Oasis Oamaru in New Zealand
While I was recently in Bali preparing for our upcoming Indonesian Antiques Tours, the very stylish Michael Nalder invited me over to his tropical oasis – his home – for a fabulous dinner and cocktails. While sipping champagne in this exotic locale, I had the opportunity to meet Greg Waite, owner of Oasis Oamaru, an antique store in New Zealand. We became fast friends, which seems to happen often in the international antiques community. Greg and I discussed his shop in New Zealand as well as life in general in his beautiful country. It’s safe to say that my desperate desire to travel there has only been enhanced since meeting Greg!
While we’ll be featuring Michael’s store in the coming months, as it happens to be one of my favorite sources in all of Bali, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at one of our new Antiques Diva friends in New Zealand. It never ceases to amaze me how small the world is when you’re constantly traveling. Who knows, perhaps The Antiques Diva & Co will be expanding to New Zealand next?! For now, here is a look at our friends from Oasis Oamaru.
Oasis Oamaru is located in the port warehouse area of Oamaru, North Otago in a circa 1876 grain store, which has New Zealand Historic Places Trust status. The store has an Asian focus when it comes to art and antiques. And this makes sense, after all, as Asia is where I met Greg! Each piece is hand selected and imported mostly from Indonesia and China. For an international mix, Oasis also sources pieces at local markets in New Zealand including vintage photography, reference books on all subjects New Zealand, and British studio ceramics. They also have a comprehensive selection of books on art and architecture.
If you find yourself in New Zealand, stop by Oasis and tell him The Antiques Diva sent you!
Cheers,
Toma Clark Haines, The Antiques Diva®
LAPADA: Establishing Trust With Clients presented by Toma Clark Haines
LAPADA, The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers will host its ninth edition on Thursday 23rd February 2017, from 9:30am to 5pm in the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords. The event is kindly sponsored by Rawlinson & Hunter, ArtRatio, Besso Limited, Cadogan Tate, Malca-Amit and Antiques Trade Gazette.
ESTABLISHING TRUST WITH CLIENTS
presented by Toma Clark Haines | CEO, The Antiques Diva & Co.
What factors influence a customer’s decision making in buying from one dealer over another? What creates a sense of trust in establishing long-term relationships with clients? Toma Clark Haines runs Europe & Asia’s largest antiques touring and sourcing company. Toma will talk through what she sees as the main drivers in creating trusted relationships between buyers and sellers offering tips on how to develop these relationships and how to best communicate with American clients.
Media Announcement London, December 2016
LAPADA ANNOUNCES 2017 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
A unique proposition in the UK’s art and antiques trade, the annual LAPADA Conference is the most prominent industry forum of its kind. LAPADA, The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers will host its ninth edition on Thursday 23rd February 2017, from 9:30am to 5pm in the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords. The event is kindly sponsored by Rawlinson & Hunter, ArtRatio, Besso Limited, Cadogan Tate, Malca-Amit and Antiques Trade Gazette.
As business transactions increasingly move from the physical to the digital realm, this year’s LAPADA Conference will focus on how art and antiques dealers can trade online more securely, better protecting themselves and their clients. Experts will impart professional advice on a range of topics from dealing with cyber-attacks and protecting clients’ data to how to comply with Distance Selling Regulations and understanding copyright laws. Additionally, there will be a discussion on how to build trust with clients, with a particular focus on the American market.
“The LAPADA Conference is designed to help our members keep abreast of significant changes that affect the trade and to provide practical information that they can apply directly to their own businesses. We listen to feedback from dealers throughout the year and endeavour to address the issues about which they are most concerned.”
Rebecca Davies, LAPADA Association CEO
Scheduled talks include:
UNDERSTANDING CYBER THREATS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS
Dan Sloshberg | Cyber Resiliency Expert, Mimecast
Cyber-attacks are increasingly common and target small and larger businesses alike. Learn more about the tactics hackers use, how to spot them and what you should do to best protect your business.
