Comments on: At Stephen Long’s Antique Shop

By: Mr Timothy Millett

Mr Timothy Millett — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:24:16 +0000

I have just bought a number of brass boxes, early 19th century figures with Stephen Long trade labels.
The 1809 George 111 Jubilee Celebrations example is very rare, with the biographical details on the reverse.

By: silver tea leaf

silver tea leaf — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:32:41 +0000

Lovely article, I feel like I was actually in the store. It is sad to hear that these antique shops are vanishing. We are situated in an antique village and each year it seems the number of shops reduce.

By: sukey dunn

sukey dunn — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:06:31 +0000

i was worrying about stephen long and his shop and am very sorry to hear about his demise.

is the auction still to happen?

By: Dr Giuseppe Spoto

Dr Giuseppe Spoto — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:28:59 +0000

I became aware that not all might be well with S Long after noticing the empty shop one day recently as I was driving past the shop.
I often took a detour when driving around Chelsea in order to purposefully drive past the shop and I had down so again then.As a collector, the shop had always been immensely inspiring to me.
I live in a georgian house in Camberwell and was drawn to Stephen’s shop like a magnet ever sice I discovered it ,entirely by chance .

I have been a customer and bought a great many things from him over the years, mostly of course early 19C china ,and two pairs of Regency china dishes in particular face each other as they hang above two six panelled doors in my bedroom.
I met Stephen in his shop ,and despite his retiring shy manner, I engaged in conversation with him a few times.Stephen lived above the shop in the most tastefully cluttered flat you can imagine!I once asked him if I could visit his flat but he briskly refused saying his apartment was private.
Stephen Long wad a friend of the late John Fowler and a leading designer and decorator .His thoughts on the decorating style he advocated, essentially a very beautiful and tasteful variety of clutter,are available in print .Stephen’s article on the subject (which also has priceless pictures of his flat as well as the shop as they had been arranged by him in his time) can be found in a well known collection of essays on Interior Design also featuring other leading lights of the world of interior decoration such as N Haslam and others.
I am greatly saddened to hear about his death but his work lives on in the collections put together by his loyal customers.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:29:37 +0000

Many times my husband and I would walk past this quaint little shop. We would gaze in the window..and it was always closed. One time we walked by and it was open… we were both a bit shy of going in, the reason being..not being wealthy people, we didn’t want to go in and hope to find an honest “bargain” and appear to be cheap or stupid.. Today as were both off for our wedding anniversary, we decided to be brave and have a good look and buy ourselves a treasure..we noticed it was all papered up and a piece of particle board in the door window.
We both, disappointed and sad chatted about what happened. We hoped the owner had retired and was living happily in someplace warm and sipping exotic cocktails…but after looking this up..and reading this blog, we know the truth.
I am sorry Mr Long, that we didn’t come in sooner to meet you and explore your shop.
God rest your soul in peace.

By: Brian Wolstenholme

Brian Wolstenholme — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:52:06 +0000

For over 50 years a friend and for over 30 years my next door neighbour, Stephen Long
gently dominated my eclectic aquisitions and oversaw their installation in an interior as
totally personal as his own. Now in France, I have missed his almost daily letters and notes pushed into my box, and the hours of coversaation which so enriched my life – occasionally
and wickedly at the expense of others! I should hate him for my odd tastes, but I can only
admire him for his scholarship and friendship.

By: Nicky Cardoe

Nicky Cardoe — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:07:34 +0000

What a lovely article – thank you. I too loved Mr long’s shop and have bought many a special present there – for family and friends. He was, indeed, a charming man – and ‘as sharp as a razor’ too… who seemed to love a bit of chivalrous bartering… always with a twinkle in his eye! I sometimes used to see a piece but not having enough cash on me would have to whiz off to the C&W to use the cash dispenser there – and then return… triumphant… to collect a beautiful new treasure. I am so very sad to hear that he has passed away and will miss whiling away the hours on a chilly or rainy winter’s day admiring his beautiful collection (in awe of his exquisite taste… I’m not sure that I ever saw anything that wasn’t either beautiful, charming, amusing or fascinating in there). He will be remembered. I will think of him every time I fill my heavenly jug (which I naughtily kept for myself… having HAD to buy it… it was so delightful) with roses from the garden.
Thank you Mr long for some very precious memories – and quintessentially English treasures.

By: Jonathan H

Jonathan H — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:54:24 +0000

I am sad to learn of Stephen Long’s death . He sold me a lovely set of six 19th c. Copeland plates with a tobacco leaf pattern and a huge cup and saucer from the same service only 9 or 10 months ago . I use them a lot and will always remember his quiet and delightful taste and manner and his intriguing shop . He was the very antithesis of “bling” .

By: stephen coates

stephen coates — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:42:03 +0000

what a sad end for a woderful man, who had a superb eye. fascinating things and a shop always to hold one spellbound. He influenced my taste and so many aspectes of my life, for which i will always be grateful. Thank you, Mr. Long, you will always be remembered and missed. R.I.P

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:22:05 +0000

Fantastic photos, these are the kind of shops I love to meander through when visiting London, long may they carry on.