Little Fish Are Sweet!

My Antique Buying Adventure

2012-01-23T16:34:00.000+10:00

Happy new year! A very belated one...

I must apologise once again for the lack of entry of late, however I've been scouting Europe to find goodies to bring home, and if I'm honest, I've been distracted by the rows of pain au chocolat.

I saw and bought so many beautiful things it really is difficult to do justice to it in a few words, so I've taken a few photos to give you a little snapshot of the trip.

French Antique Bombe Commode

I especially loved these two pieces. One for its beauty and name, the other for its subject. The above is described as a very fine quality late 19th century french Louis XV bombe commode with the most exquisitely detailed ormolu (gilded bronze) mounts and radiating sunburst veneers. And...if you look closely, you can see these radiating out from the centre of the commode like the rays of a sun.

View detailed images or enquire.

Pair French Art Deco Figures

I need hardly explain why I feel in love with this little pair of French Art Deco ormolu girls, off to bed...

View detailed images or enquire.

Following is just a number rooms that I fell in love with in various places that I went, all of which has incorporated some form of antique, whether it be furniture, textile or art.

Well maybe not this one but it was cute.

We ended our adventure in Paris, and unwittingly stumbled into an antique exhibition running at the Louvre. It was quite simply breathtaking. One of the vendors had on display the piano below. I'm ashamed to say that the only French I can speak is 'C'est Combien' so unfortunately my vocabulary did not extend so far as to be able to read the description. But a piece like this can't really be described anyway, so what better way to capture it than a few photos. Enjoy!

The ladies that offered to jump into my suitcase before the plane took off, you can at the very least rest easy knowing that while the antiques and rooms were beautiful, the weather was grey and wet...just for a change.

Beautiful Rooms

2011-11-29T15:33:00.000+10:00

While leafing through two of my favourite books, 'French Style at Home' by Sebastien Siraudeau and 'Elements of Style' by Michael S. Smith I came upon these four beautiful rooms, which I think have incorporated antique pieces in a most interesting and beautiful way. I particularly love the way a sophisticated French Louis XVI sofa has been teamed with a really contemporary fluorescent yellow cut velvet contrasting a very old and worn bench seat.

Don't Believe The Hype - High Quality Antiques Are Not a Dime a Dozen

2011-11-16T11:59:00.000+10:00

In the event of severe chest pain, do you self diagnose the problem, or seek advice from a specialist?

There’s a lot of hype around the place suggesting that quality antiques are a dime a dozen. Much as we love the program, unless you know otherwise, the Antiques Roadshow of the world would have you believe there's a goldmine waiting around every antique corner.

In reality, the opposite is the case. The world is full of mediocrity, and with every passing year, because of the limited supply, good quality antiques become scarcer, and this trend is likely to intensify as the world becomes wealthier.

Chinese buyers are now very much in evidence in Europe, buying back their own Asian antiques, however they also appear to be developing a taste for high quality European items as well. Which brings us to an interesting question.

In the event of having a serious legal problem, do you represent yourself in court? Do you manufacture your own air-conditioning system and do you service your own motorcar?
If the answer to these questions in general, is no, then we would ask, why is it that so many individuals take it upon themselves to decide that a piece of antique furniture is either one, authentic and two, of good quality or not. Having done so, why is it they then proceed to hand over large sums of money to purchase from little known websites and auction sources, which provide no written authentication or proof of expertise?

As dealers in antiques over four decades, we at Wallrocks find it is distressing to observe the problems that are foisted on an unsuspecting public. It’s now a regular weekly question from internet bargain 'experts', ‘How come your Louis XV chair is $3000 when we saw one on ebay for $700?
The answer to this question, quite simply is of course, that the chair for $700 is not the same as the chair for $3000. And… in the unlikely event that it is then buy it. The point being, unless you're trained in the area, how do you know? It takes some expertise and experience to tell the difference.

Wallrocks have been at considerable pains and expense on our website to provide a magnifying or zoom facility so that people really can look at detail. DETAIL IS EVERYTHING. Well-executed, beautiful detail is very expensive to produce and is rarely if ever seen in replica reproduction or fake furniture.

We hear every day that in this changing world of online buying, that the retailer is no longer necessary. The implication being that the Internet somehow makes everyone an expert in every field, and the need for qualified expert intermediaries is therefore no longer necessary.
One might only imagine what might happen if members of the public were to opt to start performing open heart surgery on themselves after reading a step by step guide online. The result is the same with self-diagnosis of antiques.

If anything, the advent of the Internet and Internet buying makes experienced and trustworthy individuals and businesses more important than ever. This applies across all specialties and is particularly relevant where significant sums of money change hands.
The Internet is convenient, quick and everyone’s doing it. So what do you do? We believe it can still be done, but there are a few rules of thumb you might want to take into consideration prior to purchase online, in auction rooms or in-store.

Read on for our safeguards to help when buying antiques.

What is Luxury...Really?

2011-11-10T17:24:00.001+10:00

One of my favourite monthly reads is 'The World of Interiors' mag. The latest September edition had an article on various interior and design books, one of them called Paris: Life & Luxury in the 18th Century.

I'm going out to buy it today. There was a wonderful line that resonated with me and really made me think, in the 21st century, where everything is about immediacy, speed and instant gratification, do we really even know what the word luxury means?

Both the book and article go on to say, that 'for today's consumer, 'luxury' is a marketing tag applied to loo roll and icecream than ormolu and silk moire. It demands nothing of us bar the willingness to pay more, and few of us pause to marvel at the dexterity of the loo-paper-maker.'

Never a truer word said in my opinion, and the article then laments, 'how different things were 300 years ago, then the central goal of cultivated sociability was to be aesthetically and socially gratifying to others.' And, never was there a more poignant demonstration of this that during the reign of Louis XV.

So, I thought what better way to exemplify this than show a few photos of some of the more exceptional pieces that we have, antiques with a quality that simply does not come along every day. And if you don't buy the book, at the very least read the article. Simply wonderful!

If There Was No Tomorrow

2011-10-07T14:52:00.001+10:00

No doubt many of you have already seen this, but for those that have not I felt compelled to share it. Life changes forever in a moment and when this landed on my desk this morning, it gave me goosebumps. If everyday we thought it was the last day we were going to see someone, oh how different everything would be...

'Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.'

(Steve Jobs, 1955 -- 2011)

On a different note, here's a few of my favourites for the week. Have a wonderful weekend!

New Shipment Just Arrived

2011-10-01T19:07:00.000+10:00

Another exhausting, (and distressing) day of house hunting has finally ended with a cuppa tea and a bickie, and a mosy through our beautiful new arrivals in an attempt to calm my nerves to be perfectly honest. Whoever said retail therapy was not a cure for all things, quite frankly had no idea what they were talking about!

So while I'm pretty sure that I have missed out on my dream home, BY A MARGIN OF A WEEK, at least tonight I can console myself with designing my 'one day to be' home and cramming it with everything that I love. So I hope you enjoy the following, while I go and drown my housing sorrows with what I hope will be a very nice glass of wine!

Enquire: Rare and oh so beautiful 19th century Italian hand painted bombe chest.

Enquire: Beautiful 19th century French Louis XVI Queen Bed

Enquire: 19th century coffee table anyone?

19th Century Louis XV Parcel Gilt Armchair w/ Original Tapestry.

The tapestry on this piece is so fine, it could be an oil painting.

Suitcase Full of Goodies

2011-09-13T21:48:00.002+10:00

So every time I go overseas to buy, I find myself staring longingly at two particular pieces that much to my distress, I have never been able to buy. So this last time, in full anticipation of the usual astronomical price tag, I asked the price, in the full knowledge I was wasting my time.

