Innehållsförteckning för Home & Antiques 2019 från Victoria

I first became aware of antique furnishings when I found a book in the college library that featured chairs, sofas, and wooden case goods that were surprisingly similar to the furniture in my grandparents’ home. I had never given a second thought to the bed, dresser, and chest of drawers in the room where I slept at Grandmother Norton’s home. But there they were, pictured in a respected volume, so they must have worth. Of course, I now know that the real value of these antiques was in their meaning to my relatives. When I began to furnish my first home, I acquired the typical things that were affordable to young people. However, I did splurge on an old, long, narrow table referred to by the salesman as a library…

English white ironstone has been tickling the fancy of Americans with its decidedly plain appeal since it was first imported and fervently acquired in the nineteenth century. Now a chic antique, the gleaming all-white earthenware has a goes-with-anything simplicity and a fits-in-anywhere charm that elicits as much pleasure among modern-day collectors as when it graced the tables of colonists, pioneers, and Victorians centuries ago. Introduced by Staffordshire potters as a durable, affordable substitute for porcelain, the earliest incarnations of the dense, heavy stoneware were colorfully decorated. But when unadorned white ironstone garnered instant favor in America for everyday use, its popularity inspired a heyday of mass production from 1840 to 1870. Ever since the era in which English white ironstone made its way across the ocean, the sturdy stuff has…

With a pen dipped into an owl-shaped ink-well in 1875, Louisa May Alcott crafted words into art to create some of the most enduring works of American literature. Inkwells such as the one Alcott treasured were essential tools in the nineteenth century, when carefully written letters were often the only link to loved ones, and business deals were scripted and sealed with wax. The first inkwells were developed by the ancient Romans and used through the ages by other civilizations. But by the early 1900s, when the more practical fountain pen was developed, inkwells had largely been abandoned. Admirers have resurrected these vintage desktop vessels, and the wells have become coveted collectibles. Inkwells come in hundreds of shapes and styles—from the “very plain and functional to the ornate and whimsical,”…

Dozens of multihued crystal prisms hang from Rose Ann Kendrick’s dining-room chandelier, sending showers of color across the elegantly set table. Lacy place mats hold a pyramid of gleaming gold-rimmed plates, and silverware polished to perfection rests upon pristine white napkins. Every imaginable accessory, from silver chalices and goblets encrusted with gold overlay to saltcellars and place-card holders, rounds out the display. At the center of it all stands a Minton bowl-turned-vase spilling over with a profusion of mophead hydrangeas. Rose Ann’s home is filled with an eclectic assemblage of pieces that have an obvious common thread: quintessential beauty. She began accumulating these heirlooms at a very young age, starting with small china animals and the hand-painted eggs she found in her Easter basket every year. She comes by her…

As Scandinavian merchants unload their trucks at Sweden’s Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, Kim Faison is there, perusing the wares. The only American (she hails from Richmond, Virginia) invited to preview these troves of Gustavian heirlooms, Kim will have come and gone long before the show opens to the public. This scene is repeated throughout Europe as colleagues recognize in her a kindred spirit. Often, Kim already has a specific client in mind when she spies a pièce de résistance. “It is an incredible joy to be so far away, find something exquisite, and know that a friend has the ideal spot for it,” she says. Through Kim Faison Antiques, the entrepreneur has been connecting homeowners with seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenth-century furnishings for almost thirty years. The appreciation for classic…

Pages 11–14: Maison de France Antiques, 1304 8th Street, Leeds, AL, 205-699-6330. Pages 15–16: Nightingale Antiques, 661-301-1223, rubylane.com/shop/nightingaleantiques. Pages 17–20: The Brown House: Antiques, Art, Comforts of Life, thebrownhouse.bigcartel.com. Pages 21–22: Amedeo, 946 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 212-737-4100, cameos.com. Pages 23–26: Ashford Hill for Henhouse Antiques, 1900 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL, 205-918-0505, henhouseantiques.com. Pages 27–28: Artful Toys and Antiques, 360-666-1567, artfultoysandantiques.com. Pages 31–36: Paris Hotel Boutique, 415-305-7846, parishotelboutique.com. Pages 37–42: Beverly Ruff Antiques, 2417 Canterbury Road, Mountain Brook, AL, 205-871-7872, beverlyruff.com. Pages 43–46: Rose Ann Kendrick’s booth (Dealer #77) can be found at Hanna Antiques Mall, 2424 7th Avenue S, Birmingham, AL, 205-323-6036, hannaantiques.com. Pages 47–50: French Garden House, 8941 Atlanta Avenue, Suite 284, Huntington Beach, CA, 714-454-3231, frenchgardenhouse.com. Pages 59–64: Avery & Dash, 101 Jefferson Street, Stamford, CT,…

