Peggy Healy Parker’s Guide To Dallas Antiques

I collect antique crystal and find a lot of decanters have marks on the bottles or cloudy bottoms. Can these be cleaned?Diane McCartney, Dallas

Cloudy or sick glass is a normal part of the aging process. To clean, mix two tablespoons of boric acid to each cup of water (enough to fill the container you’re cleaning) and let stand overnight, then gently scrub with a bottlebrush. Bachendorf’s Dorothy Hagey suggests cleaning with hot vinegar water to which a splash of ammonia and a dash of Dawn have been added. However you wash glassware, use the spray nozzle to rinse, and then hand dry. When handling good glassware, line your sink with a cushy towel and push the faucet out of harm’s way.

Peggy, why can’t I grow rosemary? I’ve tried watering, not watering, shade, full sun, and everything in between. Nothing works! I asked the advice of a friend whose rosemary plant is the size of a Volkswagen beetle. She says don’t do anything. Another friend told me the problem is our cats. We have three. What do you say? ”Ann Forsyth-Smith, Dallas

Your cats are getting a bad rap. Fragrant rosemary, of remembrance fame, is a mint-family herb of the Mediterranean; it loves to sunbathe but hates to get its feet wet. The trick is to grow it in well-composted soil, in full sun (at least six hours a day), out of doors. As Kitsie Warren of Nicholson-Hardie says, I’ve never met a rosemary that liked to grow indoors. Make sure you plant a hardy variety to begin with, like Hills Hardy, Prostrate rosemary (a trailing type), or Tuscan Blue, available at N-H and other garden centers.

As an associate of Ashton Woods Homes, I’m constantly asked, What kind of soil does Dallas have? What are the best plantings for the landscape? Any ideas for these new home shoppers? ”Vicky Boysen, McKinney

New and longtime homeowners should have their soil analyzed. The best bet is through Texas A&M Extension Service. The soil lab tests for pH, salinity, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratios. Download the Soil Test Form from their web site (http://soilcrop.tamu.edu) or pick one up from your county agent. A&M’s Sam Feagley says you’ll need to gather up representative samples from each section of your yard”lawn, flower bed, vegetable garden, back 40. (The form tells you how.) There’s a $10 charge per sample, but Sam swears you’ll save money in the long run. Test results come with a report recommending soil amendments.

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Nearly as intriguing as this Empire chair is its description and provenance, presented on Axel Vervoordt’s personal stationery. It reads (and I quote): “a unique architectural upholstered Empire chair with sabre back and quiver front legs, exceeded by two vigorously (vigorously!) carved eagles and concave seat, with original gilding of very good quality. This typical and rare specimen (typical and rare!) of Napoleontic (sic) furniture, inspired by Egyptian examples was mostly made for the Imperial Court. Provenance: Her Highness the Princess of Chimay.€VbCrLf From the private collection of Betty Gertz, owner of East & Orient Company. Styled by David Feld and photographed by Stephen Karlisch.

Somehow I stumbled across the July 1966 issue of The Antiques Dealer magazine in which an ad proclaiming “Major Southwest Source for All Direct European Imports€VbCrLf was signed “Louis Rosenbach Antiques, Dallas.€VbCrLf I was tickled to discover that the venerable establishment thrives still, but has moved from Cedar Springs to smaller quarters on Slocum Street and is now run by M. Rosenbach’s daughter, Rika.

Later, leafing through the 50th anniversary issue of The Magazine Antiques (January 1972, to be exact), I was smitten by a picture of a terra cotta Tang Dynasty figure from Manheim Galleries, home to “the largest and most comprehensive collection of antique English, Continental, and Oriental Furnishings €¦ in Dallas and New Orleans.€VbCrLf How fortunate that a member of the third generation of Manheims maintains a Dallas enterprise.

That there’s nothing new about the antiques scene in Dallas is not to say nothing has changed. It has reshaped itself a great deal in the last 40 plus years, but remains a bulwark of originality and passion in a city that is now paved with shopping malls. The people who persist in this noble and quirky trade are like no other merchants; they are the most generous and knowledgeable characters you will ever know. It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to them in the pages that follow.

