Stephen Lunn
We regret to announce with great sadness the death of the antique textile dealer Stephen Lunn.
Stephen came from an illustrious family. His grandfather was Sir Arnold Lunn, founder of the Kandahar Ski Club and a pioneer of skiing in Britain.
His father Peter Northcote Lunn captained the British team at the 1936 Winter Olympics and had a distinguished career as a diplomat and member of the SIS. Stephen’s mother was the Hon Eileen Antoniette Preston, daughter of Viscount Gormanston.
Stephen started his career with his wife Juliet in the Kings Road in 1976 initially selling vintage clothing and early 20th century table and bed linen.
His first lace purchase came from the Portobello Road, for which Stephen paid ‘peanuts’. Santina Levey at the V&A identified the lace as superb 17th and 18th century collectors’ pieces. This introduction to lace, the most intricate and time-consuming textile to make, kindled a passion and a thrill to find more antique lace worldwide. It earned Stephen the nickname ‘Lace King of London’.
For men to deal in lace is quite unusual but when they do, they are good – in fact, very, very good!
Stephen spoke fluent French and trips with him to auctions in Paris were always fun. Like his father and grandfather, he was an excellent skier.
Stephen will be greatly missed by Juliet, his two brothers and sister, his three children Lizzie, William and Peter and six grandchildren, all his friends in the antique textile world, but particularly by his lace colleagues in the Portobello Road:
Kati Woollett-Bernal, Lyn Boulter, Diane Harby, Joan Briggs, Philip and Anne Swift, Portobello Antiques Section
Chris Martin
The late Chris Martin.
Chris Martin of Iconastas died on Christmas Day 2018 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2016. He was 71. Chris was the owner of Iconastas Russian Art in London’s Piccadilly Arcade since 1974, alongside his business partner John Gaze who predeceased him in 2011.
There will be a memorial service at St James’s, Piccadilly, on Wednesday, April 24, at 3pm. All are welcome.
