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5th April 2013

Geoff Westland 1940-2013

‘It is with great regret that we have to report the death of Geoff Westland, proprietor of Westland London, and erstwhile neighbour of LASSCO at St MIchael’s in Shoreditch, and joint owner of the premises, for over thirty years.

Geoff was a stalwart of the Antiques Trade and, arguably during his lifetime, the most prominent dealer in Architectural Antiques world-wide. His style was grand and magnificent as befitted the monumental building from which he operated.

He brought to his calling meticulous attention to detail, a grand vision of how his stock should be displayed, academic expertise and research second to none – and a managerial command of his business of the highest order.

It was an, occasionally daunting, pleasure doing business with him – but, as with many ‘big men’ he had an unsurpassed appetite for life. He was a delight socially and his fund of stories about the Trade would keep his companions enthralled.

He has been described as a déclassé Duveen of the late 20th century; from a modest background, he was entirely self-taught, an accomplished linguist, with an unerring eye for his particular style, the very model of the driven dealer.

He built a major, and unique, London institution from scratch, and it is to be hoped that it will continue to trade in the manner he established for many years to come as he wished.

Adrian Amos’