Well, to say that I was in raptures and struggling to contain myself when I was able to buy it would be an understatement! But yes, I was able to pack these two long lost little lovelies in my suitcase...finally.

This first piece is a beautiful 19th century Japanese cloisonne charger.

Cloisonne is the ancient art of decorating metalwork. The design is created by adhering strips of silver, gold wire to the base metal, which works to separate and compartmentalise the enamel or inlay colours.

Japanese cloisonne originated during the Edo period in the 17th century, (1603 - 1867), a period in which Japan was closed to the rest of the world and avoided invasion and as such experienced a period of marked development and culture.

Ahhhh and look at the result!

See more like this!

And last but not least, this super quality 19th century tall hand painted glass vase.

19th Century Sevres!

2011-09-04T19:46:00.002+10:00

We found the most astonishingly beautiful pair of 19th century French Sevres vases that I've ever seen. Absolute stunners!

To enquire simply click here on Sevres Porcelain and enquire.

Everything Comes From Something

2011-08-24T15:37:00.005+10:00

So I just heard this story, and geek as I may be, I found it quite fascinating. Enjoy!

Just as the economic and military situations influence and to a large extent dictate the way of life in most countries today, so they did in past centuries. The French Napoleonic era, (best known as the French Empire), and the English Regency period both spanned the first quarter of the 19th century. The approaches to the English channel, have always been strategically important to France, England and Spain, as they that control the channel, control the ports. The blockade during this time, resulted in a complete in the style and fashions of the furniture.

During the 18th century, fine quality timbers were imported into Europe from South America and the British, Spanish and French West Indies for the use in high quality, elaborate furniture, typical of the Louis XV and XVI periods. Access to these materials was forced to a grinding halt during the Napoleonic period, specifically the first 20-25 years of the 19th century, as the English channel was blockaded and the once profligate luxury timbers were now in short supply.

The cabinet makers sought and found a readily accessible alternative for inlays in brass, available in England and Europe and is a typical feature of Empire furniture. At the same time, income tax was rising and as a result, much of the embellishment and carving disappeared from furniture and was replaced by the straighter lines and austerity, typical of Empire and Regency furniture.

Why I love buying in summer!

2011-08-13T16:45:00.005+10:00

...and how a garden looks without possums.

This particular day I bought antiques amongst the flowers, and two of the prettiest pieces were this original 19th century drum and...

This equally beautiful 19th century chest with its original paint.

If you'd like to be notified when the new shipment arrives in, just click here on antiques!

2011-08-11T18:00:00.003+10:00

This year has been an eventful one so far for a myriad of reasons; our latest buying trip was no exception. We made a wonderful discovery … well lots really, but one in particular!

It’s not always easy seeing wonderful suites or pairs of antiques split up, especially when they’ve made it to 2011 without having been separated. Sometimes it can’t be helped.

You might remember the wonderful Italian hand painted bed that we found on the last trip OS. We managed to grab the little matching chair but unfortunately missed out on the even more gorgeous matching blue commode with equally beautiful painted scenes on its top and sides. Another dealer had seen it first.

While perusing our way through Europe, something caught the corner of my eye, something that looked very familiar. Low and behold it was the matching commode crying out to us to be reunited with its long lost matching bed. We obliged… and here it is about to arrive into Australia in 3 weeks time!

One of my other favourites is this beautiful old bronze sun dial.
Enquire

It even has a little bronze snail crawling up the leg!

Enquire

Something Very Old & Very Beautiful

2011-06-03T11:25:00.004+10:00

Something very old and beautiful floated past me this morning.

Back to School

2011-05-29T11:24:00.010+10:00

At the tender age of 15, when of course there was nothing that I did not know and everything that my parents didn't, I can still remember my mother imploring me tearfully to study history in my final two years at high school. 'You'll regret it for the rest of your life Jessica!'

Many years later, those words are still ringing in my ears... well smashing around actually to be honest, and I have regretted it, long before embarking on a career in antiques. Of course I'm feeling it more acutely now that history has become paramount to my everyday working life. After all, if you don't understand where you have come from, then how do you know where you are going?

So, in my quest to re-educate myself, I have stepped onto the travelator of time and history. Fortunately for me my partners lovely mum is an encyclopedia of historical fact, and has been only too happy to pass on some of that knowledge to me with a suggestion that I try a particular trilogy. If you're a bit of a history buff, like something well written and are fascinated by the intrigues of 18th century France and England then Karleen Koen's trilogy is absolutely riveting. The three books, 'Through a Glass Darkly', 'Now Face to Face' and 'Dark Angels' are all of this and more.

A fictional novel, based around historical fact and set in 18th century England and France, when George I, and James III both claimed the right to wear the crown. The description was wonderful and the best part for me was being able to give real context to the antiques of that period, some of which are sitting right in front of me centuries later, all with their own individual history, some which is known but most of it hidden in their grain forever.

Be warned though, they're not that easy to track down. I was given the first book, loved it so much I turned the second hand bookshops upside down for the other two. Really worth a read!

Glorious Goodies

2011-05-06T14:52:00.008+10:00

Oh frantically busy, but no excuse, I'm breaking all the blogging rules... and not blogging at all. Long weekends, while wonderful at the time, (except that I woke up Saturday and the possums had devoured ALL my roses!) have also meant some very hectic weeks for myself and everyone I know, however perhaps I protesteth too much!

Today is a great day. I've been waiting an eternity to find one of these and had virtually given up hope of ever finding one. It's a gorgeous Louis XV day bed with the most beautiful curves. There are quite a few poor versions of this around, but this one here's a beauty so I'm rather chuffed. I'm even in raptures over the velvet, which is usually not my thing but the old faded colour against the gilt is just stunning. I've also happened upon a rather beautiful pair of highly carved 19th century French mirrors - an original pair being a very tricky find.

Click to View French Antique Day Bed!

So lovely finishing the week basking in glorious goodies!

What a difference a day makes

2011-04-07T11:35:00.004+10:00

Ah...Life is so much more pleasant without baby poo yellow clouding your vision!

Click here to see a bigger image of this beautiful French Louis Armchair,

all dressed up in a new frock of white damask.

Waving Goodbye Yet Again!

2011-03-28T13:06:00.005+10:00

How nice that my feet have finally hit the floor after a week of travel, and in perfect time to see this gorgeous thing go out. It's a beautiful 19th century French Louis XV day bed, and finding original 19th century ones is hard. We recently had it re-upholstered for a client in this stunning silvery grey velvet, and individually studded with the back and sides done in a beautiful pink, green and silver velvet. Ah I'm in love, and once again sadly waving goodbye. There is a similar

beautiful French Louis XV chaise that has just come in from France though, so it's not all bad news!

Voila!

2011-03-03T08:28:00.005+10:00

Exceptional and really rare large 19th century circular burr walnut centre table inlaid in flowers, leaves, scrolls and other beautiful motifs. Just restored! Click to view larger image or enquire!

Just The Way It Is

2011-02-24T14:43:00.008+10:00

How often I flick through a magazine and love a room that's been featured, but wish I could get in there and change three or four things in it, generally to give it a bit more character. Not this time. These two houses below were featured in the Feb/March 2011 issue of Belle Magazine and I'm in love! The perfect combination of antique furniture and architecture with modern design concepts and colours.

These spaces are simply to die for, and so are the antiques. I love that they've used this beautiful settee especially and it reminds me a lot of one that I bought in France on my last buying trip (see below). It's a 19th century Charles X day bed. Mine needs a little TLC and some new fabric.
Click here to view a larger image.

This Paris apartment also featured in Belle below blew me away. The way that they've pulled really contemporary elements and colour in with beautiful traditional space and the most stunning French commodes and centre table.

Check out the pair of French Empire Commodes!

