When’s the last time you saw antiques—real antiques—aboard a megayacht? If Onlyacht has anything to say about it, you’ll see them more frequently. A new company backed by extensive experience, Onlyacht specializes in sourcing antiques for superyachts. More important, Onlyacht also preserves the objects for the marine environment.
Onlyacht is the brainchild of David Burton, who started his career in the antiques field. An anticipated year-long sabbatical to sail the world turned into several years of working aboard yachts, and loving it. In the process, Burton noticed that despite megayacht owners wanting period furniture and related objects aboard, their interior designers typically shied away. Instead, they’d commission replicas, due to concerns about fragility or even insects. Burton could discern the difference in quality and believed there had to be a better way. He went back to school to further study preservation and protection techniques.
Here’s how Onlyacht works. Burton and his team work with an interior designer to find antique furnishings, clocks, lighting, and other treasures—even flooring. The company appraises the items and lets you and your designer know what types of treatments are needed, and to what extent. If you wish to proceed, Onlyacht acquires and transports the items to one of its workshops, located in Wilmington, Delaware; Antibes, France; or near its head office in Portsmouth, England. Onlyacht can also incorporate items from your personal collection and ship them to the appropriate workshop.
Either way, Onlyacht follows the conservation principles of the Institute of Conservation (ICON). ICON is a UK organization focused on advancing knowledge and education in conservation to preserve cultural heritage. Onlyacht will treat the antique objects while maintaining their original look and integrity. For small items, Onlyacht can also design and build custom display cabinetry, sometimes from antique materials. It also strives to install your antiques onboard with sustainable substances.
For further information directly from Onlyacht about its services, fill out our contact form.
Tim Heyward
Excellent idea – I have had several clients wanting traditional interiors that would have preferred genuine pieces – up till now I have not known how to fulfill this – ONLYACHT – we will be in touch!