Tricks of the trade
Philip King was employed in insurance when he decided he wanted to work with his hands. So he joined furniture manufacturer and restorer C.F. Neary Ltd before starting his own business under his house in Remuera in 1991. Soon afterwards he moved to a commercial building in Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland, where he now owns two units and employs four staff.
This period has seen dramatic change in the antique furniture world. The appearance of very cheap new furniture from Asia has seen both substantially lower price expectations and the demise of many New Zealand manufacturers, which has been reflected in falling antique furniture values.