Of Shoes - and Ships - and Sealing Wax

2011-02-17T09:36:00.012+10:00

While most people would not freely admit to this, I'm quite happy to declare to the world that Pride & Prejudice, (the BBC version and no other) is without a shadow of a doubt my all time favourite movie. So beloved in fact, that many a weekend is spent parked on the couch at home in front of it. I forced my poor long suffering boyfriend to watch it last weekend for the 6578th time, and drove him mad while I pre-empted every line, true Bridget Jones style. (Although I suspect he secretly felt the urge to recite lines at the television screen as well, he just didn't want to tell me.)

Any other Jane Austen diehards like myself out there will be familiar with my favourite scene where Darcy writes his most amazing letter to Elizabeth and seals the envelope with sealing wax. Since I first saw that I have ALWAYS wanted to do that. AND NOW I CAN!!! In one of the antiques that arrived in the new container, we discovered a beautiful Art Nouveau box of perfumed sealing wax and a box of 1920's Italian playing cards. So, if you receive mail from me, expect it old world style, sealed and smelling spectacular!

New Shipment

2011-02-11T17:13:00.014+10:00

Well, another week and a little bit more chaos! No sooner have we recovered from the flood than the new shipment is knocking on our front door! And... except for the fact that I can't see the person next to me for the amount of furniture that's in here, it's all rather exciting. Due to the floods, none of the new stock will go on the website for 3-4 weeks so I've decided to feature a little bit here. Enquire

It's been yet another educational afternoon, as I've realised that I've turned my nose up at something I shouldn't have in favor of something else. This table below, which is a superior quality dining/centre table with beautiful hand done inlays is a stunner, but you wouldn't have known it. Our restorer Lyndon took to it with methylated spirits and steel wool this afternoon and this was the result. I couldn't help but notice my father trying not to laugh as he watched my face fall. Underneath was this. You could barely see the detail on the left side and what you see on the bottom side is purely a result of cleaning.

So it is with tail between legs that I leave work this afternoon. It won't last long though...

On Monday I get to look at the beautiful girl up the top all day!

A HUGE THANK YOU!

2011-02-01T12:48:00.006+10:00

So this week is the first time I've been able to throw down my broom and spade and it feels oh so good! The floods - what a start to the year! The photo above is our business about half an hour before the biggest king tide peaked in Brisbane, and we had just finished sandbagging with the help of so many amazing people who wandered in off the street armed with spades, buckets, gurneys, brooms and offered their help to us. To all of those people, many of whom formed a human sandbagging chain to help out, Wallrocks want to say a HUGE THANK YOU!!! The floods brought out a wonderful side of human nature, and on the scale that it was, one you probably only see once in a lifetime. Without your help our business would not have faired so well. The day before the floods hit, we were warned by the council that we were likely to flood and fortunately got all our stock 4m up from ground level. If you've ever moved house, triple this by 100 and that was what this day was like. It was so fortunate that we erred on the side of caution, because despite our best efforts to stem the tide, (by cutting down one of our internal walls and using it as a barricade at the front of the shop), the people who built our building originally in their wisdom added an internal storm water drain, which not surprisingly backed up when the river overflowed.

Suffice to say, we had water through our showroom. However we really can't complain, compared to many others we were incredibly fortunate as all our stock was safe. It's now just the long process of rebuilding walls and bringing stock back downstairs.

To all our clients and friends who suffered in the floods our hearts are with you.

Snowed In

2010-12-23T10:23:00.007+10:00

Anyone who thinks being an antique dealer is an easy or glamorous job might want to stop and think again. Whenever I tell people we're going away to buy, they respond with groans and 'can I get in your suitcase?' This is the UK in the final days of Wallrocks buying trip and this is the driveway in which the container had to be packed. It might look like the white Christmas you've always wanted but it's an antique dealer's worst nightmare. Not only does winter buying mean traipsing warehouses that are several million degrees colder than the negative temperatures outside them, but this particular trip the container could not get in until the entire driveway had been shovelled clear ... by hand.

Under this blue tarp, sits what will be our new arrivals next year. Not only were we unsure that Nick would even get home on a plane as a result of London's brilliant cold weather runway preparation, but the likelihood of the container being packed and leaving the dock seemed dubious as well.

Fortunately the container was packed, and Nick somehow avoided sleeping in a Heathrow corridor!

Here is a sneaky peak of a couple of stunners that are arriving back in the next container. Hope you enjoy and have a very happy Christmas and New Year!

This is an unbelievable 1920's French Art Deco king size bed with shaped panels of radiating Flame Mahogany, crested with carved shells. Just look at the detail! Enquire about this antique bed

This is a really beautiful 19th century, circa 1880 Italian painted queen size bed with its beautiful original painted provincial Italian scenes. The panels have been bordered with entwined gilded leaves.

Enquire about this antique bed.

Nothing a dust and a polish won't fix!

2010-12-16T11:25:00.018+10:00

I'm all excited today because I've been re-organising the showroom and while I was shifting things around I found these stunning 19th century French leadlight doors hiding behind a wardrobe - I had totally forgotten that they were there!

View a larger image of these French antique doors. We've been drowning in restoration in the lead up to Christmas which as you all know I love. It's like Christmas itself for me, I love seeing things come out of restoration. These are a few of the things that have just come out recently...

Click here to view a larger image of this 19th Century Eastern European Bench
This bench was only cleaned, no new paint was re-applied to the piece, but it completely changed colour and all of a sudden we realised there was this beautiful original pattern underneath!

View a larger image of this 19th Century Eastern European Bench Seat

This is a very high quality 19th century English display cabinet. Nothing to look at before restoration, but look what was underneath!

Amazing what a bit of a clean can do!

View a larger image - 19th Century English Antique Display Cabinet

Tiles and Tiles

2010-12-03T12:23:00.004+10:00

Flicking through all my old OS photos this morning and came across some gorgeous modern and also 18th century spanish and portugese tiles that I saw and loved when I was there. Enjoy!!!

Don't be fooled - Is it an armoire or a bookcase?

2010-11-26T08:51:00.021+10:00

Increasingly there has been a trend over the last 20 years toward built-in wardrobes, cupboards, kitchens etc because of their size and convenience.

However people are now realising that while it may be convenient it is actually extremely expensive for questionable quality, and when they come to sell their property they cannot take the built-in with them and it becomes valueless. In their place, many people are tending back toward antique armoires, bookcases and cabinets which are often no more expensive than a built-in but are often vastly superior in quality and appearance. Best of all - you can take it with you from one property to another instead of giving it away to somebody you don't even know!

So what are the differences between armoires and bookcases and why is it important to know?

Two major differences, one is the depth and two is the value. The latter being the major reason you need to know. Bookcases are invariably considerably shallower than armoires, but also much more expensive than their equivalent armoires. Some dealers find that their is a financial advantage in buying an armoire, narrowing it down and selling it as a bookcase - potentially increasing its value.

This does happen in England and Europe, and so it's vital when buying a bookcase to seek written assurance from the dealer that it did in fact start out life as a bookcase rather than an armoire.

This is not to say that buying a converted armoire is a bad thing. For some who can't afford a bookcase this is possibly a good solution. Just make sure that the dealer tells you it started out life as an armoire and has priced it accordingly.

The beautiful 'bookcase' above on the left is actually an armoire that Wallrocks have converted. However the piece is sold as an armoire/bookcase. It has not been narrowed, and therefore stucturally it has not been altered and therefore it's authenticity jeopardised. The silver from the glass has simply been stripped to become transperant like a bookcase. Were the buyer to want an armoire, all they have to do is replace the silver for the mirror.

