Our History

With over 160 years of history, Phillips is justly proud of its past. The shop has been located in its present location in Waterloo Mansions since the early 1920s. Since then, Phillips has been run by four successive generations of the Issa family. Over the years the firm has been fortunate to build long-standing relationships with collectors both private and institutional, museums and academics. 

The store is currently run by Farooq Issa and his sister Muneera Daya. Farooq who joined the family business in 1984 grew up surrounded by art and antiques which helped train his impeccable eye. His discerning taste is evident when looking at the meticulously curated store. He responsibly sources rare and unusual objects with a simple mantra in mind, “To deal only in objects that are good enough to keep in my own home.”

Read more about our 160-year-old history here.