About Bleasdales

Bleasdales Ltd was founded in 2009 as a specialist in Sewing Antiques by director, Robert Bleasdale, following decades of experience working with fine art and antiques sector.

Robert is a qualified member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has been a Director and Senior Board Member of both Phillips and Bonhams auctioneers.

Robert Bleasdale is a passionate exponent of antique sewing collectables and a highly experienced and knowledgeable specialist. As Group Managing Director of Bonhams, he was instrumental in founding and then expanding their specialist sewing sales held at the company’s Knowle salerooms in the West Midlands.

In 2009 Robert Bleasdale set up an independent business, Bleasdales Ltd, which has successfully specialised in selling antique sewing tools, boxes and other related items. The auction sales he established ran for 17 years and have proved hugely popular with collectors from across the globe - regularly achieving selling rates in excess of 90%, as well as world-record prices for individual items.

Under Robert’s guidance Bleasdales expanded its sales programme to include desirable Mauchline and Souvenir Ware, Textiles, costumes and objets virtue dating from the 18th century onwards.

Our final auction sale took place in June 2026. From Autumn 2026 Bleasdales Ltd moved from auction sales to selling private collections and rare sewing tools via online catalogues issued twice a year. Each item is listed with photographs, descriptions and a fixed price.