'Antiques'

2010-11-19T14:02:00.007+10:00

So I talk a lot about being wary of fakes, and I blabber on a lot about how careful you need to be and how they're becoming more and more prevalent. We were walking through Europe a few weeks back and stumbled upon this little shop in the 'antique' precinct. I walked in and the gentleman below was in the process of creating some 'distressed antiques'.
In this scenario it was fine because it was quite clear that what he was selling on his walls, he was also making right in front of you. However it's where these pieces end up and who buys them that is perhaps a little more concerning. I don't mean retail buyers I mean dealers, as these are the types of things that tend to end up sitting on the 'antiques for sale' tables at some of the French fairs.

Lack of quality aside, for the untrained eye this piece below could easily be mistaken by many for being very old. When I peered at it more closely it had actually been made to look as if borer (worm) had been eating at it for a long time - it was covered in tiny little holes identical to the marks that borer activity will leave.

Not a great quality image but if you have good eyesight you'll see hundreds of tiny little holes. Scary - it had only been made the day before.

My Moorish Armoire

2010-11-12T15:20:00.020+10:00

I made a discovery the other day!
On my last trip overseas to buy, I found the most incredible armoire (wardrobe), I have ever seen. I love textured things in all their many shapes and forms, but I particularly love beautiful, old, rough, natural textures.

This armoire that I found hideen in the back of an old barn, behind an enormous stuffed deer's head was a one off and I still fantasize about the enormous 18th century kitchen I'm going to build with this as a feature ... that is if as usual it doesn't sell before I build my house. Dream on Jess.

This is my big fat beautiful wardrobe love.

(View a larger image!)

For the 'Spanish design virgin' that I was I thought little more of it than how unusual (and how I would kill to have it). When I visited the Alhambra recently however, I was struck (as any sane person would be) with the gorgeous detail of the Moorish carvings throughout, and a little voice kept creeping into my head telling me that I had seen this sort of thing before. The motifs looked so familiar.

Of course my first day back in the showroom after my holiday, as I sat staring longingly at my beautiful wardrobe that I can't fit in my house, it dawned on me. Surely that's Moorish influence that I'm so enamoured with that I can see carved all over the front doors and side panels.

Happy weekend!!!

More beautiful old things

2010-11-02T09:42:00.014+10:00

This was an 18th century house converted to a hotel called Lawrences we stayed in, in Sintra Portugal. The inside was so pretty I had to take some photos! www.lawrenceshotel.com

For me Spain probably has the most beautiful castles and palaces because they don't have the stiff and stuffy feel of the English and French palaces. They're all about beautiful gardens and fountains and tiles, and importantly they have stunning antique pieces, particularly amazing antique lights above.

We stumbled on this dilapidated old palace on the edge of Ronda. It was so exciting because unlike all the other perfectly maintained ones that you see around Europe, this one was falling to pieces but everywhere you looked there was a little reminder of what it once might have been. The paint was peeling, vines grew up the walls and inner staircase. Birds were nesting in the ceiling.

Serendipity

2010-10-28T10:47:00.008+10:00

I bought this one!

Years ago I lived in London with my gorgeous friend Emma. One day I got fed up with icicles on my window, the tube, and the entire packets of chocolate hob knobs I was consuming were making me fat, so I packed my things and departed for several months around South America. I couldn't fit everything in my bags, so the bits and pieces I used to construct some rather weird jewellery I donated to my lovely flatmate.

I knew she was creative but who would have known that five years later she would switch on her entrepreneur bunny brain, and open her own online jewellery store! Still in it's really early stages, I have just been having a sticky beak - very cutesie!

www.boutiqueserendipity.co.uk

Just because they were old, beautiful or both...

2010-10-22T13:55:00.027+10:00

So, if there is anyone still out there, I have to make a huge apology for being so unbelievably slack with updating this blog! I do have an excuse though, for the final week of my trip in Spain we got caught in a boat in 45 knot gale force winds, torrential rains and some rather large seas. So, in my attempt to avoid dying and killing the rest of my crew, I have to confess that blogging did in fact take a back seat. Suffice to say that my sailing skills are a lot better now than they were before I left. If this is not a good enough excuse for some of you, then perhaps you can relate to the enormous food stupor known to arise from copious quantities of Iberico ham, cheese and wine - well I've heard it interferes with typing as well. I was hit with this affliction. (I know that the gentleman at the antique fair is shaking his head in disgust at me right now - I'm sorry I don't know your name but please forgive me!)

So... while I wasn't typing I was thinking of you so did a little photo journal of all the beautiful old things that I saw. Most of them are antique in some way and range across many different centuries. It was lucky I didn't have a crow bar with me as I think Damien would have had to hold me back from dismantling some of things I saw and packing them in my bags. More photos to follow over the next few days. Enjoy!

This is a gorgeous 19th Century English Gainsborough Armchair - for those that don't know, Gainsborough is a 18th century Georgian design and

the genuine ones are very valuable.

A very beautiful traditional English drawing room that I went into while I was over there - it was full of lovely antiques this room and every corner you looked there was something else that I wanted... How about this for a lovely pair of Irish satinwood inlaid bookcases with secretaires.

Set of 8 19th Century exterior brass and glass lanterns. I bought these thinking they would be be amazing as pairs either side of a front door, across a balcony or down a hallway.

19th Century French butchers block which are still used widely in France in the butchers shops. I think would look cute as some form of occasional or side table or in a kitchen. Sitting on top is a 19th century butter churn.

Some beautiful peeling 18th century paint - I'm weird I know...

A very old mill stone, used over many centuries for crushing grain to mill flour. Grain was fed into the stone trench, a horse was harnessed to the outer end of the axle and led around in a circle to pull the wheel and crush the grain. I couldn't fit this one in the container!

A large pair of pierced brass 19th century spoons with long handles probably used for skimming vats, barrells. Nowadays they look beautiful as decorative pieces on a wall.

17th Century Spanish Armada Chest with its original key...look inside below and you can see the beautifully decorative but very complex locking mechanism. These were used as safes and modelled on the concept of pirates treasure chests.

Locking mechanism inside the Armada Chest...

A beautifully sculpted 19th Century French Art Nouveau bronze bust, signed and stamped with the Paris Foundry mark. I had to buy this one, couldn't help myself.

Doors from the Alhambra... amazing! Looks like they were designed to keep someone out.

2010-09-09T15:33:00.025+10:00

A very lovely lady I know came into our shop the other day and told me she's been following my blog, but asked if I would please post some examples of antiques before and after restoration so that she could see what they looked like. Interestingly there's a really important thing antique buyers need to remember when buying and one that I'm still trying to get my head around and that's the massive affect that dirt has on the look of a piece.

(This is a table we recently restored)

I know there'll be some of you rolling your eyes right now. How obvious yes? Well it's not actually. It's really, really easy to mistake an amazing quality piece of furniture for a piece of junk, simply because they're covered in dirt. The black and white striped Louis XV chairs that I blogged about several months ago are a great example. They sat dirty and unnoticed for years until one day we decided to do them up and re-upholster. Next day they walked out the door.

A lot of people think that when they sweep their eyes across the room that they're seeing everything that's there. In fact they're probably not even seeing a quarter of it and I include myself in this. One of the MANY lessons I have learned from my father on buying trips is to enter the room, pick a wall and start on the wall, and there's been hell to pay if I don't.

Look at every single thing on that wall, do not be distracted by something shiny in the next aisle, keep focused. I of course thought he was being a massive pain in the behind until now when I'm in friendly competition with him to find stock. If I'm not concentrating on what's in front of me it, or should I say he (or another dealer) can cost me several thousand dollars. The same is the case for people coming into our shop. How many times do people walk in and say, 'oh I've never seen that before I love that - is it new'. It's been sitting there for 6 months!

