Callum Jackson of Jacksons Antique by Ivan Macquisten
November 2nd 2024
Chatting Shop with Callum of Jacksons Antique
Just a few years ago. Callum Jackson was working as an engineer for British Gas. Today he is setting up his stand for the Berkeley Square Fair. How did he get here?
“I started initially in my very early teens using pocket money to purchase games consoles, Pokémon cards, mobile phones and other gadgets at high school,” he reveals. “I soon found a huge gap in the market in the early days of eBay, breaking down collections and selling them all individually.”
This entrepreneurial spirit stayed with Callum throughout his early twenties when he continued running a ‘side hussle’ in buying and selling, gradually discovering the wonderful world of antiques along the way.
“I started to build a wealth of knowledge in various areas and learning by making mistakes. The more involved I became, the more I realised how much I loved all things Japanese, and I now deal in a wide range of 19thcentury European and Japanese objects.”
Serendipity came into play when he moved home and found himself living next door to an antiques dealer.
“That’s what ignited my whole career. He helped me with connections and advice, and it worked because we don’t clash in the areas of the market in which we operate.”
Jacksons Antique opened officially in September 2019… a tricky time in retrospect, with Covid around the corner.
“Ultimately, dealers are educated gamblers, risk takers. You have to be prepared to get out there and pursue the dream, and that means dealing with it when you get knocked down. You also have to be prepared to work hard. The hours are long. I’m up in the morning at five, usually, and spend three hours on my laptop before I start the day. Recently I spent a week at events in Newark and Lincoln as well as travelling the country, but I’m not complaining because this is my dream job.”
Although he already has five years in business under his belt as a dealer, Callum is still only 30. So just how difficult has it been to become established?
“On the plus side, I’m young enough to have grown up in the age of modern technology
and this means that I can provide all of my own tech support, which is handy as 95 per cent of my business is online. I do everything from web development to cataloguing and standing at fairs. I have high standards and want to keep my costs down, so doing almost everything myself is the way to meet both of those objectives.
“The biggest challenge is getting accepted by other members of the trade and the public. It’s a question of trust and it can be extremely hard to break through. People buy from who they trust and people they know, so they want to be reassured that you know what you’re doing and are offering only the best pieces.
“That’s why becoming a member of LAPADA has been so important. The way it works is that you first become an associate member, and you can only become a full member after you have proved yourself after a few years. I’m also a member of the Cotswolds Antique Dealers Association (CADA), and to get the associations on board like this is an absolutely vital step in gaining the trust of the trade and buyers.”
Callum’s advice to others of a similar age thinking of turning their hand to dealing is: “Chase the objects rather than the money – the money will come anyway if you always look for the best things. And build a platform on your own speciality so that is what you are known for.
“Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that antiques are all about brown furniture. The sheer scale of extraordinary things out there waiting to be discovered never ceases to amaze me. You have no idea about what you’ll buy next, and that’s where the thrill lies.”
Currently, Callum is particularly thrilled with what he thinks may be a unique item: a Japanese Komai iron charger, c.1930. It has a central scene inlaid with gold depicting thatched roof housing with Mount Fuji in the background inlaid in silver on a black iron ground. The scene is framed by shallow relief twin dragons emerging from ripped cloth with gilt copper whiskers, claws, pupils, and fangs.
“I’m really looking forward to standing at the fair for the first time. My stand is not huge, but it gives me the ideal opportunity to meet new people.”
Owner at Jacksons Antique
I am an antique dealer and owner of Jacksons Antique, specialising in fine antiques with a particular focus on Japanese art and European decorative objects. With over a decade of experience in the antiques trade, I source and curate pieces for collectors across the UK, the United States, and the international market.
Working primarily online alongside select exhibitions, I am part of a newer generation of dealers helping to modernise the way antiques are researched, presented, and acquired. My approach is built on careful attribution, transparent descriptions, and historically grounded research so clients can buy with confidence.
Through Jacksons Antique, I aim to make important historic objects accessible to both established collectors and those developing their collections.
DECORATIVE | JAPANESE | FINEST OBJECTS