Phil’s vintage antique business in Wootton Wawen is moving with the times
IT looked like a lump of lead but the eight-inch-tall curio turned out to be a pilgrim’s cross dating back 1,000 years.
On closer examination, using a microscope, the cross reveals miniature carvings of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and a lamb but who did it belong to and how did it fall into the hands of Phil Sims, director of Sims Vintage Antiques Limited in Wootton Wawen?
“We’ll never know who it belonged to but someone once held it in their hands perhaps while on a pilgrimage? Antiquity experts have said they think it’s about 1,000 years-old. Whenever I buy these items I like to think there’s a fantastic story behind them and I’ve been told it could be worth anything between £400 and £600,” said Phil.
This treasure from another time and place is one of the many he has in his possession but Phil has to move with the times which is why he’s looking forward to going bigger and better when he officially opens a brand new, refurbished unit on the same site in Wootton Wawen as Simms Antiques looks to expand in early February. There’ll be much more space for collectables and room for 40 unit holders.
For the grand re-opening he’s secured a guest appearance from celebrity antiques expert David Harper – a familiar face on television shows like Antiques Road Trip and Posh Pawn.
Phil said: ”We’re really excited we’ll be working with the ever-popular artist and one of tv’s top antiques experts David Harper on a series of short videos at our antiques centre. Customers will also get the opportunity to meet David as he will be joining us for the day to open our new building at our existing Wootton Wawen site on our opening day in February. We’ve appeared in 15 antique tv shows and Road Trip are regulars here. I’ve known David for a few years in fact everybody knows him from his television appearances.”
David’s moving Sims to the second biggest available unit on site. The biggest site is used by the family that still has a working farm at the location. A priority for Phil was to expand and get more people in to occupy the units but he also wanted to stay on the same site.
It’s a journey that might not have seemed possible during the despair caused by COVID as Phil explains.
“We’ve had ten years here and we’ve been very successful but we had zero income and very little help during COVID. Thankfully we had a war chest to maintain some sort of cash flow and now we’re experiencing a lot of demand and we need larger premises so we can handle more stock. It’s interesting following the impacts of covid on small business that some businesses are now thriving and expanding in rural Warwickshire.”
Once the new unit is officially opened it will house antique vintage collectables from the Georgian era, the last century, lots pottery and militaria and other popular items that people like to wander round and purchase.
“I’ve always been interested in buying and selling – I see it as a hobby but I’m not a gambler it’s more an investment. I spent 20 years as an IT technical designer but this is my work now and I’m really looking forward to opening our new building next month,” Phil said.