For more information please contact Zoe Ramsay at Cultural-Agenda at [email protected] tel: +44 (0)20 7245 1066
LEGAL PITFALLS OF ONLINE & DISTANCE SELLING
Philip James & Danielle Spiers | Partners, Sheridans
Whether you transact online or simply connect with customers via email, there is probably more due diligence required than you realise. In this session we will get practical advice on how to safely manage and store your clients’ data, compliance with Distance Selling Regulations and information around the mysteries of copyright.
ESTABLISHING TRUST WITH CLIENTS
Toma Clark Haines | CEO, The Antiques Diva & Co.
What factors influence a customer’s decision making in buying from one dealer over another? What creates a sense of trust in establishing long-term relationships with clients? Toma Clark Haines runs Europe & Asia’s largest antiques touring and sourcing company. Toma will talk through what she sees as the main drivers in creating trusted relationships between buyers and sellers offering tips on how to develop these relationships and how to best communicate with American clients.
MAKING TAX DIGITAL – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Craig Davies | Partner, Rawlinson & Hunter
By 2020 most businesses will be required to keep track of their tax affairs digitally and to update HMRC at least quarterly via their digital tax accounts. Craig Davies will talk through what this means for individual businesses and how can you prepare yourself for the changes ahead.
Over the years the LAPADA Conference has welcomed a selection of world-class speakers, including Sir Stuart Rose, Philip Graves and Nigel White, to engage, inform and inspire the trade; giving guests a fresh perspective on today’s business climate. Past topics have ranged from cultural etiquette to digital marketing and Artists’ Resale Right to retail psychology.
Blenheim Palace, Waddesdon Manor, The Wallace Collection and Goldsmiths’ Hall have played host to the LAPADA Conference. Due to overwhelmingly positive feedback, LAPADA are delighted to return for a sixth consecutive year to the House of Lords by courtesy of its Chairman, Lord Chadlington.
LAPADA, The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, is the largest society of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK. Established in 1974 it represents over 500 members across five continents, experts in their fields, whose specialities range from fine art, jewellery and furniture to contemporary works, sculpture and ceramics.
A three course lunch will be served in The Cholmondeley Room, providing an opportunity for colleagues and speakers to network.
Tickets are available to the public and early booking is advised.
LAPADA offers delegates a special opportunity to take a tour of the House of Lords and House of Commons. Those who wish to take part should indicate so in their booking form and will need to arrive by 8.45am for the guided tour, beginning at 9am. Limited spaces are available.
For more information please contact Zoe Ramsay at Cultural-Agenda
at [email protected] tel: +44 (0)20 7245 1066
New Year’s Resolutions… Diva-Style!
Remember that line in You’ve Got Mail about the start of a new school year and the desire to buy school supplies? If a man wants to romance me all he has to do is send me bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils! For me, it’s New Years that gets my heart skipping a beat. Every year I excitedly buy a fresh, unmarked calendar months in advance – painstakingly picking out the best agenda to match the mood of the year. This year my friend Derrick with the Dallas Market Center gave me a PASSION PLANNER which is not just a calendar but a journal, a keepsake, a place to declutter one’s mind, to get organized, and to pursue your passions. In the back of the calendar in the doodle section I sat down with my pack of magic markers (I think in color) and began writing my New Year’s Resolutions – both personal and professional. I kept some of the oldies, but goodies… classic New Year’s Resolutions i.e., Lose Weight, Exercise More, Drink more – I mean Less, champagne. But I added in some new ones – very specific to this year.
My first resolution? Sleep More!! Luckily I happen to the brand ambassador for Pandora de Balthazár – so sleeping on the job is part of my job as I promote this European Sleep System! The first thing anyone comments upon meeting me is my boundless energy. With the right sleep accessories from Pandora de Balthazár I’m able to transform my life. Sleep is not a guilty pleasure – but good sleep is essential for me to do my job, to be and become all that I can be. With Pandora de Balthazár’s products it’s more than just therapy, it’s luxury married with gorgeous design and the highest quality Hungarian goose down and Italian linen. I’m successful… because I’ve come to understand that it’s essential I restore myself.
