Irita Marriott: Pioneering Female Auction House Owner
Irita Marriott, originally from Latvia, is now one of the few women in the UK to own an auction house. Her journey from knowing nothing about antiques to becoming a renowned TV expert is showcased in her new programme, The Derbyshire Auction House. The show airs on Really/discovery+ and chronicles her life as a dealer, auctioneer, TV star, and mother.
Irita Marriott, originally from Latvia, had no knowledge of antiques twelve years ago.
Now, she owns one of the few auction houses in the UK run by a woman and stars in a TV programme documenting her journey.
Irita moved to the US as an au pair in her late teens, then to the UK at twenty.
Her interest in antiques began when a relative brought her job lots from an auction.
She began selling and buying antiques, became a huge fan of the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, and eventually landed a role on the show by contacting the executive producer directly.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, she has featured in seven seasons of Antiques Road Trip, four seasons of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and Bargain Hunt.
Her new show, The Derbyshire Auction House, highlights her venture in Melbourne, Derbyshire, where she balances her roles as a dealer, auctioneer, TV expert, and mother.
The show features personal stories and surprising finds, like a £3,300 spoon found in a participant's house.
It airs on Really/discovery+ for ten weeks starting 22 July.