Anyway, one of those mistakes happened recently when I let 200 years of dirt blind me to what was in front of me. The following is a very high quality piece with amazing detail and a beautiful antique. (Whether it's your taste or not.) I walked straight past this piece, didn't look twice and believed that what I saw was what it was. I saw it disassembled out the back of the shop with my father's head bent over it - and I as usual wondered why he was bothering with the thing. Well as seems to be commonly the case at the moment I swallowed my words. Under 200 years of dirt was this.

Bit of a difference?

Below are a several antiques that we have restored recently. You can view any of them on the website by clicking on them, but to get an idea of what can lie under centuries of rubbish, take a look at these!

Before...

After...

Before... A Pair of 19th Century French Side Tables

After...

Before.... A Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs

After...

Before... 5 19th Century Coach Lamps

After...

Deux Belettes

2010-08-27T13:56:00.013+10:00

If you're like me, and you love all things French and all things old but time and your purse strings won't always extend to an overseas holiday, my partner and I found the most fantastic alternative the other day.

I had, had a particularly hectic couple of months the week before heading overseas for a buying trip and in some desperate need of down time. My partner hunted around for somewhere not too far away that we could do literally nothing for three days, and much to both or surprise he stumbled across the most beautiful little chateau in none other than just outside the very modest town of Alstonville.

A CHATEAU IN ASTONVILLE!!! I laughed my head off when he told me and and was quite concerned about what I was in for. All I could think of was the tacky, oversized, gimmicky period style accommodation that I had seen around Australia previously.

Well long story short I had to eat humble pie for dinner that night when he showed me their website. Gorgeous! And the reality was even better. I love hearing stories of people who have taken a sharp career turn to do something that they're passionate about. The couple who owned 'Deux Belettes Guesthouse' had both worked in both engineering and interior design. Their passion though was France and antiques, and they decided to make it an everyday reality for themselves, and built Deux Belettes themselves over the course of 20 years.

The time they've taken has really paid off as well. You enter the property via a tree lined driveway, and drive through the most beautifully manicured gardens to the chateau. We were greeted with champagne and strawberries by the fire and they gave us a tour of their home which they have opened to the public as a bed and breakfast and wedding venue. And wow what a place for a wedding!!!!!!!!!!

They have not scrimped on anything, the walls look as if they've been there for 1000 years and the rof is moss lined and gorgeous. We stepped into our section of the house, only to be greeted by a warm fire, a beautifully 'Frenchly' decorated room and a big four poster bed.

It didn't stop there either, we arrived back from dinner only to find home made cakes near the fire and a tour of the garden the following morning. The drawing room had been decorated in a formal French Louis style and the kitchen looked like a big cosy French country Farmhouse.

I don't think I have ever seen a home look so antique and French that's actually not. Really worth a visit and you can check out their website at http://www.deuxbelettes.com/

We couldn't resist taking a few photos for the album!

Rooms that Inspire Me

2010-07-31T14:24:00.009+10:00

I get excited when I see interiors that have character and soul, and personally I don't think there's a better way to do this than to mix old and new together. To me a room needs a little bit of history and detail to create this, because after all a home should be a home and not just a display space. I love this room from 'Dream Rooms' by Andreas Von Einsiedel because:

The space has combined really traditional furniture and elements and in a modern way;
The portraits across the wallpaper only enhance it and create a wonderful contrast of styles;
The combination of Louis XV and XVI furniture keeps it interesting;
Colours are gorgeous, soft blues and grey tones that contast with the red, black and just a touch of gold to lift it.

I LOVE this console from Provencal Escapes by Caroline Clifton-Mogg and it reminds me of a beautiful italian painted centre table I have coming back from France. The floor in this photo is incredible - ah if only I had a stone floored French chateau! I love the geometric, olive green floor against the curves of this day chaise. I have an obsession at the moment with big old portraits. The red feather duster just adds a splash of colour and is oh so fitting with the style of the room!

I have been searching for one of the painted Louis XVI marble top tables for ages. My parents have for years had a similar one as their bedside table. Unfortunately they don't look like giving it up any time soon so I will just have to keep on looking.

I just think the combination of old and new in this room has been done so well. It's so clean and crisp, and doesn't have any of the feel of stuffy antiques that so many people seem to think is unavoidable if you introduce antiques into a room. But sure enough, that 'clean' settee is a beautiful antique. (Dream Rooms)

Dream Rooms - Adreas von Einsiedel

The Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Billiard Table

2010-07-31T12:05:00.009+10:00

For me, billiard tables have always conjured up thought of green velvet, legs, green felt and little else, and not being a billiards player they usually left me feeling ... well, rather uninspired. That is until I saw this one at Masterpiece on the Wick Antiques stand! The big tall thing that looks like a door in the background is actually the scorer and behind the door is the cue stand. The table was made by Orme & Sons Ltd in 1887 and was commissioned for Queen Victoria's Jubilee Exhibition in 1887. The concept behind the table was to record the historical succession connecting "the principle links between Her Late Majesty, Queen Victoria, with William the Conqueror, and thus inferentially with Charlemagne from whom William the Conqueror was himself descended: Also by the Panels, in which are allegorised the principle Colonies and Dependencies, to illustrate the wealth, diversity, and breadth, of the British Empire."

The friezes have been decorated with quotations from Shakespeare, Tennyson, Scott, and Byron and portraits of William of Normandy, Henry I, Henry II, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Edward IV, Elizabeth of York, James I and Charles I.

To see more pieces of this quality visit www.wickantiques.co.uk

Masterpiece!

2010-07-27T13:37:00.015+10:00

Oh avid antique lovers, feast your eyes on this!
Masterpiece London is the cream of arts and antique exhibitions and their mission was to hand pick the invitees and provide them only the best of the best. My second last day in the UK and I was fortunate enough to have been given an invitation to attend. June 2010 was the first year Masterpiece has been run, and was designed to showcase the best there is to offer of art and antiques of all periods and styles. My mind was blown from before I even walked in the door, although I didn't quite realise why until too late. If you haven't noticed already the very first image above of the building, is actually a marquee. Of course clever as I am I failed to notice this until inside, and instead stood marvelling at such a lovely brick building. Unfortunately the penny didn't drop inside either, I still thought I was in a building. It wasn't until a dealer started talking about the 'time it had taken to set this tent up', that I started to realise there was something I just wasn't getting. One very nice man obviously saw the dumb confusion on my face and very kindly whispered in my ear and pointed up to the slightly transparant ceiling where a sea of scaffolding could just be made out. Well done Jess.

Strolling around though it was hardly surprising the place was amazing. I really just could not believe it. Never have I seen anything like some of what was in this fair, and whether the pieces are your taste or aren't, at the very least you have to appreciate the them for their age, their quality and their detail. Like Bonhams bed to the left from the Masterpiece catalogue.

The fair featured some of the worlds most famous clock makers, like Tompion, Patek Philippe and Quare.

This was my particular favourite. It was a massive gold clock wheel, and sitting above it was a giant grasshopper, and as the hand swung one way, the grasshopper hopped forward in a continuous circle as if stuck forever chasing his tail.

My fair favourites however was this pair of 18th century North Italian commodes in the manner of Maggiolini. Actually part of my uncle Charlie Wallrock's stand at the fair, they had rectangular tops with three disguised drawers and were inlaid with rosewood, olivewood, sycamore and box in the form of insects, dragonflies, birds and flowers. Imagine them in a room with mirrors above them!
Provenance was Sir Francis-Palmer and then by descent, born 1845 - 1917 was a direct descendant of Rear Admiral Francis Beaufort, the Hydrographer of the Navy who invented the Beaufort scale of wind strength.

