Vintage Appeal
Alexander Pushkin is taking his business to the next level courtesy of launching an online auction house and revealing a slight change in brand identity. Here he tells Eileen Leahy more about his future vision for the wonderful world of vintage collectibles…
Alexander Pushkin and his wife Olga Pushkina established their eponymous business in 2012 in London and in 2021 opened their first customer-facing store here in Tunbridge Wells.
Located on the corner of Castle Street and the High Street, the popular shop sells a covetable collection of curios and antiques that include period silverware from all over the world, vintage furniture, original James Bond prints, Murano glassware and preloved Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton fashion pieces.
But, as Alexander tells me when we sit down to chat, now is the time for a little bit more of a change. The first thing I noticed on arrival is the emporium’s smart, jet-black and gold liveried shop front now just boasts the name ‘Pushkin’s’.
So the first thing i ask Alexander is why he has dropped the ‘antiques’ from his branding.
“Well my wife Olga and I felt we needed to take the company to a new level,” he explains. “I’m not the sort of person that sits around and stagnates. I’m always evolving and keen to try something new. We wanted to do something a little bit different and because i have a new other businesses it made sense to have all of them under one Pushkin’s umbrella”. says Alexander.
“And anyway, all of our customers referred to us as Pushkin’s and never Pushkin Antiques so it made sense to drop the antiques bit.”
The next bit of news is Alexander is launching a new auction house which he says won’t be a traditional bricks and mortar business but done via the company’s website. '
“That’s the way auction houses have gone since the pandemic - even with the likes of Christie’s and Sotheby’s,” states Alexander. “Now it is very rare to see buyers bidding in person. Everything is done online and that allows you to be far more flexible of what you sell and who you sell to.
“Our customer base is very broad - with lots of international clients so this is a much easier way to trade,'“ explains Alexander. “I would say it makes up 90% of our business.”
He recently hosted a mini relaunch party (pictured) with some of his clients and contacts - who include the team from Club Quantum who bought some one-off pieces to decorate their private members’ space.
In terms of trends and what people are currently buying - both online and in his shop - what would alexander cite as the most popular pieces du jour? “People still love good design --and anything that has a name on it. So that is what we are predominantly going to concentrate on.”Do people not want to still see pieces in person I ask. “Not really but we can offer WhatsApp video call appointments if necessary.”
Glancing around Pushkin’s and noting the Chanel handbags, the Hermes china and vintage Bentley toy car, I ask Alexander if there’s any one collectible that has alluded him so far? “I have been so lucky to have seen so many incredible pieces but you can’t have buyer’s regret otherwise you just become a collector.”
Alexander tells me he recently bought one of Admiral Nelson’s 40 mourning rings which were handed out after his funeral. “They were given to his nearest and dearest and I now have one of them.” I ask if he’ll be keeping that rare objet d’art for himself to which Alexander quickly responds: “No, it’s for sale. It will cost you £40,000 if you want to buy it.” I have every faith that the new direction Pushkin’s is going in will prove to be yet another hugely successful chapter in Alexander Pushkin’s career.
Pushkin’s on Tunbridge Wells High Street will be open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and also by appointment. For more information on the new auction facility and to discover upcoming dates visit www.pushkins.com
