The festive season at art and antiques dealer Ambrice Miller’s Suffolk home is firmly focused on family, heritage, establishing new traditions and making the most of her personal collections
FEATURE ALICE ROBERTON PHOTOGRAPHS TAMSYN MORGANS STYLING ALICE ROBERTON & TAMSYN MORGANS
There is something special about using antiques when decorating for Christmas,’ says antiques dealer Ambrice Miller, arranging some spruce in a large ginger jar on the hall table. ‘Perhaps it’s because they remind me to think about my own history,’ she adds. Ambrice, who is American, was introduced to art and antiques at a young age by her parents, who enrolled her in the Alabama School of Fine Arts at 11, after which she studied at North Carolina’s liberal arts institution, Davidson College. ‘My parents’ influence meant I became a collector,’ she says. ‘I have fond memories of following them around estate sales and thrift shops.’
After moving to London in 2010, Ambrice continued to collect. Initially buying works of art and small antiques in order to decorate her diminutive flat, she turned her passion into a business and launched Relic Interiors in 2020. The ethos is simple, she explains: ‘No matter the budget, one should be able to own beautiful pieces to create an interior space that is an elegant reflection of one’s tastes and interests.’ Her stock is a mix of art and decorative treasures that range from classical to kitsch, and her home in Suffolk, which she shares with husband Ben Joyce, is a lesson in how to put it all together.
The couple bought the house six years ago, needing a larger space for Ambrice’s business, and an interesting DIY project for Ben. Formerly owned by The Truman Brewery and used as the malt master’s residence, parts of the building date back to 1650, and it ticked all the boxes in terms of size and potential. ‘The character and scale felt perfect,’ explains Ambrice. ‘We love how its story has evolved over the years and it’s been a real privilege to add our own narrative.’
Whether buying for business or pleasure, Ambrice can be found scouring auctions, house clearances, antiques fairs and flea markets, forever treasure hunting. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever travelled somewhere without researching and visiting the local antiques shops, brocantes and markets,’ she says. And the spoils of these trips fill her home, from portraits, side tables, armchairs and cabinets, to the vast collection of ginger jars that fill every room. ‘Ginger jars do a wonder
