.

“Buyers should invest in something that serves a practical purpose to them and use and look after it for as long as it’s needed. If it is designed by a well-known name then that will be a helpful reference point when it comes to selling it on one day.“

Whether you are looking for vintage or contemporary pieces, a focus on function is important, even if that function is just to look beautiful. Well-made pieces that are looked after and cared for will stand the test of time. The Old Cinema is testament to that. Having ‘designer’ pieces does, obviously, help with resale value.  

I’m collecting furniture from Fritz Hansen – I already have a pair of swan chairs and a super elliptical table, together with two drop chairs. My swan chairs date back to 1962 but they look as good today as ever (and you can still buy them new if you want). I’m already trying to work out where I could fit this lovely coffee table.

https://www.cezanno.com/super-elliptical-fritz-hansen-rosewood-coffee-table.html

 With a ‘named’ item, you’ll have a story from the start that might just add a personal value for you that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren. Whether it’s a table with memories, designer jewellery that was given to you with love, or just the armchair you curled up in with your mum when you were growing up, there’s a special sentiment attached to antique and vintage pieces.

By Fiona Maclean