Retro rocks

WORDS Debbie Loots

Emma de Crespigny’s vintage shop in Woodstock, C20 Galerie, stocks all kinds of retro pieces dating back to the 20th century. Not only does she source these beauties from all over the world, she lovingly restores them, reproduces her own line of furniture and lighting, and custom-makes specific pieces for her clients.

All this retro design prowess is a result of Emma having done her design time: she spent 10 years working alongside New York dealer Alan Moss while obtaining a Masters in History of Decorative Art and Design from Parsons, as well as from the prestigious Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York. Fresh from Decorex in Cape Town, where she designed a fabulous Hollywood-inspired bedroom at the Belgotex Trend House, Emma tells us a little about herself. 

Where were you born?

I was born in the United States. However, I have lived in South Africa for more than a decade and also spent a lot of time in England, so I wouldn’t really call myself an American.

When did you first realise your love for vintage and why specifically 20^th-century furnishings?

When I was 30, I co-owned a small auction house with some friends and we held an auction of 20th-century design. It was at that moment that I fell in love with design from 1920s through to 1970s. For me, the reason why I love design post 1910 is that it became less about ornamenting furniture and more about simple lines, where the material visible to the eye, becomes what is beautiful. For example furniture made out of Lucite and lighting made out of metal and glass. The modernists of the late 1910s and 1920s discovered new materials in architecture first and brought it to interior design.

Tell us a bit about working with Alan Moss.

Alan Moss is the person that changed my direction in life.  Although I moved to New York with the intention of finding a reputable dealer in 20th-century design, Alan Moss exposed me to so much more than I anticipated. I learned about the rarer pieces like mid-century French and German furniture as well as 1950s European ceramics and glass. Coupled with doing my Masters in History of 20th-century Design, 10 years working with him armed me with the ability to open a store by myself, on a much smaller scale, of course.

Where do you source your pieces from?

They are from France, Germany, Austria, Italy and the United States, mostly. I have also found pieces here in South Africa since I have lived in Cape Town. I also represent South African artist, Galia Gluckman and plan to add others artists I appreciate.

c20galerie.co.za