In a weekly feature, we profile a fascinating company doing business here in Islington. This week, we visit Criterion auctioneers, which has been selling collectables in Essex Road for 28 years.
Nestled between Essex Road boozers is a business you’d be well advised to enter only while sober.
That’s unless you want to wake up hugging an antique dressing table you have no recollection of buying.
Criterion’s shopfront saleroom, near the Gaskin Street junction, has been in Islington since 1989. With viewings over the weekend, sale commences every Monday at the 3pm auction.
Marketing manager Tracy Martin, known for appearances on BBC show Flog It!, said: “We auction everything from furniture to jewellery. If there’s anything you might have hidden in your attic and don’t want, we can either value it on site or come to people’s homes. As long as we think it’s marketable, we will try and auction it.”
Tracy only joined Criterion four weeks ago, and is looking to bring the business “into the 21st century”. She said: “Historically, Criterion has been about paintings and pictures. But auctioneering has changed so much and I want to expand our sales.”
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