In a world of mass-produced jewelry, a lovingly handcrafted cameo is a true luxury. The shelves of Amedeo Scognamiglio’s intimate Manhattan boutique are lined with elegant cameos, from timeless pearl-embellished pieces carved with flowers to fashionably appointed belts. These lovely creations reflect the remarkable tradition inherited by Amedeo, an energetic, bright-eyed young Italian man. He is a member of the sixth generation working in the family business, founded in 1857 in Torre del Greco, a small town on the Bay of Naples that is still the heart of the industry. A close-knit group of artisans painstakingly craft the Scognamiglio family cameos from seashells imported from Africa and the Caribbean. A client seeking a deeply personal memento submits photographs of a family member or pet, which Amedeo uses as a model…

On a summery evening in 1905, as awed guests of the Savoy looked on, the courtyard of London’s premier hotel was transformed into a bejeweled, makeshift scene from Venice. A silk-lined gondola, flanked by snowy swans and strewn with twelve thousand carnations, made its way down a man-made canal toward guests while the great Caruso serenaded them—the whole of the moonlit scene gleaming in the subtle glow of hundreds of Venetian paper lanterns. The host of the famed gondola dinner was Champagne millionaire George Kessler, who managed to top the lavish event just four years later at the Savoy with a $300-a-plate Yuletide feast in the Winter Garden, fashioned to resemble the North Pole. More than one hundred years later, many of the Savoy’s wonderful wares were placed on the…

Alluring, hand-painted metal trays, urns, and baskets cast a spell of history and the romance of bygone days. Painted with great skill, these prized collectibles are both decorative and functional, and typically feature floral or Eastern motifs. Toleware refers to objects, dating from 1600 to 1900, made of tinned metal lacquered and adorned with designs. John Hanbury, who began his metalware business in the Welsh town of Pontypool in the 1600s, is credited with inventing the method of japanning. This process is used to alleviate rust on metal by coating the painted surface with a mixture of asphalt and shellac resembling the glossy lacquer finish on Japanese trays. Distinguished by lacy, openwork rims, Pontypool trays continue to be some of the most sought-after tole pieces. The French developed their own…

Tucked into the verdant hills of Louisville, Kentucky, Lee Stough’s classic Tudor home evokes thoughts of cozy European country houses with proper pedigrees. Inside each room, streams of light land on carefully culled collections from her various trips abroad. Having grown up in Charlottesville, Virginia, where everyday life is influenced by the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, the noted statesman and a great European traveler in his own right, Lee’s childhood included exposure to the four corners of the globe. Touring with her grandparents throughout Iceland, Scandinavia, Russia, and England opened her eyes to the wondrous beauty possessed by these nations. College treks across France and Italy fully cemented this adoration and beckoned her back as often as possible—even for just a week’s vacation—to the lands she loved. A fourth-grade paper…

Whether adding to a treasured collection or simply seeking decorating inspiration, attendees agree that summer days traveling to the country’s best-loved antiques shows are days well spent. The prospect of navigating the large fairs might seem overwhelming to a novice, so we turned to renowned antiques dealer Mary Helen McCoy—whose gallery in Memphis, Tennesee, specializes in seventeenth- to nineteenth-century French furniture and décor—to demystify the process. She offers advice for collecting sought-after pieces, working with trustworthy vendors, and negotiating a fair price. Mary Helen believes that collecting takes time and is a process based on personal taste. She suggests starting with a collection of small items, such as picture frames, boxes, or teacups. “Collect pieces that really appeal to you, regardless of what other people like,” she advises. “And, no…

In the 1920s, there were few things so fashionable and glamorous as a sterling cigarette case. Next to elbow-length gloves or an incredibly long strand of pearls, a beautiful silver case was a sure sign of an alluring woman. Cases differed slightly from one piece to the next—some were flat and square, while others were oblong and rounded to fit the gentle curve of a lady’s hand. Several were made of papier-mâché or wood, but the most treasured were those crafted of sterling silver. “The ornate sterling cases were expertly decorated,” says Karyn Shaudis, proprietor of Nightingale Antiques in Bakersfield, California. They were as highly regarded as fine jewelry, and surfaces were often embellished with engraved monograms, hand-chased patterns, inset semiprecious stones, and mother-of-pearl accents. “They were often quite elaborate,”…