With that resolution comes a whole host of secondary resolutions. Do Less. Travel Less. Say No More Often. When you travel for a living it’s easy to find yourself constantly on the go. This year I want to nest and be a home body. It’s easy to go through life saying yes to fabulous opportunities that come our way. But not every opportunity is the right opportunity and as I get busier and busier as I grow my company I need to Prioritize More – both in my personal life and professional.
Personally – I want to make friendships count – taking time to deepen those core relationships. Professionally – we have had some phenomenal growth in 2016.
- We expanded into Asia offering Asian Antique Buying Tours in addition to our roster of European Antique Buying Tours.
- We laid the groundwork for launching our own Antiques Diva Antique Care and Restoration Products – the first product has hit the market, but a slew of others will launch this Spring 2017 #WatchThisSpace.
- While we’ve always helped clients with shipping through 3rd parties – this year we launched our own in-house art & antiques shipping division.
As the company expands we have to Re-evaluate Old Processes – and Implement New Ones which work for a larger company. Our team is now 24 people. We are no longer the one-woman-show I started out as. It’s no secret: I want an empire. I am building a Diva Empire. But part of building one’s business is evaluating it. Where are we strong and where are we weak? My main resolution professionally this year is to Grow Deeper Roots – Build better infrastructure to support our team and our clients’ needs. That means – this year in 2017 – I’ll find myself in the office behind the desk a bit more often. In essence, I need to Be More Organized.
I want to Live More Intentionally. Part of doing so means focusing on those things that make me happy. In 2017 I’m asking myself What are my Passions and Goals? I’ve always wanted to design both jewelry and furniture. These are dreams since my teenage years. And drumroll please… On Jan 2nd, 2017 a contract for a licensed furniture line showed up in my inbox. #WatchThisSpace as I unveil the first ever Antiques Diva Collection of furniture – where classic meets modern – to launch at Fall High Point 2017. But it doesn’t stop there. Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Instagram have seen some sneak peeks as I start a new venture outside of The Antiques Diva brand. While in Asia last summer setting up our tours I designed the first ever Toma Clark Haines TCH Collection of jewelry. Working with acclaimed photographer Jose Manuel Alorda we’re shooting the photography for our Lookbook now and will be looking for retailers in 2017.
All said… 2017 is going to be busy. But I’m doing it – as Frank Sinatra said – My Way
Toma Clark Haines – The Antiques Diva
4th Annual Paris Flea Market Champagne Brunch
Paris Design Week is almost upon us! And so is the 4th Annual Champagne Brunch
hosted by The Antiques Diva & Co and Paul Bert Serpette at the Paris Flea Market!
Please mark your calendar
and join us on Sunday, January 22nd!
Toma Clark Haines will be moderating an all-star panel about Global Design with Brittany Chevalier, Design and Market Editor of Luxe Interiors + Design, Alexis Audette, Design Director of Beacon Hill Design and Thomas Hamel of Thomas Hamel and Associates. Please join fellow designers and influencers for yet another fabulous Diva brunch following Maison & Objet & the Paris Déco Off 2017!
Please RSVP by emailing parischampagnebreakfast@gm
1st RunnerUp: My 1st Time at the Paris Flea Market
In September, The Antiques Diva & Co held our very first giveaway, Tell Me About Your First Time at The Paris Flea Market. One of our 3 runner-ups was Suzette Bannister, who won a copy of DesignHER by Julianne Taylor.
Meet Suzette, 1st RunnerUp: My 1st Time at the Paris Flea Market and her story of her first time at les Puces:
Mais oui! My first time was in September 2011, on a trip to Paris with my daughter. My goal was to explore and see EVERYTHING! I have to admit it was a little overwhelming, and also hard because I knew I couldn’t ship home the large items I wanted so much. I came home with a small plaster bust of the Venus de Milo and some brass hardware that I now use as art in my home. A French enamel plaque I found digging in a dirty box of “found objects” that now hangs above my back door — “Essuyez vos Pieds SVP.” Small treasures that remind me of that day each time I see them. We had a fabulous lunch while there, I don’t remember the name of it but it was like being in a movie, listening to the conversation en francais all around us accompanied by the gestures, of course. I can’t wait to go back! Hopefully with you!
