With a history in the industry that spans 85 years, it’s safe to say Crowley & Grouch know their product. The father and daughter team live and breathe everything antiques, and it’s definitely in their blood. The dynamic duo consists of Jane Crowley and her father Athol and together they have built an impressive antique business, Dirty Jane’s Emporium in Bowral where they sell, produce, distribute and wholesale authentic antique and vintage items as well as design their own range of decorator items.

After their recent success at Furnitex, we spoke with Jane about their most valuable discovery from Sidney Paget’s studio, the thrill of the hunt, and the love for French wares in Australia.

You and your father have a long history in antique sourcing, buying and selling – is this now a unique selling point for your customers?To know there is that trust in your extensive knowledge on the product?

Dad (the Grouch) and I have about 85 years of combined history in buying antiques. (Wow, that makes me feel old!) A lot of that time has been in the UK where there are far more antiques than here in Australia and therefore a greater learning opportunity. Our customers also know that we won’t mislead them. We find out where items come from whether it is Hungary, Belgium, Germany or elsewhere in Europe. I also think our Vintage wares speak for themselves. I’m not going to send out second rate items. All our vintage items are repaired and waxed in our workshop.

Is there a specific area of antiques that peaks your interest most? And your father?

For me it is the Arts and Crafts movement – anything to do with Arthur Liberty or William Morris and his circle. For Athol it is broader – he’ll go equally weak at the knees for a pad foot Georgian table, or equally an early painted armoire.

You must have come across some incredibly valuable pieces, not just in price but in history, is there one that stands out for you as particularly special?

We’ve never really dealt in what we call “castle antiques” or pieces that are incredibly valuable. Historically speaking one of our greatest (and most recent) finds was a wicker chair from Sidney Paget’s studio. He illustrated all the Sherlock Holmes novels. This wicker chair was used by the model that posed as Sherlock Holmes and can be seen extensively throughout the books. We bought it from an antiquarian book dealer. I contacted the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street London who was delighted to buy it. We wrapped it up and shipped it to the UK. It now sits as one of the exhibits in the Museum. To Athol and I this was a great find and even greater to see it go to the Museum.

Why did you choose to follow your father in the antique business? Is it something that is now in your blood? 

I followed dad into the antiques trade, because he showed me every day how much he loved it. Thankfully I have that same love for antiques as he does (corny as it sounds). It is definitely in my blood! I think it is a combination of the thrill of the hunt and never knowing what you will find as we go around markets and auctions, and also transforming an old piece with a wash down, maybe a bit of repair work and then lovingly waxing it until it gleams.

What are some of the more popular antique styles in Australia? And where do they come from?

We’ve had many years where everything must be French. Sadly this has meant that some of the more unique pieces from Europe are given false provenance as French. Some French pieces are lovely – armoires, the typical French cheese or bread boards, and the wonderfully carved beds. Industrial furniture and fixtures are now becoming more popular- they come from a variety of countries, everywhere from the USA and Europe to our own home grown stars. Styles vary as you travel around Australia, however we are finding that country style antiques suit our lifestyle here in Australia more. Gorgeous English pine farmhouse tables and the like.

When we talk antiques, this covers a broad range of furnishings, what categories do you import ie. Furniture, ceramics, clocks etc? and what period/eras are they from?

The categories we import are everything from kitchen ware including old European rolling pins to vintage galvanised washing tubs. We also import a lot of furniture; wonderful German cabinetmakers workbenches from the 1900’s; Swedish storage benches from the 1880’s, down to German Beer Hall Settings that date from the 1960’s to the 1980’s; Pine trunks from throughout Europe as well as Hungarian market carts that date from the 1900’s; Sleds, skii’s, and ice skates from the 1940’s to 1960’s. We even had a great shipment of champagne racks or rattling racks from a vineyard. I never know what I’ll find for the next shipment!

You recently exhibited at Furnitex, what was the response to your range and brand?

We had a great response from the crowd at Furnitex. We work hard to make vintage wares and antiques accessible to retailers and designers across Australia, but it only just begins at the Fairs. We have to then prove to our customers again and again that the vintage stock we sell is not only authentic, but it is in good condition and has been finished to the high standard that we require and that our retailers expect from us.

Head to their website for more info; www.crowleyandgrouch.com

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