This article is not meant to be an all-encompassing examination of every single antiques dealer in Dallas. Rather, it covers the main antiques malls and districts. It takes in, too, a number of restorers and craftsmen, fairs and auctions, shops for vintage wares, and places to find some items at the top of a collector’s desire chart. To make the most of your buying, I offer some pearls (alas, not the antique kind) from local designers and dealers, appraisers, and restorers. Listen, and let the chase begin. –Peggy Healy Parker

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THE 18TH-CENTURY FRENCH SAVANT At the last International Antiques Show in Dallas, Kelly Tiernan sold a pair of 18th-century French chairs to Bernard Steinitz’s son, who promptly took them around the corner to his own space and sold them for double the price. All of which is not only a testament to Kelly’s eye, but her pricing, which is as casual as her pieces are grand. Alexandra Christian, Ltd., 2723 Routh St. 214-720-4020.

Knox-Henderson
 
Brant Laird Antiques & Appraisals
2901 N. Henderson Ave. 214-823-4100.
Certified furniture appraiser (and artist) Marigold Lamb is part of this staff, and Brant is the first to tell you just how much of an asset she’s been since she joined him 13 years ago. Brant told me Dallas seems to be heading towards Directoire or Charles X. “People are starting to tire of Italian painted and gilded furniture,€VbCrLf he says. “The more refined, austere look of wood finishes and English furniture is coming back.€VbCrLf Good to know.

Canterbury Antiques
2923 N. Henderson Ave., Ste. A. 214-821-5265.
Bill Ash has the advantage of having two brothers overseas to shop England, Wales, and the Continent for his stock of 18th and 19th-century English and French furnishings and accessories. He recently unloaded a shipment of items from Britain and the Continent that were consolidated in Wales. Among the offerings: two extremely good Welsh grandfather clocks from the early 1880s, one with a rocking ship animation and the other with a high-tide calculation from a port in South Wales.

In Good Company
2933 N. Henderson Ave. 214-826-0020.
Russell O’Neill is a designer’s designer, and his shop shows it. There are decorative pieces from England, as well as some French and Austrian items-farm tables, English library desks, French wine-tasting tables, and the like-all personally selected and collectively characterized as “upscale English country.€VbCrLf

Kent-Stone Antiques
2819 N. Henderson Ave. 214-826-7553.
Milton Kent is known for his beautifully merchandised emporium, where the furnishings are displayed in a series of model rooms. Pieces are typically scaled for palaces. Currently on hand: a Russian Neoclassical secretary made of blonde burlwood with black architectural accents, several large English dining tables, and an important English Regency rosewood center table. Though it’s not advertised, Milton will serve as a consultant to those who want to build select collections.
 
Nick Brock Antiques
2909 N. Henderson Ave. 214-828-0624.
Designers go to Nick Brock for European furniture and accessories with flair. To wit (and to fill up those French and Mediterranean-style houses Dallas is building): an 18th-century Italian painted console table with elaborate carving and a Breccia marble top; a “wonderful€VbCrLf 19th-century Neoclassical gilded mirror crested by a winged victory, whose shield bears the likeness of two early 19th-century native Americans; and a large collection of Chinese-export rose medallion ware.

The Whimsey Shoppe
2923 N. Henderson Ave. 214-824-6300.
As Wendell Patterson tells it, the genesis of this 15-year-old shop was a little unusual in that it grew out of wife Suzie’s work as an interior designer. This very successful business now encompasses two stores with a total of 22,000 square feet. “Americans like French style,€VbCrLf he says, “because it’s elegant but casual and mixes well with other things.€VbCrLf Wendell and Suzie shop France six to 10 times a year and are known not only as major purveyors of country French furniture but also for having one of the largest selections of French provincial accessories. “We had no grand plan,€VbCrLf Suzie says. “We just bought what we liked, and we grew.€VbCrLf Their philosophy is to sell fast: the quicker merchandise is turned over, the more exciting the shop.  

Slocum/Hi Line

Adele Hunt’s European Collectibles
1007 Slocum St. 214-651-7542. www.adelehunt.com.
Owners Dick and Janet Lewis make several trips a year to England to buy 18th and 19th-century English furniture and to arrange for bench-made pieces from small shops in London and surrounds.