Even Suzette’s name is French! I loved her #TellMeAboutYourFirstTime at the Paris Flea Market story… it IS like being in a French movie! On my travels I too have carried home small treasures that remind me of my experiences, I love Suzette’s found art brassware! Thank you, Suzette, for sharing your story!
Congratulations to our winning entries! And thank you so much to everyone who entered our giveaway!
BOOK AN ANTIQUES BUYING TOUR OF THE PARIS FLEA MARKET
Toma Clark Haines – The Antiques Diva
Five Days of French Christmas Traditions
French Christmas Traditions
I love Christmas! It is the most wonderful time of the year! A magical time of twinkling lights and tinsel trees, lords a-leaping and ladies dancing. A time to splurge on fine wines and feasts with friends and family. It’s also a time of year steeped in traditions that have been passed down through the generations – holiday traditions that bring back childhood memories of popcorn strands, paper chains, colored lights and a shiny tin foil star atop the tree; of eight tiny reindeer and a song about dancing merrily.
My holiday traditions encompass much more now, however. Just
as Santa takes on many shapes, many sizes, Christmas traditions do also, varying from family to family and country to country. You won’t find an “elf on the shelf” wreaking havoc on our household and our stockings are still hung by the fire, but with our own jolly French elf… uh, I mean cook… in the family, we do indulge in a little more food and fun. From foie gras and the Bûche de Noël to French santons and the nativity scene, this Southern family has added some à la française to our pa-rum pum-pum-pum.
In France, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas markets. French towns and villages light up, vin chaud flows freely and the merriment begins. Christmas in France is a grand and joyful time, with celebrations focused on the birth of Jesus, family, friends, and food, of course.
French culinary customs have a tendency to be over the top, and Christmas is no exception. There’s nothing like celebrating with friends and family around the dinner table after the Christmas Eve service until the wee hours of the morning. With only five days until Christmas, I’m sharing five Gallic traditions that will have you and yours dreaming of a French Christmas. Try a few…
Lolo French Antiques’ 5 Days of French Christmas Traditions
Postcards from Père Noël
Each year in late November, children around the world begin sending their Christmas wish lists to Père Noël by way of a postal office in the small French village of Libourne. About 60 volunteer La Poste “elves” sort through and reply to every letter – over 1 million from 140 different countries. Santa’s first official response was in 1962 when Le Sécretariat du Père Noël was started by the Ministère des Postes et des Télégraphes. For more than 50 years, letters addressed to “Père Noël, France” have been answered. Postal officials say this French station probably gets more letters than any other country because it’s the oldest of its kind. The operation costs an estimated $1.4 million each year.
Shoes by the Fire
French children don’t hang stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve. Instead, they leave their shoes or slippers by the fireplace, filled with hay and carrots for Père Noël’s donkey to eat. Père Noël takes the hay and carrots and refills the shoes with small presents, candies, fruits and nuts for children to find Christmas morning.
Three Kings Day
The people of France gather together on January 6th each year to celebrate the day the Three Wise Men or Magi visited baby Jesus in Bethlehem. They mark the end of the holiday season much like they do all celebrations – they chow down on food that’s fit for a king. A traditional galette des rois (Three Kings cake) is offered as a gift during the feast of the Epiphany, also known as La Fête des Rois or Three Kings Day. Inside the cake is a small object or bean, known as a féve. The person who discovers the hidden féve is declared King for a day and wears a gold paper crown.
Le Réveillon de Noël
Le Réveillon de Noël is the traditional late night feast held to réveiller or wake up again once families return from la Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass) on Christmas Eve. While the menu varies from region to region, delicacies including oysters, lobster, foie gras, escargot and a turkey or goose stuffed with chestnuts are common. Dessert always includes la Bûche de Noël.
