SME News UK Enterprise Awards 2025/ 78 Best Antique Lighting Business 2025 & Sustainability Excellence Award 2025 A husband-and-wife operation, Shackleton Fox Antiques is the result of a shared lifelong interest in everything related to history and antiques. From the helm of this entirely online venture, Jackie & Jonathan ShackletonFox collaborate with collectors, interior designers, and buyers from such cultural hubs as London, Miami, and New York, clients that trust the business on the back of its quality focus and service excellence. We caught up with the couple for more on their antique business. Jackie, an art and design graduate with experience at the National Trust, and Jonathan, an accountant known for his rare blend of creativity and precision, founded Shackleton Fox Antiques over five years ago. Inspired by a rich family tradition, it was a natural step to continue this legacy into the second generation. The pair hand-select every item they offer, driven by a shared passion for uncovering antique pieces that are unique, decorative, and desirable — all without breaking the bank. It’s this thoughtful approach that sets them apart. From careful restoration and specialist lamp rewiring to PAT inspections and a tailored Personal Sourcing Service, Shackleton Fox offers a comprehensive and highly personal approach. Each order is treated as bespoke, backed by dedicated customer service that ensures a seamless and thoughtful experience. Whether a client is seeking one standout piece or curating an entire interior with antiques, every project is met with the same commitment to quality, functionality, and individual style — ensuring each item is as practical as it is beautiful. At its heart, Shackleton Fox is about more than just antiques — it’s about helping people discover pieces that bring history, depth, and character to their spaces, while also promoting sustainability. Jackie told us: “At Shackleton Fox Antiques, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. A landmark study by Carbon Clear found that antique furniture has a carbon footprint up to 16 times lower than its modern equivalent — a fact that reinforces our commitment to reusing and restoring rather than replacing. Our antique lighting is rewired and PAT tested to modern standards while preserving its original craftsmanship, avoiding the need for energy-intensive manufacturing. By investing in antique pieces, our clients reduce waste, prevent deforestation, and cut down on international freight emissions. These values led to our recognition with the Sustainability Excellence Award — proof that heritage, beauty, and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.” At the centre of Shackleton Fox’s coat of arms – a symbol connoting its prestige and affinity with all things historic – is a ship that is side by side with a fox. These respective symbols reflect Jonathan’s ancestral links with Ernest Shackleton – the resourceful explorer who sailed the Antarctic on a number of occasions – and the wit, adaptability, and resourcefulness displayed by Jackie. However, more than this, they exhibit the unique identity of this brand and the values it endeavours to promote. These values can be seen through everything Shackleton Fox does, especially when it comes to its work with antique lighting. As Jackie told us: “We take great pride in caring for and restoring antique pieces, especially lamps that have already lived for over a century. Through meticulous restoration and expert rewiring, we breathe new life into each item. These pieces aren’t just restored, they’re revitalised to last even longer than many modern alternatives.” This highlights the business’ sustainable focus. Jonathan added: “We believe that an antique lamp, thoughtfully restored, carries a story, holds its value, and is far more likely to be cherished for generations to come. Our mission is to inspire greater appreciation for antique lighting and to promote the idea that investing in quality, character-filled antiques is not only sustainable but also deeply rewarding.” Beyond their client-first ethos, the couple also leverage a deep understanding of current design trends to offer products and styles that are highly sought after. Although the business mainly focuses on smaller pieces such as lighting and mirrors, due to both space and shipping considerations, it has not ruled out dealing in larger items further down the line. However, for now, the emphasis is on growth, with the couple planning to double their stock over the next 12 months. Shackleton Fox is even nurturing this growth by streamlining the way it presents products online, through initiatives including higher-quality imagery and even short videos to support its ever-expanding network of international buyers. Additionally, Jackie explained: “Another exciting development is the launch of a new initiative in partnership with JSF Commercial Finance.” This service is designed to support fellow antique business owners through access to commercial finance solutions, the end goal being to help others in the industry achieve their ambition and scale with confidence. Travelling far and wide to source the best antiques, Shackleton Fox Antiques prides itself on bridging the gap between European craftsmanship and American demand from its position in the heart of the UK. For more information about the business’ story or to see its range of curated antiques, visit the link below. Contact: Jackie & Jonathan Shackleton-Fox Company: Shackleton Fox Antiques Web Address: https://www.shackletonfox.com/
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