Biography

Two of London's well-established and highly individual antique dealers have joined forces in a 3,000 sq. feet gallery in Notting Hill. They are Peter Petrou and Jay Arenski.

Peter Petrou has acquired his expert knowledge of antiques and works of art over 30 years in the trade. Peter's wide experience is illustrated by the sheer quality and variety of the items which he stocks including Classical statuary from bronzes to marble 'after the antique', Grand Tour items, tribal artifacts and antiquities. Over the years, Peter's knowledge and acquisitions have become particularly respected in the field of Fantasy Furniture. This has ranged from Venetian grotto furniture depicting shells and blackamoors to the rustic charm of Black Forest carved bear objects and the curious and bizarre stag antler creations. Recently some of this furniture has featured in David Linley's 'Extraordinary Furniture'.

Jay Arenski, of the renowned and reputed family of dealers, is the current proprietor of Arenski Fine Art Ltd., est. since 1970. His taste and flair have long been admired and he has been featured in many of the fashionable design magazines. Jay has appeared on numerous television documentaries dealing with antiques, and he has acted as consultant for a number of publications surrounding the Great Exhibition of 1851 and subsequent Great Exhibitions held in Europe and America. Jay has an eye for the unusual and his stock is particularly inspired by the colonies, with elegant examples of Anglo Indian and Goanese ebony furniture, Dutch Colonial and South American artifacts. More recently Arenski has branched into the innovative and exciting design of the 1960s with iconic designs such as the ball chair by Asko and the garden egg chair by Ghyczy.

Between them Arenski and Petrou have an unusual and dazzling collection, which will never fail to amaze. This stock can be viewed by appointment in the showrooms at Notting Hill where, among the variety mentioned above, standard stock always includes English library furniture, Islamic and Ottoman inlay objects, portraiture and animals in art. Alternatively, they are stalwart exhibitors at the London Olympia fairs in June and November and they are now doing a number of fairs in America.