Marilyn and Bob Reed have traded as Mere Antiques for the best part of forty years, and from 13 Fore Street in Topsham since November 1995. Fine quality 17th-century through early 20th-century pieces, mostly privately sourced from local Devon houses. Very rarely from auction.
Stock changes week to week. Most pieces come in privately from Devon and West Country families. If there is something specific you are looking for, ring the counter on 01392 879569 or the mobile 07870 206299, and Marilyn or Bob will tell you honestly whether it is on the shelf or due in.
17th century to early 20th century
English and Continental, town and country. Mahogany commodes, oak coffers, walnut bureaux, painted French consoles. Privately sourced from Devon and West Country houses, rarely from the auction circuit. Each piece period-attributed by hand, dated and described at the counter.
English & Continental, 17C onwards
Delft, Imari, Worcester, early Staffordshire. Apothecary jars, blue-and-white baluster vases with foo-dog and eagle finials, William De Morgan style tiles. The shop holds a working library of references for marks and periods at the counter.
Georgian to mid 20th century
Hallmarked silver, mostly Georgian and later. Helmet jugs, snuff boxes, aide-memoires, late-Georgian quality. Pieces frequently privately consigned by Devon families, with the original packets and provenance kept where they survive.
18C oils to 20C engravings
Oils, watercolours, engravings, prints. Marine subjects, country scenes, and the occasional roundhouse-locomotive in a gilt frame. Folk art and primitive pieces handled separately. Frames original where possible, conservation reframing arranged when not.
Pieces shown are representative of the kind of stock that passes through the shop. Specific items sold as they go. Ring 01392 879569 before travelling to Topsham for a particular piece.
The shop itself at 13 Fore Street has been buying and selling antiques for more than sixty years, well known throughout the trade. Marilyn and Bob took it over and reopened the doors as Mere Antiques in November 1995. The bench is the same Devon Georgian counter that was there in 1965.
The trade Marilyn and Bob built across forty years is unusual: the vast majority of items available for sale have been privately sourced. Very rarely sourced from auction. Families telephoning about a parent\u2019s collection, executors handling an estate, decorators clearing a long lease. One eye choosing the stock, one counter, one shop.
“The vast majority of items available for sale have been privately sourced. Very rarely sourced from auction.” Marilyn and Bob Reed, on the shop
A multi-dealer centre fills the shelves quickly because sixty-five dealers are buying for them at every auction in the West Country. A single-dealer private shop runs slower and stranger. Pieces arrive at the back door, not the loading bay.
The result is unusual stock with provenance, and a counter that can usually tell you which house in Devon the piece walked out of fifty years ago.
The fastest way is the phone. Marilyn or Bob will pick up between 10 and 5 Monday to Saturday, and tell you straight whether the piece is on the shelf, due in, or whether they know who in the trade has one.
For sellers: ring or send a photograph by email. We are particularly interested in single fine pieces and Devon house clearances of 17th to early 20th century.
Topsham is a historic Exe-estuary port town, four miles south of Exeter on the eastern bank. The Strand and Fore Street run parallel down to the Quay, where Topsham was a leading shipbuilding centre in the 17th and 18th century. Dutch-influenced gabled merchant houses still line the Strand; Fore Street runs above them.
For anything not here, ring the shop on 01392 879569 between 10 and 5 Monday to Saturday.
No. The Quay Antiques Centre is a multi-dealer centre with sixty-five different dealers under one roof. Mere Antiques is a single-dealer private shop at 13 Fore Street, run by Marilyn and Bob Reed since 1985. One eye choosing the stock, one counter, one phone.
The vast majority are privately sourced from local Devon and West Country houses. Very rarely from auction. Families ringing about a parent’s collection, executors handling an estate, decorators clearing a long lease. The result is unusual stock with provenance, not the same pieces you see on every dealer’s shelf.
Yes. Particularly interested in single fine-quality pieces and Devon house clearances of 17th to early 20th century. Ring the shop on 01392 879569 or the mobile 07870 206299 to talk about what you have, or send photographs to info@mereantiques.co.uk.
Yes. UK courier for most pieces, by arrangement. Hand-delivery within Devon for the most fragile pieces (early ceramics, gilt-framed paintings, longcase clocks). International shipping arranged on quotation for furniture and larger pieces.
Yes. Each piece is dated and described at the counter by Marilyn or Bob, with the trade-standard period attribution and a careful description of any restoration. Receipts carry the description. Provenance noted where it survives.
Yes. We hold a specialist stock category for the decorator and theatre trade, including unusual lighting, mirrors, longcase clocks and statement pieces by negotiation. Trade enquiries by phone preferred.