Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the week: John Kelly 1880+
John Kelly opened his Wapping Wharf store in 2017, having traded jewellery, silver and metalware since 2013.
John Kelly 1880 + is an emporium of vintage and pre-owned items, specialising in Scandinavian pieces.
“It’s something very unique and interesting, to focus on Scandinavian items. It’s a niche market and I don’t know anyone else doing this in Bristol.” John, who has had an interested in metalware since age 15, explains.
Jewellery isn’t the only item available at John Kelly 1880+; the store also stocks glassware, including delicate Riihimaki glass vases from Sweden.
John Kelly with some of his collection
Despite a strong admiration for Scandinavian items, John also trades design-led British items and in fact one of his most a memorable items was made on UK soil: “My crowning moment was finding a pendant made by Gothic architect William Burges, made in 1881, the year he died. To find an item like that is so rare.”
The store offers hundreds of bespoke items, from a number of eras, all of which fit in among contemporary design. John also has a trading presence online, where he showcases a bigger collection of items.
The Riihimaki vases which John stocks
“Bristol is a fantastic place to be,” John says. “It’s great to be in this microcosm, the culture in Wapping Wharf is brilliant.
“But, for me, the best part about my shop is meeting people as enthusiastic about my items as I am.”
A small part of John’s collection
The next phase of homes at Wapping Wharf, Bristol’s new harbourside neighbourhood, is coming very soon with a public sales launch set for September. Visit www.wappingwharfliving.co.uk to register your interest and for more details.
John Kelly 1880+, www.johnkelly1880.co.uk
Unit 4, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6ZA
Read more: Shop of the week: Bristol Reclamation
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