Like a lovingly wrapped gift, antique boxes beckon with entrancing exteriors featuring brass scrollwork, handpainted floral motifs, and elaborate marquetry. Occasionally filled with timeworn accessories that hint of their past, the interiors can be every bit as delightful. “Today, boxes are collected as decorative pieces, but when they first became commonly used in the eighteenth century, they had a more practical purpose,” says Barbara Ashford, co-proprietor of the Birmingham, Alabama-based shop Ashford Hill for Henhouse Antiques—a treasure trove of fine antique European boxes and other furnishings. “They were used to store various objects like important papers, tea, sewing supplies, and toiletries. Each was handcrafted and unique.” So prized were their contents that many of these vessels were fitted with locks. When tea was introduced in England in the late seventeenth…

Through the centuries, lace has signified sheer luxury. The fancy and frilled designs of its ornamental openwork offer intricate patterns, but its romance lies in what cannot be seen. “Whenever I touch lace, I connect with it,” says Beverly Ruff, whose eponymous shop in Birmingham, Alabama, specializes in linens and lace from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. “I wonder who made it, where it was made, when it was made, and for whom it was made. It’s the mystery that intrigues.” What blushing bride folded the dainty handkerchief around her bouquet of white roses? What holiday repast was laid out upon the lace tablecloth? And whose little head fit so snugly inside the precious baby cap ringed with snowy white eyelets? “I want to know their stories, which have…

Does a home have a spirit of its own? Perhaps. Do we not all occasionally sense the stirrings of unseen somethings or someones gently tugging at us as we move from room to room? Brownie Evans does; she even stops to listen. But it is no ghost, she insists—it is the very walls that enclose her. “My soul lives here, not just my body,” says Brownie. “I listen to my home, and I let it tell me what is comfortable and what isn’t. I let it be what it wants to be.” More accurately described as agelessly elegant rather than comfortable, the English-style manor Brownie shares with her family is a work in progress, an ever-evolving abode filled with bits and pieces of her past that reflect the quietly gracious…

Finding an interior designer who understands the importance of respecting the architectural integrity of an older home isn’t always an easy task. That was the dilemma facing Danah and Paul Fisher when they purchased an elegant two-story house on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans’ Milan neighborhood. Although a dozen families had lived there since its construction in the mid-1800s by affluent steamboat agent Cornelius Bicknell Payne, the building’s footprint remained essentially unchanged. The couple enlisted the team of Karin Nelson and Troy Wilson, principals of the Crescent City firm Nelson Wilson Interiors, to help them realize their dream for a home that was an extension of their personalities, as well as the perfect canvas to showcase their estimable art collection. Business partners since 2001, Karin and Troy have blended…

As a senior vice president for a national commercial real estate developer, Kathy Delgado graced magazine covers and was listed among the most powerful women in her profession. But even though the Los Angeles–based executive had attained wealth and numerous accolades, her daydreams carried her far from her competitive business environment. On weekend escapes to Europe, Kathy indulged her passion for romantic French ambience—exploring Parisian flea markets and pausing to savor buttered croissants. One day, she got lost and entered a small antiques store to ask for directions. Without success, she tried to communicate with the French-speaking owners, pointing to the address in her notes. To Kathy’s surprise, the older couple took her hands and gently led her from the shop, pausing to turn the sign on the door to…

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS LIDY BAARS: pages 47–50 J. R. BERNO: pages 83–88 POLLY CAMPBELL: pages 27–28 BRITTANY WILLIAMS FLOWERS: pages 65–70 KATE CARTER FREDRICK: pages 17–20 CATHERINE HAMRICK: pages 15–16 KIMBER MITCHELL: pages 23–26 STACEY NORWOOD: pages 31–36 NANCY A. RUHLING: pages 37–42 VIVIEN SCHWEITZER: pages 21–22 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS GAYLE BROOKER: pages 21–22 CARYN B. DAVIS: pages 6, 59–64, and 95 KIMBERLY FINKEL DAVIS: pages 2, 9, 15–20, 27–28, 51, and 65–70 BRITTANY WILLIAMS FLOWERS: pages 8, 77, and 83–86 KATE SEARS: pages 29, 31–36, and back cover CYNTHIA SHAFFER: cover and pages 47–50 CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS LIDY BAARS: cover and pages 47–50 MISSIE NEVILLE CRAWFORD: pages 5 and 43–46 MARY LEIGH GWALTNEY: pages 6 and 23–26 YUKIE MCLEAN: pages 2, 9, 15–20, 27–28, 37–42, and 53–58…