These also were a part of his collection and are a pair of early 20th century Japanese porcelain dragon vases, decorated with gaping dragon jaws and bulging eyes rendered in underglaze green, which has been crackled to simulate scales. Gilt and bronze has been utilised to bring out the nostrils and manes. Gorgeous!

Some more favourites of mine belonging to another dealer was this pair of really formal armchairs with such a beautiful shape, but they have covered them in a really informal fabric and I think it just brings them to life and makes them a more interesting piece.

I really could have quite happily photographed the whole exhibition but my camera died, which put a stop to that but I did manage to scan this image out of the catalogue which I thought was pretty amazing. A 19th century circular centre table in amboyna, tulipwood and satinwood marquetry inlays on a tripod base with ivory berries and ormolu mounts.

AND UP CLOSE IT'S EVEN BETTER!

The Secret Garden

2010-07-20T14:13:00.016+10:00

One of my last sunny days in the UK was a trip out to see Martin Scorey, the sculpturer who I've posted about before. It's always one of my favourite stops, because Martin who works from home has transformed his garden into a little paradise in the middle of a city. It's a little bit like The Secret Garden, from the outside you'd never guess what lies behind. Once you walk through the doors however, little 'Martin Creations' appear out of nowhere from every corner of the house and garden. Little birds peep from a log resting in the kitchen, small carved boats sit in the sun room looking out onto the garden, and sitting magnificent in front of the garden wall are some of his beautifully carved blue whales. Above is one of Martin's chairs, which you can find peeking out from corners of his garden as you enter.

This gorgeous bird for the garden was hidden in behind some shrubs. The harder you look in the garden the more you find. Metal lillypads look up at you from amongst the bushes and right in the midst of it all are four enormous garden chairs where you can sit and admire.

My photos don't really do the garden justice and as is always the way, my camera battery died just as I had found some of the best treasures. But I guess it is a like a secret garden so meant to keep some treasures quiet.

Martin makes only a few sculptures each year and all are unique. I have bought a couple back in this next container but he does do commission work as well. You can ask about this at www.wallrocks.com.au/contactus.aspx Martin's work is being featured in gallery's across Europe, one of which is Sculpture Park in the UK. Worth a look!

I think the best bit of the day though was when Martin's dog, a massive Rottweiler which I had never thought
was a particularly affectionate breed of dog, jumped on me and put his big puppy paws around my neck in a hug. He had been abused by his previous owner and was obviously lapping up every bit of attention he could get.

The afternoon finished with a hunt around my uncle's (antique dealer) warehouse to see what, if anything I could scavenge. Alas it was all far and above my price range but I did at the very least take a photo of this AMAZING table. Phenomenal I don't think I've ever seen anything like it in my life. I've taken a few close-ups, particularly of the top for you to drool over.

A Farm and a Rocking Chair

2010-07-05T13:41:00.019+10:00

Another day, another adventure! The south of England is the destination, to a little farm I have never been to in the middle of nowhere and full of treasures. Most places we buy are so unexpected, the major cities would probably make up 3 days of the trip as a whole, and not much more. The treasures are generally somewhere you least expect it, and you really do have to sift to find it. The fact that 99% of things have not been restored and are sitting under centuries of dirt makes it even harder.

This little farm was particularly beautiful, and the inside was like stepping back in time. You drove in through these gates, along this leafy drive and arrived at a 16th, 17th, 18th century barn? Walk in through the doors and it's all there.

I really loved the rocking horse in this room but I found the most amazing armoire in the next room that I had to have and so rocking horse was quickly forgotten about.

Not your typical armoire either. This one was huge, looked Spanish and definitely 19th century with the most elaborate carving of leaves and flowers all over the front. It wasn't polished, and from memory almost looked as if it had been limed. It was a real country farmhouse piece, ideal for a big kitchen or lounge area. It's actually one of the only pieces didn't take a photo of, which while frustrating means I can get excited all over again when it comes out of the container.

We ambled through the rooms. At one stage I had this really weird feeling I was being watched by something. Looked up and sure enough sitting on the wall was this massive deer? The photo doesn't do it justice, but he was enormous and so, so beautiful. He looked as if he was alive. Hard to believe someone could kill something so gorgeous.

The day turned up quite a lot. One of the many was this pretty little 19th century French carved Louis XVI settee. Perfect for a bedroom!

My most exciting find however was this rocking chair. I LOVE IT! Just a warning here though...I could go on and on, and never stop.

Walked into the room and it was sitting on top of a table all by itself. I fell in love. It's a very fine quality 19th century, circa 1860 English gilded bent-wood rocking chair.

The gilt on this particular chair has almost completely worn off but there is evidence of it in small quantities all over the chair so that there is this beautiful patterned combination of paint or gesso and very soft, pale gold. The gilt, along with the fabric and shape are some of the clues to the exceptional quality of the piece. Particularly considering rocking chairs were never generally gilded.

They created this amazing shape by heating the wood in a steam box, until it was malleable, and then bent the wood into shape. When the structure cooled down again it became rigid and maintained the new form that it had been bent into. The shape on this one is particularly beautiful.

The fabric on the chair is original and I think is what most caught my eye. I'm sure one day I will have to watch while someone pulls it off and re-upholsters it, but I love it just as it is.

It was once obviously a really rich, soft velvet but has now been worn in areas, to a faded smooth surface. Yet another of the details I think just adds to it's beauty. When I was small, like most kids had a teddy bear and he had been used so much that his fur had matted and stuck together, and quite simply no longer really looked like fur. But when I bent him over and looked under his legs, his original fluffy fur was still underneath. This chair was like that. Everywhere you looked there was a little clue as to how it once would have been.

When you looked inside the deep buttoning, you could still see the velvet's former glory, where time and overuse hadn't been able to touch it and it was still soft and brightly coloured. But the combination of the worn velvet with the soft just created the most fantastic texture.

Anyone who appreciates textiles will surely have to appreciate this. Running up the centre of the rocking chair was this exquisite embroidery that had faded out but you could still see the flowers and the leaves.

I guess it's a piece that you either love or hate. I quite obviously love it I can't stop blathering, but to me it's so filled with character and age and history I couldn't look past it. I hope you like it as much as I do.

France

2010-06-28T00:11:00.027+10:00

After a couple of incredibly successful buying days we headed over to France on the ferry last Monday. A bizarre way to go to work, across the English channel by boat - I can't quite get my head around it. The ferry itself is enormous with a disco, two restaurants, movie cinemas and the list goes on. Arriving off was a nightmare, we hadn't fuelled up prior to getting on the ferry, it was 12 at night, the fuel stations weren't manned and the credit cards wouldn't work. We passed countless stations but they were all empty. Despite it being summer the temperature had dropped and I really did not fancy sleeping on the side of a French motorway. (I've done it before, NOT FUN.) The open petrol station did not appear but what we did see was a sign for the Mecure. Flashing red neon lights had never looked so good.

5am the next morning we were up and travelling with foot to the floor to make the fair which was several hundred km away through fog, but the scenery was gorgeous! We had established the night before that the trucking company had failed to tell us that the truck was governed 10km below the speed limit.

The first fair was rubbish, not a decent quality piece around...although it is quite possible that arriving two hours late knocks you out of the running for the best bits.

We left and tough as it was, made the decision to go sightseeing and eat croissants! It's a stressful life as an antique dealer!

I love the French, and how they go about everything. Arriving here was particularly entertaining. There was a queue amongst the dealers and a queue amongst the customers. Dealers are not allowed to unload before the 'whistle' is blown. Rather than let their customers in to get assembled and ready, they blocked the entry and hurled insults at each other out the window instead. Good to see good customer service prevails here as well.