Bella Italia, Ltd.
1548 Slocum St. 214-747-9100. www.bellaitalialtd.com.
Five members of the Marshall family oversee this business and provide an important plus: they buy directly on their trips, with no middleman, and hand-pick everything. Though the majority of their pieces are Italian, the store’s name is somewhat of a misnomer, as they also carry pieces from France, Spain, and, most recently, the Orient. As to the latter, they have recently acquired a special collection of Asian antiques: 200 to 300-year-old tables, consoles, lacquered cabinets, gold-painted vitrines, and more.

Connie Williamson Antiques
1313 Slocum St., Ste. 102. 214-760-0100. www.conniewilliamsonantiques.com.
The divine Miss Williamson carries high-styled, formal French giltwood furniture and other lavish pieces, such as a marble mantle inset with 31-inch gilded bronze figural mounts. “When you think of gilt mirrors or doré bombés, think of Connie,€VbCrLf she says. “But don’t pass me up if you’re looking for unique pieces such as a Spanish barrel piano from Barcelona.€VbCrLf

Country French Interiors
1428 Slocum St. 214-747-4700. www.countryfrenchinteriors.com.
“I have some pieces that were in my bedroom when I was growing up in France. These pieces had been in my father’s bedroom and in my grandfather’s and my great-grandfather’s before him,€VbCrLf says Monsieur Bruno de la Croix-Vaubois. He shops France every few weeks for one-of-a-kind 18th and 19th-century country French furniture, accessories, and antique tapestries, and he’s more than willing to help you get started on collecting heirloom pieces that will appreciate in value.

Del Saxon
1525 Hi Line Dr., Ste. B. 214-742-6921. www.delsax.com.
Del Frnka was a fundraising consultant who helped restore the governor’s mansion and the McKinney Avenue Trolley before he turned his life over to two passions: antiques and travel. In his showroom are pieces from Barbara Hutton’s palace in Tangiers, an art decoratif screen from 1920s Paris, a leather tufted sofa from Christian Dior’s townhouse, inlaid mother-of-pearl vitrines from Damascus, and, my favorite, an umbrella carried at the darbar (official reception) in India celebrating the coronation of George VII.

Donald J. Embree Antiques, Inc.
1115 Slocum St. 214-760-9141.
They’re strictly to the trade, so you’ll have to bring a professional with you. But it’s worth it. The specialty of this 40-year-old firm is 18th, 19th, and 20th-century continental furniture with emphasis on French arts decoratif-lighting, chairs, small tables, and paintings.

East & Orient Company
1123 Slocum St. 214-741-1191.
Owner Betty Gertz is one of the most respected antiques dealers in Texas and is known for her connoisseurship and impeccable taste. Her reputation affords access to private collections and estates. Come here to see some of the items brought back from Portugal, which exude Mediterranean or Continental style: tall-back armchairs with embossed leather, a narrow French buffet with chinoiserie panels from an old oriental screen of “incredible quality,€VbCrLf and a great salon set of Régence gilded furniture with hand-woven cut silk velvet.

Ernesto Klun Antiques
1217 Slocum St. 214-760-7268.
Mr. and Mrs. Klun have been selling fine antiques to the trade in Dallas for 43 years. Though retirement is not in their plans, they have cut back to opening their doors only two or three days a week, so call in advance. They carry museum-quality 18th and 19th-century furniture, handmade chandeliers, and some accessories, such as urns and andirons.
 
Gary Elam Antiques, Inc.
1025 Slocum St. 214-747-4767.
Old and modern meet in this to-the-trade showroom, which specializes in combining 18th and 19th-century English and French antique furniture and decorative accessories with new components, such as an antique desk that conceals a computer keyboard. They will also install paneled rooms using vintage lumber. The public is welcome on Saturdays; Gary will also open on Sunday by appointment.

Highland Oriental Rugs
1404 Slocum St. 214-748-8892.
Now 10 years on the block, Ali Pamenari sells high-end antique rugs of high quality and intriguing provenance. Of particular note is a 19th-century French rug from the historic Rosedown Plantation-an exquisite example of the genre. One of Dallas’ more distinguished rug dealers, Ali sells antique Persian, European, and Oriental rugs, as well as Abadjian and Aubusson collections.

