Roberto Navikas -  Italian mother. Lithuanian father. Born in Chicago, brought up on a council estate in Rochdale, artist of sorts - ‘sentiment, humour and love are my subject matter.’ History: scally, artist, odd jobman, artist, antique dealer (on Salvo as ‘The Rub Antique Company’) and now artist, again.
 
Over the past fifteen years Navikas, and long time partner, fellow artist and cat rescuer, Tiffany Dodd, have placed some meticulously researched and artistically under-restored pieces of mainly twentieth-century decorative furniture on SalvoWEB. Did any of the Salvo listings result in sales to famous people?
 
“Famous sales, not quite,” he said, “but two incidents. Tiffany swears blind we had an enquiry from Damien Hirst's agent ten years ago about a massive rosewood table we had advertised on your site. Also, I don't want to divulge their name, but a well known CBE and CEO of a very large company did enquire via Salvo, about a pair of chairs a few months back. I ended up using one as a prop in a fine art photo. I kept the chairs and have just literally sent him a signed photo with the chair in it. Good promotion. Proof that the right people view the site.”
 
“Some good international sales via Salvo over the years. A pair of genuine 70s Angelo Mangiarotti tables, with label, ended up in a very swanky New York apartment.”
 
“Was I a member of the YBA?. No. Old farts club now though. I was too busy at the time failing and starving…”
 
One of The Rub’s Salvo listings (illustrated above and linked below), for a pair of 1940s armchairs, has a typical description which reads: 'There’s more to Danish furniture, and life, than “mid century modern”'
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Pair of 1930s 40s Danish armchairs attributed to Jacob Kjaer. Chair Leather Denmark
Modern Cultural Needs. There’s more to Danish furniture, and life, than “mid century modern”. Take this pair of lovely, warm, lived in, 1930s / 40s armchairs, attributed to Jacob Kjaer. Marvellous. Were still in use when found and a good find for these shores. Ample, weighty and particularly comfortable. Pleasing level of distressing throughout. Original condition with indications of general maintenance and minor running repairs from over the years. Appreciated and as such, fine for use. Fine and subtle detail in both the distinctive arms and hidden chamfer to the back, inner corner of the legs.’
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Back to Navickas’ bio:
 
“And for the third time of asking, I'm returning to my art (to help, or maybe hinder, you'll find my name Roberto Navikas blazoned across the tent of Tracey Emin, LOL. There could be a story or selling point in there somewhere (:-i). Either way, my current work will do the necessary talking).
 
I flopped my Fine Art BA at Maidstone in the mid-80s. I just didn't suit the institutional set up. I'm not a studier of art and don't have my finger on the pulse either, but have always felt unconditional, basic self expression should be given a chance. A general failure, I did however meet one or two interesting people over that period, including Tracey Emin, who happened to be in the next work-space. Bit strange, bit arty, bit curious. Tracey and myself enjoyed getting to know each other for a spell.. long enough for my name to appear on a national work of art.
 
I found my way to London thereafter, to discover the world of antique furniture, finding a job recreating classical designs on reproduction satinwood furniture. When laid off, I quite genuinely became the starving artist for a year or so, before succumbing to a driving job. Food in my belly, no debt, beer on the weekend, I enjoyed the job and got to know London like the back of my hand. Self-employment beckoning, I used the driving job to tout my new brainchild ‘Seraphim Desires’ a business offering restoration of painted antique satinwood furniture.
 
Officially up and running by 1990, my now life partner of thirty-two years came on board, giving up her job as a graphic designer. She had the vision too. A couple of quick crash courses in French polishing, deep in the East Sussex countryside, saw Tiffany re-invent herself as the restoration department.
 
With an architect father and entrepreneurial mother, unlike me, Tiffany is bright, swotty, handed in her essays, has a BA and was middle to upper. Bringing a more detailed, legitimate edge to the business, along with a dealing, rather than service mentality.
 
Twelve years in London, couple of years in the leafy home counties, including another disastrous spell in Kent? Then off to Australia dealing whilst living the experience. An education, it was fun buzzing between Sydney and Brisbane peddling. Being so detached from art and England, I wasn't aware of Tracey Emin's success. Only finding out about the tent and its destruction in the Saatchi fire, at the same time in 2004 when my cousin sent a copy of the Daily Mail. My name top front and centre of both!?
 
Returning to England in 2006.. to create ‘The Rub Antique Company’. The name sounding "happening" at the time. We enjoyed the varied market, but always wanting to be creative, a couple of years ago and in my late fifties, I cracked. Art. Do it now, quick.. Tracey Emin had presented a gift horse. I then had a flash of inspiration for my first work in decades.. ‘The Lost C of Emin: A  reliquary’ - A work which instantly took on a sombre poignancy, as whilst working on it, the news of Tracey Emin's near death fight with cancer broke. Initially, it was intended as a light hearted nod to her accomplishments but became so much more. 
 
My work, is mixed hands-on media, with a strong photographic backbone. No photographic background, I chose photography to venture into something uncharted. Then print in C-type as it's more traditional and I'm sentimental. I create compositions which often include antique/vintage furniture and oddments.. 30s lino, 50s wallpaper,  Italian, gilt on solid sand cast brass, side table with verre eglomise glass top, for instance. Taking months to compile,  I hope to display the furniture alongside the artwork. 
 
Tiffany and myself still work as a team. She sharpens, tidies and re-presents my work (whilst occasionally popping out to rescue and rehabilitate poor, down on their luck, street cats from the run-down neighbourhoods of Manchester. A project she plans to fully promote soon. Find her on  Instagram: @Rescuecatsmanchester 
 
Currently, we are holed up in a terraced house south of Manchester, juggling thirteen works. All in various states of completion, I've decided to document them all now, as they are, on a computer pen and linked cloud to begin promoting. I'm out.
 
I learnt first time round, when wandering the art galleries of London with folio and broad, Rochdalian accent, getting someone to pause and look, was near impossible. Often treated with suspicion, they were always quick to guide me back to the door I'd just entered? It takes time and this time, calmer more considered, I'd like some fun too.”