Our second day was much more successful. I found some great goodies. This was one of them smiling up at me from behind a pile of rubbish. The marble was so beautiful I don't know how others had missed it, but it was begging me to take it and I obliged. It's the kind of piece you forget about and in 2 months time when you take it out of the container you get excited all over again!

Strolling around I came upon a terrible quality repro in the photo below. Friends often ask me what the difference is and I thought here was a perfect example. On the left is a genuine Louis XV bed that I sold recently. It is the authentic version of the bed you see below and if you look, you can see the amazing detail, the crispness and the definition.

This is the reproduction bed I saw walking around. You can see in comparison that the carving is quite shallow, it lacks detail. This is not to say that all reproduction furniture is poor quality as it's not, but you have to be careful. And the world is full of it being sold as genuine antiques.

We raced through the final day of buying so as to be back at the ferry by 4pm. With foot to the floor we chugged across France and waved from the window as semi trailers twice our size overtook us going uphill. We arrived as the gates were coming down. 'Je suis desole', said the customs officer. I'm desolated, in other words, get comfortable the next one is not for 6 hours!

2010-06-21T21:02:00.012+10:00

Touched down in London two days ago now. Jet lagged up to my eyeballs we arrived in after a fairly uneventful but very long flight over. Although much to my surprise apparently there are some airlines that don't require seatbelts during turbulence which resulted in a close encounter with myself, a fellow passenger and a suitcase - but that story is for another day.

We landed in Heathrow and while most might sensibly head to their respective accommodation and sleep for a thousand years, we headed off down south 3 hours in search of antiques. While my mental protests could probably be heard by our driver, the day was absolutely worthwhile with a significant portion of the container purchased on day one! This is a new experience for me. That seems to be the interesting thing about this trade, the fact that you never really know.

Areas that were abundant with stock one trip can be empty the next, and certainly on occasion you can get to the final 2 days of your trip and not be sure that you'll fill the container. So far however a success.

For those that can appreciate an interesting piece of furniture in terrible light, sitting on concrete in a dark warehouse, above is just a sneak peak of a couple of gorgeous things I found that I can't wait to get home.

The first is a small 19th century carved X-Frame chair with red velvet. I just think this piece would make a gorgeous feature in a room - it's so unusual. I have been wanting to buy one of these for a long time but they're never quite right when I see them.

The second piece was hiding in the back of a warehouse, and is a 19th century gilded mirror with its original mirror. If you look closely at the image it has some really beautiful detailing of flowers around the frame which I think is really unusual.

I have also posted a couple of photos of the family home we're staying and the surrounding area. I finally had a chance yesterday to relax and take a walk and england in the summer is so stunning! Don't ask me what I think of it in winter though, I would rather be locked in a room with no windows for 6 months. I spent the afternoon wondering through the countryside, time I never have at home in Brisbane so it was especially wonderful. I even had company! I was followed for 2km by a heard of recently weened calves that I think had somehow mistaken me for their mother. (They were so adorable, but perhaps being mistaken for a heifer is not such a good thing???)

We're off to France on the ferry this afternoon so hopefully some exciting pieces await! I can't wait...

Feeling Frenchy!

2010-06-18T09:13:00.006+10:00

Damien my partner took these gorgeous photos of France when he was last over here. Just getting myself in the swing of things!

We're off to Europe - Be a Fly on the Wall!!

2010-06-17T20:23:00.003+10:00

Fridge is packed, bath is packed, kitchen sink is packed and I'm ready to go buying in Europe. Absolutely manic week and looking forward to breathing on the plane tomorrow.

We're on the road in Europe for the next three weeks buying antiques for the next shipment, so Ill be updatinbg with stories, photos and adventures every few days so stay tuned!

Bon Voyage!!!!

2010-06-02T14:01:00.011+10:00

I was leafing through photos on my computer the other day, and landed on a photo that reminded me of an error I would probably rather forget. At first I couldn't work out what it was, and why I had it on my computer. Then I realised...it was an existing piece of our stock, but hardly recognisable.

The photo here is the original photo of the piece when we found it in France.

When my father Nick told me he was buying it I thought perhaps he had gone temorarily insane and promptly told him so. 'Perhaps jet-lag has a more sever effect on the brain than I had realised,' I thought to myself. He smiled smugly and said simply, 'just you wait'. That should have been a wake-up but oh no, I scoffed, laughed and disappeared in the pursuit of 'prettier' things. Big mistake!

What I had failed to realise was that sitting under two hundred years of filth and grime was a gem. A beautiful 19th century French commode with its original gilded handles.

Here's what I missed. This is a photo of the same piece retored to its original former glory. Click on the image to view in more detail.

Lots and Lots of Very Old Stuff

2010-05-22T13:01:00.022+10:00

A very lovely gentlemen approached me yesterday while I was seated or rather collapsed on my stand at the annual Brisbane Antique Fair. After a nightmarish week and a half of preparation for the fair as well as carrying out all the other squillions of necessary jobs that have to be done every day, I was slumped gasping and wondering where my social, home and personal life had disappeared to! This very lovely gentlemen walked up to me and politely informed me that for avid followers of my blog, it had in the last week been looking rather bare and would I please quickly update it. So an apology for my tardiness in keeping you all up to date!
Now it's Saturday morning at the fair and there are people every which way you turn so writing this is only happening in between chats, and as such so far has taken me 4 hours.Nick arrived (last minute as always) on Thursday afternoon so it was a mad panic to have everything set up before the opening night. With his ute loaded to the hilt with antiques and fabrics, one dealer remarked on how Nick insisted on doing everything himself - what's a delivery truck???!!!! But... at least it keeps things interesting oh daddy dear.

Opening night got off to a great start
and my very talented, budding photographer boyfriend Damien kindly ran around like a madman taking photos for me. (The bad shots like this one are all mine).

The hits of the night were the ever popular Easter European Bench Seat, the unusual French painted mirror and of course the beautiful Famille Rose vases and Garden Seats.

Fabrics were also popular, particularly my three absolute favourites which I'm using at the moment to re-upholster some gorgeous gold leaf carved French chairs. The embroidery and detail in these is absolutely out of this world.

A peruse around the fair turned up some really interesting goodies which I will post next week as right now I have to deliver some chairs.

Have a wonderful weekend!

King Size Beds Can be Antiques!

2010-05-10T13:48:00.005+10:00

Thought I would post today about a misconception that seems to be making its way around antique and interior design circles in Brisbane and has done so for some time. I have fielded this question a number of times over the phone recently from curious customers and thought best to put the record straight to all of you who are interested and avid antique buyers.

It seems there is a belief that king size beds were not made in earlier centuries, and that large beds are therefore not genuine antiques. This is totally incorrect. Very large beds have been made for centuries now and one of the best examples for those that have not heard of it is 'The Great Bed of Ware' , a massive 3m wide, oak four poster bed which was made in 1590, and housed in the White Hart Inn in Ware, England and was designed to sleep up to 15 people at once.

It's certainly true that large antique beds are scarce relative to the number of antique double beds around, but it is totally incorrect to say there are none. Here are a couple of photos of genuine 19th century beds that we have in our shop, queens and kings and of course... the giant Bed of Ware!

French Elements

2010-04-29T08:50:00.004+10:00

I found these gorgeous French inspired collage bottles created by 'The French Elements' whose aim is to bring the past into the present in all their little creations. So pretty and unique! You can find them at http://www.thefrenchelements.com/

Beautiful Bench

2010-04-23T14:42:00.003+10:00

I while ago I posted about the origins of this beautiful 19th century bench. I've just had cushions done for it and photographed it one last time before it goes out today...and now alas I have to say goodbye!

French Empire - Why the materials changed...

2010-04-20T11:51:00.007+10:00

You learn a new thing every day! It's all about supply and demand - even 2 or 3 hundred years.