55 French Santons
La crèche de Noël (the nativity scene) is very popular in France. It’s usually displayed from the first Sunday of Advent until February 2nd, the date of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, known as la Chandeleur (Crêpe Day). During the French Revolution, public nativity scenes were prohibited so small figurines called santons (little saints) were created in Provence for display in the home. The Provençal crèche includes the Holy Family, shepherds, animals, angels and Three Wise Men, as well as bouchers (butchers) boulangers (bakers) and various other village people – for a total of 55 characters – all waiting to welcome Baby Jesus, who isn’t added until midnight on Christmas Eve.
The countdown is on! As you finish decking the halls, wrapping the gifts and making the menu, there’s still time to add some French cheer to your home this year. You can read about more French Christmas traditions on our home page. Be sure to let us know if your holiday plans include any Francophile festivities. But wherever you are and however you’re celebrating….
Joyeux Noël,
Mimi
Asian Antiques at Villa Le Priotlet
Just east of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Saint-Emilion in France lies a beautiful home called Villa Le Priotlet. The family home, which has been lovingly restored and furnished, is owned by my friend, Doni Belau. Doni is the author of Girls’ Guide to Paris and is a fellow antique lover. One thing she’s done at the villa that I absolutely love is incorporate Asian antiques she purchased in Bali. Since we recently launched our Antiques Diva Asian Tours (including Bali), I thought it would be fun to show how Doni has used pieces she sourced in Asia to decorate her French villa!
This centuries old authentic stone villa is set dramatically on the banks of the Dordogne River in a region which has produced some of the world’s best wine since Roman times. The villa, which is available for rent, consists of 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, ideally set up for three couples or a small family. The perfect setting to relax and enjoy the peaceful views, the cosy villa has been thoughtfully decorated with a mix of modern pieces and antiques from Europe and Asia. It’s this mix of styles and time periods that I think is so smart and reflective of the way people live now.
Aside from statues and accessories, one piece that I particularly adore is a bed Doni purchased from Bali. Having just returned to Europe from Bali, I can tell you that Bali is the one place in the world that competes with the Paris Flea Market when it comes to offering the creme de la creme of antiquing! There is such a great diversity of inventory that you could buy containers of antiques and have them shipped home. I think Doni’s Indonesian bed is the perfect example of how to use statement pieces from exotic parts of the world in a more classic country setting. Can’t you just imagine sipping a glass of wine while lounging on that regal bed? And while Doni is at home in France… picture this by a pool in Florida or in lieu of a cabana in California.
If you would like more information on planning a custom one-on-one buying tour with The Antiques Diva in Asia, email us at [email protected]. We’d love to help make your antiquing dreams a reality!
Toma Clark Haines, The Antiques Diva®
Antiques Diva Wood Wax
Introducing Antiques Diva Wood Wax
At The Antiques Diva & Co – we have 4 tiers of business. You know us for our Antique Buying Tours. This is Sexy. Everyone who is anyone wants to come to Europe to buy antiques. But often clients don’t have time to shop abroad so they ask us to buy for them… enter tier 2 – our Antique Sourcing Service where we shop for you giving you a Virtual Antique Buying Tour. Next up you’ve got to get all those gorgeous antiques home somehow… so we have an Inhouse Art & Antiques Shipping Service so we can meet all your needs.
But one of the questions I’m asked time and time again is to recommend the best products for Antiques Care and Restoration. So I went to the experts – my best contacts in antiques – and I asked for their help in formulating a line of antique care and restoration products. Many of the vendors we work with not only sell antiques, but they also restore and care for them as well. Maintaining and caring for antiques is so important. Having a brand you can trust and rely upon is even more so. This is our 4th tier in our business at AD&CO.
