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It is with great pleasure that Leigh Extence has taken on the running of Derval Antiques, the business set up by Derek and Valerie Roberts in 2004 following the sale of the original Derek Roberts Antiques. Leigh worked alongside Derek in the early 1980s having previously run the Antique Clock department within Harrods in Knightsbridge. Leaving Kent Leigh set up on his own account with showrooms in Devon, and now works 'by appointment'. It was Leigh's time with Derek that gave him the enthusiasm to undertake the task of researching the carriage clock families of Jacot and Drocourt which culminated in two large exhibitions in 2013 and 2014, the catalogues for which are available to view at www.extence.co.uk.
Leigh Extence is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and a member of the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA).
Derek & Valerie Roberts started their antiques business in Tonbridge in 1968. Initially they dealt in general antiques but within a year were specialising in clocks, for which, in due course, they gained an international reputation, supplying museums and major collectors as well as people who just wanted a fine clock for their home. In the early days they exhibited at local fairs and then progressed to more major exhibitions such as that at Burlington House. They became members of The British Antique Dealers Association in 1974 and in 1977 Derek became free of The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. Some two years later he was invited to become a Liveryman.
A partnership was formed with John Martin in 1976 for the production of precision pendulum clocks and by the time production had ceased in 1999, thirty- eight such clocks had been made.
Dereks’ first horological book, ‘British Skeleton Clocks’, was published in 1987 and was accompanied by an exhibition and catalogue on the subject. Continental & American Skeleton Clocks came out some two years later and was followed by British Longcase Clocks in 1990.
Carriage and other Travelling Clocks was published in 1993, by which time the extensive use of illustrations in colour had become a practical proposition allowing these attractive clocks to be displayed to their full beauty. This book was followed by one on Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks, a subject close to the authors’ heart, in which the art of the clockmaker is displayed to its’ fullest extent.
Collecting all the material for the three volumes on Precision Pendulum Clocks, which is at the heart of horology, took the best part of thirty years and was finally published in 2003-4. It was then that Derek & Valerie decided to retire from their main business, Derek Roberts Antiques, before setting up Derval Antiques following their move to Edenbridge.
Derek and Valerie Roberts Leigh Extence