The fashion world, both clothes design and interior design have always been shaped by social influences and interestingly antiques are no exception. It was not simply that they woke up one day and decided that they preferred different timber and design.

There were obviously many well documented social influences on French Empire Furniture such as archaeological and architectural aspects of the Roman Empire, but today I learned something that is perhaps not so commonly known.

The Napoleonic era, French Empire is famous for simpler furniture designs and use of local materials such as brass as opposed to designs that came before it which were predominantly made up of foreign timbers and mounts.

One of the reasons for this? Many of the exotic timbers used for elaborate inlays, in English and French furniture design in the 18th century were imported from the West Indies. During the Napoleonic Wars, there was a battle between France and England to control the entrance to the English Shipping Channel. As a result, the waring countries went to great lengths to prevent enemy ships from passing through the channel and as such, the foreign timber supply became scarce.

This in turn affected furniture design and both France and England were forced to use brass and other local materials to decorate furniture instead of the exotic timbers and metals once used during the Louis periods.

These are some photos of French Empire furniture and their respective metalwork and complexity relative to an earlier piece.

French Detail

2010-04-13T14:37:00.003+10:00

I've been watching our restorer do up this Louis XVI French centre table for a client. I bought it in the south of France last time I was there and fell in love, as I do with most of it. No matter how many times I see it, I can't get over the detail and time they invested in creating these pieces. It's just beautiful!

Louis XVI

2010-04-08T15:53:00.008+10:00

So often people come in and ask if we have a Louis chair or a Louis table. Louis XV or Louis XVI I ask? Oh just Louis they say. So for those that aren't sure of the difference, a few pointers in Louis XVI...

First of all, curves were not used excessively in the legs as with Louis XV, in fact quite the opposite. For those that love the beautiful French painted furniture around the place, Louis XVI should be your first stop! Marie Antoinette greatly influenced art during this period, and this influence was also felt in the furniture of the period. A slightly more severe style came into vogue. It was the first time in history that chairs were used for purely ornamental reasons.

Look out for...

Straight, tapering 'fluted' legs is classic for this period rather than the curved cabriole leg of Louis XV;
Gilt was replaced in many instances with 'paint', (coloured french polish) and gilt was used as relief rather than across entire pieces of furniture;
Louis XVI was still a period of opulence, and marquetry designs were used banded in geometric shapes;
Chair seats were generally trapezoidal and the backs were carved with lyre, vases and flowers.

Take a look at the typically French Louis XVI Chairs above!

Wallpapers

2010-03-31T20:17:00.007+10:00

Mulling over wallpaper possibilities this afternoon and sifting through the deGournay website I stumbled across these 5 beauties! Oh - and is that a Pair of French Louis XVI armchairs I see? Whoever was it that said antiques did not work in a modern setting??!! See more at www.degournay.com

Sculptured Whales

2010-03-25T13:17:00.006+10:00

Martin Scorey is an emerging contemporary sculptor making a name for himself in Europe at the moment, who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was last overseas. This pair of whales are an example of some of his amazing work.

Just beautiful! You can see more of his work here!

A Short Lived Affair...

2010-03-17T20:32:00.006+10:00

Two days on the shop floor and it's farewell already. One of the most beautiful 19th Century Eastern European Benches I have yet to see, the detail is museum worth.

I'm going to have to try very hard not to cry as it walks out the door, but it's going to a very good home so that will help stem the tears at least a little. Wonder where it will be in another 100 years time...

Real from Fake - A Couple of Clues...

2010-03-08T15:49:00.006+10:00

There are heaps of fakes around the place and even more repros. There's nothing wrong with a repro either unless someone is selling it as a genuine piece. Working out how to tell a real from a fake can be tricky - here are a couple of clues...

Check your marble!

It's perfectly acceptable to have a replacement marble on an antique, but make sure it is only the marble that is new and the iece of furniture it is sitting on is genuine. Check the under side of the marble to see if there is a grease stain from years of people running their hands around the rim. The darker the stain, the older the piece of marble in all likelihood. Old marbles can sometimes be put onto new pieces though so be careful!

Does it match?

There's a saying in the antique trade that goes like this. 'If a piece of furniture will come to pieces, in time the piece will end up in pieces in different places.' Many pieces lost their parts in the 1st and 2nd world wars. Wealthy families died or went bankrupt and the pieces went into smaller houses with lower ceilings. During this time, the pieces that could not fit into the home were burnt as firewood. So ensure that the parts match. I. e. The top of a bookcase matches the bottom. If it does not, this is called a marriage and you would expect to pay considerably less for a marriage.

This is a gorgeous piece of marble that I found in France recently - I just love it!

Louis XV? Louis XVI? What’s all the fuss about I can’t tell the difference!

2010-03-02T20:30:00.005+10:00

When I was small and my father tossed around the words Louis XV and XVI I have to confess to thinking they were the same thing. Only when I looked did I realise there are significant differences in the style of furniture, and for those that are looking to create a certain ‘look’ in their home it’s important to remember the difference. Lets start with Louis XV...

Louis XV is one of my favourite styles of furniture, with its curved ‘cabriole’ legs and elaborate carving and detail. I was doing some reading the other day to improve my history knowledge on the style that I so love.

Louis himself ruled as king of France from 1715 until his death in 1774 and his reign saw great prosperity for the wealthy. Not surprising then that the furniture from this period is so incredible. I was particularly pleased to read that womens power increased significantly during this time, and the result was that their influence was felt both in the court and in furniture design.

So how do you tell a Louis XV piece? Well you can basically follow a few simple rules...

Look out for:

- Gorgeous curves (cabriole leg) were used readily;
- Inlaid marquetry and hand painting;
- Intricate carving;
- Motifs of shells, ribbons and acanthus leaves;
- Gilt and ormalu (gilded bronze) mounts.

Happy hunting!

My Lovebirds with Shutters!

2010-02-25T14:54:00.005+10:00

My next shipment arrives in tomorrow and on my last trip I discovered the most beautiful pair of carved Siberian window surrounds with their original paint work.

These two doves carved into the top of these represent love and were given to newly wedded couples as gifts. They look stunning as feature mirrors and I think go fabulously with our Queensland climate and abundance of fresh white space!

A little bit of background on them which I thought was just fascinating...

Pair of carved Siberian Window Surrounds. These feature 2 'lovebirds' at the top and open with shutters. These surrounds have become very fashionable in Europe, and those that don't use them as window surrounds often fit them with mirrors and use them as a feature mirror.

Featured last year in the Pushkin House London Exhibition - ‘Carved and Coloured Village Art from Tsarist Lands’ and the first of its kind to be shown in London for over 100 years, the following is one of a pair of beautiful carved Siberian Window Surrounds with their original paintwork, found on our travels. Viewed close up, the texture resulting from centuries of weather is quite incredible.

You can click here to read more!

A scrub and a polish!

2010-02-22T23:02:00.004+10:00

This beautiful pair of genuine French Louis XVI armchairs are a perfect example of how exciting the antique world can be.

We bought this pair of French Louis XVI chairs a little while ago and they’re virtually unrecognisable as the same pair of chairs. The carving on these chairs was so clogged with dirt you could barely make out that they had been carved at all and the gilt resembled a mucky brown rather than the beautiful gold leaf you can see here. You could easily have walked straight past them and not realised that underneath the filth and the stained fabric stood these stunners!

That’s the most exciting thing about antiques – being able to pluck the gems from the rubbish and when you do it’s an enormous rush. Even for the experienced though, this is becoming more and more difficult. With antiques becoming harder to find, fakes are becoming more prevalent and as an antique buyer you really have to be careful not to be caught in the trap. These are my favourites of the moment!