In the new year we will be introducing the entire line of products – but this fall we have already rolled out the first of our products – The Antiques Diva Wood Wax. We launched The Antiques Diva Wood Wax at High Point Market in October 2016. In fact, it was style-spotted as one of the top products this year by Bridgitte Barry Designs who was doing an Instagram takeover for High Point Market! I’m so thrilled to able to offer this product and build an entire line of products to help you care for your beloved antiques! We are currently taking wholesale orders through our website. If you are interested in purchasing smaller quantities than what is listed on the website, simply send us an email at [email protected]. Stay tuned to the blog, as we’ll be telling you more about our other products as we develop them. We’re currently working on a leather conditioner and a silver polish, with more ideas still brewing.
The Antiques Diva Wood Wax
One of the things I love about my job is that I continue to learn about antiques every day. Learning about the care and protection of woods is key. Often when antiques are exported from Europe and Asia to America buyers encounter a problem… wood furniture can dry and fade due to year-round artificial heat or air conditioning. In Asia I discovered a wood wax manufacturer and designed our first product, The Antiques Diva Wood Wax! It’s a custom wood wax blend scented with lavender so your wood furnishings smell lovely, are protected and always look their best. I chose a clear wax to show-off the aged patina of your furnishings and avoid discoloration. And I chose the lavender scent because shouldn’t your antiques smell lovely? Reminding you of that trip you took to Provence with AD&CO?
Wax has been used for centuries by craftsmen to add luster and polish to wooden furniture. Wood wax enhances the finish on your wood products and adds an extra layer of protection. Wood wax can be used to clean and rejuvenate wooden furniture, utensils, cabinets and even floors. Clear wax lets the original beauty of your antiques shine through and restores the original luster to your pieces. Over time, use of wood wax adds depth and warmth to your furniture. Professional woodworkers suggest that you apply wood wax with a cloth or pad, wait and allow the wax to absorb, then polish and buff with a soft cotton cloth. And of course, clean up any spills as quickly as possible.
We’re looking forward to our products coming to a store near you! If you want to be an Antiques Diva Wood Wax distributor, email me: [email protected]
Toma Clark Haines, The Antiques Diva®
Grand Prize Winner: My 1st Time at the Paris Flea Market
Our Grand Prize Winner
In September The Antiques Diva & Co held our very first giveaway, Tell Me About Your First Time at The Paris Flea Market. Our Grand Prize Winner My 1st Time at the Paris Flea Market is Bev Martinets, who won a VIP Antiques Diva Day Tour at the Paris Flea Market with one of our Paris Diva Guides including LUNCH at our favorite restaurant in Paul Bert Serpette and a Champagne Toast to finish the tour! Plus, Bev will receive an Antiques Diva tote bag to carry her purchases!
Bev’s story made me smile and made me sad! Here’s Bev’s story:
Meet Bev Martinets
Grand Prize Winner My 1st Time at the Paris Flea Market
Well, I suppose I’m can’t officially enter the contest because I haven’t actually made it to the Paris flea market(s), but I TRIED REALLY HARD!!! I worked for an airline a few years ago, I had a layover in Landstuhl, Germany. It was a risky feat to attempt a trip to Paris and back in the time we actually had, but what the heck, how often is a girl a few hours from Paris. My fellow FA and I happened upon a most charming consignment shop in the town owned by an even more charming lady by the name of Angelica and we told her of our deep desire to get to Paris. She was so kind and helpful, she closed her shop and took us to the train station and explained the “ticket machine” and off we went to Kaiserslautern (“K-town”) to purchase our tickets for the next day. We found some very helpful people at the ticket office, and the next thing we knew, we had booked a very expensive, first class ticket on the high-speed train to Paris for the next morning leaving at 6:00 a.m.
We were up at 3:00 a.m. and on our way to PARIS!!!! We dined in first class, watched in amazement as we flew through the beautiful countryside and were giddy with excitement for our first trip to Paris. We arrived at the Gare de l’Est and were off, spending the day navigating through the City. Through that process, we made 3 lifelong friends, one who became our personal guide in the Metro. We ate crepes, chocolate and drank wine. We ran and strolled through the streets, we laughed, we took photos, we shopped, bought our berets and Swarovski crystal charms….. but never found a single flea market of any kind though we searched, as work beckoned us away.
