To be surrounded by the energy of greatness is a remarkable thing. It is even more significant when that energy is from centuries long gone and countries far-stretched. This is the environment David Neligan ’75 finds himself in on a daily basis. David is the founder and owner of David Neligan Antiques, a business that has been in existence for over 25 years. Located in Essex, MA, the Boston Design Center, and Stamford, CT, the shops house distinctive and high-quality furniture, accessories, and art—many of the pieces are from 17th-19th century England and Europe.
“I am very careful in my selection process,” states David. “Each piece has a history—a story. It’s what sets my business apart from others.” Certainly, there are some wonderful stories filling his shops! Nestled in the back of the store in Essex sits a table from Windsor Castle (the branded stamp on its underside states the room in which the piece was housed) and a pair of chairs from Mid-18th Century Venice, the size and scale of which are indicative of the wealth of their owners—the Fogg family of Chestnut Hill, MA. These beauties were in the Fogg’s Coconut Grove home for 75 years before David acquired them. Near the staircase of the shop is a George III Japanned tall-case clock from the estate of JP Morgan, once housed in Mr. Morgan’s home in Glen Cove, NY. David collected the piece from an heir of the Industrial-era giant.
“The business has changed so much over the years, especially with the advent of the internet. People are not strolling through shops anymore, but are looking very specifically for their perfect pieces online. We’ve adapted accordingly. It’s a very time-intensive process to photograph each of our items, from multiple angles, but it is certainly worth it when clients find just what they were looking for,” David comments.
Circling back to his days at Trinity-Pawling, David says, “It was a different time at the School then, but we formed real bonds—I still see some of my classmates on a regular basis. It’s a great community.”
If you’re in the area, be sure to check out some of the wonderful pieces (and stories!) David has in his collection. You can visit him in Massachusetts or Connecticut, or online.