The Art of Wanting More

You would think that after weeks of traveling through Italy and the Netherlands, visiting dealers, exploring markets, and filling a container with wonderful discoveries, I might be inclined to stay home for a while.

Apparently not!

As I write this, the shipment from my last buying trip is making its way to us, with an anticipated arrival next week. And where am I? Back in Europe, of course.

This time, my travels are taking me through Poland, Belgium, northern France and of course Paris searching for the next collection of pieces that will eventually find their way into our LA showroom, our shop in Montecito and into your homes.

I’ve often said that buying antiques is as much about curiosity as it is about acquiring beautiful things. You never quite know what you’ll discover behind the next door, tucked away in the corner of a dealer’s warehouse, or sitting rather unassumingly among a hundred other objects.

Sometimes the most remarkable discoveries are the things you weren’t looking for in the first place.

And that’s what keeps me going.

For me, the pleasure has always been in the hunt. Finding something with character, a little history, perhaps an unusual proportion or an extraordinary patina. Something that catches my eye and makes me stop, look again, and think, Now that’s interesting.

Of course, there’s a practical side to all this wandering. Our galleries are constantly evolving, and I want every visit to offer something new to discover. That means keeping the shipments coming, the inventory changing, and the possibilities interesting.

So, while I’m off discovering what comes next, we’re preparing to welcome what’s already on its way.

A wonderful collection from Italy and the Netherlands will be arriving shortly, and I can’t wait to begin unpacking it and sharing these finds with you.

As for what I’m finding on this trip? Well, you’ll just have to stay tuned.

The best part of being an antiquarian is knowing that somewhere, in a place I haven’t yet visited, there’s something extraordinary just waiting to be discovered.