For every shopper that likes the bare simplicity and elegant, uncluttered Swedish lines of Ikea and its goods, there is a shopper that prefers a small, cluttered shop, filled with fussy vintage goods in mint green and chrome.
Annie's Vintage Wonderland stall at the Twilight Markets (Photograph by Kathryn Jane Stephenson)
You know the kind of shop I mean: the ones where you go round a corner and there it is - the beloved toy you were given in 1963; the laminated table granny used to give you afternoon tea on while you watched her shell the peas; or the books you used to read with an apple, in your tree fort.
Annie's Vintage Wonderland (Photograph by D Sutherland-Bruce)
in Guildford, tucked away in a small courtyard, is such a shop. It is tiny, filled to bulging with goods, collectibles and utensils from the 40s, 50s, and early 60s.
There is no common denominator to the goods, other than their period. There are furniture, office goods, lockers, kitchen cabinets, sets of cannisters marked 'tea', 'coffee', 'sugar' and 'rice', as well as toys, books, and
objets de vertu.
Annie's Vintage Wonderland (Photograph by D Sutherland-Bruce)
The Annie who presides over this treasure trove of delights is at least as interesting as her shop. This exotic beauty combines motherhood with dealing vintage wares, juggling auctions and shop hours with school trips, sports runs, and overseeing homework.
Annie's Vintage Wonderland (Photograph by D Sutherland-Bruce)
Annie loves what she sells and adores the elegance of the time. She wears a eye-catching, full-skirted, ladybird-spotted 1950s dress, which has become her trademark at the
Guildford Twilight Markets, the
Guildford Markets, and will be seen at the
Guildford Heritage Festival later in March.
The shop is at Shop 3/121 James Street, Guildford. It is open Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
