Hey, I'm Jo, founder of Eldercroft and Sons established to source unique high quality vintage and antique items that add individuality to your space. By exploring pieces from the past and celebrating the craftsmanship inherent in them we are also making the sustainable choice to re-use rather than buy new items that often have a limited lifespan and no resale value. The stories behind these pieces of history have always fascinated me.

I have a PhD from the University of Otago in Art History and Theory. I love research and sharing what I have learned about the pieces I find. If you have a question about the items here, or something from your own collection, please get in touch and I'll do my best to find an answer for you. If there is something special you are searching for, likewise, let me know and do my best to source it. 

My passion for antiques started young and has never cooled. When I think back on all the key moments of my life, I have marked them all with treasures found or handmade bespoke pieces. I was a magpie as a child always picking up quirky pieces from op shops and fairs. At sixteen my parents wanted to give me a meaningful gift and let me select a lovely Victorian locket (pictured below). When I was a University student on a tight budget, I went without lunches to save up for a fantastic Royal Doulton art deco pin dish - my friends thought I was mad. I was heartbroken when it later got broken but my lovely Dad glued it back together  for me - if I'd known about kintsugi then it would have been a perfect candidate for the Japanese practice of making a repair obvious with gold joins and celebrating the life of the piece. The earnings from my first well paid job bought me a stunning Susie Cooper kestrel coffee set. I must admit sometimes the purchases were less practical. I once bought a badly damaged walnut table intending to restore it but ended up moving it throughout New Zealand for over twenty years before realising I had neither the skill set to fix it nor the space to keep it. Luckily I found it a new home with someone who was able to restore it. 

If you've read this far, I really appreciate it. Thank you! Please share any ideas for future posts so I can write about topics that interest you - not just me.