Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the week: Cotham Antiques, Cotham Hill
Cotham Antiques has been a much-loved destination for antique enthusiasts, collectors, and the curious alike for over four decades.
Run by Susan Miller, the shop has become a mainstay on Cotham Hill, offering a carefully curated selection of items that span centuries of craftsmanship and history.
The circular card stands outside, and the dinky toys on the windowsill are just a prelude to the cornucopia of delights that await inside the shop.
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Phrases such as “treasure trove” and “time capsule” may have been overused and lost their semantic meaning, but not for Cotham Antiques.
Susan Miller opened Cotham Antiques back in 1983 and has been running the shop ever since – photo: Milan Perera
When Bristol24/7 visited the shop recently, Susan was helping a customer to decide on a suitable piece of jewellery.
A gilded mirror and a set of Chinese rice paper paintings hung over her head at the till. The jewellery cabinet was graced with a vast range of items.
Among the items on display are pieces of silver and gold jewellery, ranging from cameo brooches, Victorian bracelets, and Art Deco rings to contemporary handcrafted necklaces – a living testament to the skill and artistry of past and present makers.
Susan opened Cotham Antiques back in 1983 and has weathered many challenges along the way, including a pandemic and the rise of online shopping platforms such as eBay and Etsy.
She first started doing fairs but decided to open a shop as a result of an unexpected sequence of events. Susan said: “I just enjoyed buying lovely things. And I thought if I could buy some and then sell some, that would be interesting.
“And that’s what I started doing, very, very modestly. I started actually just doing fairs and local markets.”
The main area of the shop is a veritable feast for the senses, with objects ranging from macabre to elegant – photo: Milan Perera
When we asked her what had kept her going for so long, her response was equally direct: “For the love of it.”
For her, each item in the shop represents not just an object, but a piece of history.
Among the items on display are pieces of silver and gold jewellery, ranging from cameo brooches, Victorian bracelets, and Art Deco rings to contemporary handcrafted necklaces – photo: Milan Perera
When we asked about the frequent visitors to the shop, Susan said: “Over the years, it’s become more popular with students and the younger population. The older people have gradually drifted away or passed on.”
Another group she singled out was the visitors to the city who would like to take back a “slice of Bristol” in their travels.
“This (Cotham Hill) is a nice road. They wander down, have coffee, and then they find us,” said Susan.
The main area of the shop is a veritable feast for the senses, with objects ranging from macabre to elegant gracing the display cabinets.
A collection of blue Wedgwood jasperware immediately grabs your attention, along with silver trinket boxes, cut glass crystal decanters, and Beswick figurines.
The taxidermy raven and the skulls evoke a sense of gothic beauty, while the large Chinese famille rose vase embodies the craftsmanship of a bygone era.
For those with a fascination for the mystical and historical, Cotham Antiques also boasts a collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and religious icons at the front – photo: Milan Perera
But the eclectic objects do not end there. Through the rear door, adorned with the “His Master’s Voice” sign above, one enters what appears to be the inner sanctum of the shop.
In the back room, there is an upright Bechstein piano. The walls hold a selection of mirrors ranging from the Art Nouveau to the Art Deco periods. And then there is the life-size print of a callipygian nude.
The back room is the home to a large collection of mirrors and lamps from different periods – photo: Milan Perera
For those with a fascination for the mystical and historical, Cotham Antiques also boasts a collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and religious icons at the front.
When we asked about how the rise of eBay has impacted the antique trade in general, she acknowledged that the impact is widely felt. But she added: “It (eBay) definitely had an impact, but people always value the personal touch, which you can’t get online.”
“I love seeing the joy on someone’s face when they find something that resonates with them,” Susan said. “Each object in the shop has a history, and it’s a privilege to help people connect with that story.”
Cotham Antiques has been a mainstay in Cotham Hill for over four decades – photo: Milan Perera
Cotham Antiques, 39A Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JZ
All photos: Milan Perera
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