I’ve always wanted to take one of your tours as I was an antique dealer for a number of years and I’ve actually inquired about your tours in the past. I even applied for a job as one of your guides a number of years ago!! So this is my “hoping” that I could win and then in the future I would be able to #TellMeAboutYourFirstTime story at the #ParisFleaMarket. So fingers crossed!!!
It sounds like Bev’s time in Paris was wonderful and full of adventure, a lasting souvenir! I had to laugh out loud at Bev’s adventure: soooo many tourists search for the Paris Flea Market – le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen – and don’t find it! In fact, many get off the metró and are sure they are in the wrong spot, so they leave! Bev, you surely deserve an expert Diva Guide to make sure you arrive safely at the flea market, and then to introduce you the fabulous finds and treasures!
For directions, read our blog: How to Find the Paris Flea Market.
Congratulations to our winning stories!!! And thank you so much to everyone who entered!!!
Toma Clark Haines – The Antiques Diva
Who’s Who and What’s What When Identifying French Furniture Periods and Styles
Identifying French Furniture Periods
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since falling hopelessly in love with an adorable Frenchman it’s that French people definitely appreciate the finer things in life. They’re famous for l’art de vivre. From fine wine to fine furniture, from the Eiffel Tower to the fields of Provence, the people of France surround themselves with art and furniture that spans hundreds of years of impeccable style.
The task of identifying French furniture that’s often two hundred years old can be daunting though. How do you tell a Louis XV buffet from an Empire buffet? What’s the difference between a period piece and a style piece? There’s so much to learn. But you don’t need a Ph.D in Art History to grasp the basics. I’m making everything easy for you. Our Timeline of French Furniture Periods takes away the guesswork. From the French Renaissance to les Années Folles, you’ll learn how to identify the styles you love best by following Louis — our Frenchie (which you’ll see a lot), on a trip through time as we look at the various French furniture periods and the primary motifs and elements of design for each.
What’s most important to remember when trying to decipher who’s who and what’s what is that the periods in French furniture design follow the time periods associated directly with the reign of a particular king, politician or military leader. While each king’s style differentiated his reign from the others, there’s much overlapping of styles. Take the acanthus leaf for instance, it’s used in almost every period, the swirls and curls just vary.
The difference from one monarch’s style to another is usually only a matter of a few degrees of decadence, with a couple of transitional styles thrown in between for good measure. When a piece was actually crafted during a particular king’s reign, Louis XV for example, it’s identified as a Louis XV buffet or a period buffet. It will often have the stamp of a known ébéniste and will be more valuable than a style piece, which has the style motifs typical of the Louis XV period, but was made at a time after the Beloved’s reign — then it’s referred to as a buffet in the style of Louis XV or a Louis XV style buffet.
For nearly two centuries, the House of Bourbon ruled not only the courts of France, but also its worlds of fashion and decor. The “Fab Four,” Louis XIII, XIV, XV and XVI, had a huge influence on the arts and design. These four famous kings introduced French society to music, art, fashion and furnishings. Louis XV style is the epitome of French furniture at its finest. The period is regarded by many as the Golden Age of French furniture, a period of grand creativity, influenced by scandal and royal mistresses like Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. It was all about comfort in the 18th century and Louis XV style was designed for the comfort and glorification of beautiful women. The classically French bergère was introduced. This cushy armchair has stood the test of time and blends stylishly into the most contemporary of rooms.
But French furniture lost its position of dominance with the execution of Louis XVI and The French Revolution, making the early 19th century the last great period in French furniture making.
Whether you mix it up with the delectable designs of different periods or let one style dominate your decor, what’s your favorite? Let us know about the styles you love best.
À Bientôt!
Mimi
The Antiques Diva & Co is the Official Tour Guide of Paul Bert Serpette at The Paris Flea Market
Toma Clark Haines is the Brand Ambassador for Pandora de Balthazár European Luxury Bedding
Listed Top 100 Interior Design Blogs by Modenus
Nominee 2016 Amara Interior Blog Awards
Voted one of 50 best blogs on Homes & Antiques
Panel of Experts Antiques Are Green