Jan Showers & Associates
1308 Slocum St. 214-747-5252. www.janshowers.com.
Decorator Jan Showers is known for creating understated, inviting interiors with clean lines. She shops France three or four times a year for 1930s and 1940s French antiques in style moderne, mainly furniture, lamps, chandeliers, and giltwood mirrors.

J. Manheim Antiques
1415 Slocum St., Ste. 101. 214-742-2344. www.jmanheim.com.
In New Orleans, private collectors of fine furniture speak wistfully of Manheim Galleries, one of the city’s most notable antiques showrooms. Luckily, its cousin is alive and well in Dallas, presided over by a member of the third generation of the Manheim family. Jimmy Manheim sells antique and custom-built cabinets, seating, tables, lighting, and mirrors.

John Gregory Studios
1201 Slocum St. 214-741-9858. www.johngregorystudios.com.
Impeccable provenances are the hallmark of John Gregory’s offerings, even if the pieces are old. He sells signed French furniture from the ’30s and ’40s and Directoire pieces that have a modern feel. He does lighting restoration of chandeliers and sconces and custom-makes chandeliers. While he believes less is more, he does carry pieces with a touch of rococo, “just for fun.€VbCrLf

Joseph Minton Antiques
1410 Slocum St. 214-744-3111. www.mintonantiques.com.
Joe Minton’s genius lies in his gift for juxtaposing less formal and extravagant pieces, creating an unexpected mix. No wonder he’s been a fixture in Dallas and Fort Worth for more than 30 years. His Dallas showroom, run by business partner Kevin Peavey, is filled with lavish Italian, French, and English pieces from the 17th through 19th centuries, such as marble-topped gilded consoles, Louis XIV chaises, and opulent mirrors.

Legacy Antiques
1406 Slocum St. 214-748-4606. www.legacyantiques.com.
Jeff and Vicki Garrett sell formal and provincial 18th and 19th-century European antiques, decorative objects, and architectural elements in an 8,000-square-foot showroom. City mice will find architectural doors, gold leaf and trumeau mirrors, bergeres, chandeliers, and marble fountains. Country mice will find breakfast tables, sideboards, farm tables, and more.

Le Louvre French Antiques
1313 Slocum St., Ste. 105. 214-742-2605.
Owner Annick McNally has been a dealer in Dallas for 21 years, in this location for 10, and is known for buying antique furnishings in the grand “chateau-style.€VbCrLf Because of her diverse customer base, however, Annick caters to a variety of tastes: 17th, 18th, and 19th-century furniture and architecturals run the gamut from rustic to Renaissance and Louis Philippe to
formal Parisian.

Le Passé Antiques
1316 Slocum St. 214-752-9796. www.lepassedallas.com.
M. Marcel Dondero came to Dallas in 1988 from New York via France and opened Le Passé the following year with a silent partner. Francophiles take note: shipments arrive from France every two months. Marcel is the largest dealer in Dallas of both new and antique Quimper faience and also has a lively collection of French majolica and Limoges.

Louis Rosenbach Antiques, Inc.
1518 Slocum St. 214-748-0906.
One of Dallas’ first importers of 17th, 18th, and 19th-century European furniture and accessories, the late M. Rosenbach (who settled here from Holland in 1958) was known to make four or five trips a year to the Continent to personally ferret out fine antiques for his privileged clientele. Though the shop is smaller now, daughter Rika continues her father’s prestigious trade.

Nathaniel Byron Fine Antiques
1519 Hi Line Dr., Ste. C. 214-651-0100. www.nbpempire.com.
Nathaniel Byron retails antique and reproduction Neoclassical furnishings, such as rare antiques from Tsarist Russia, and modern creations from the hands of master craftsmen.

Oriental Treasures, Inc.
1322 Slocum St. 214-760-8888.
Thomas and Ruby Chang serve the trade with one of the finest collections of Asian antiques in Dallas. All kinds of antique furniture from China may be had, as well as Neolithic Tang pottery horses uncovered from archaeological sites.

Nova Collection
1408 Slocum St. 214-747-6682.
One of the most dazzling floral design studios in the city, Tamara Rhodes has been creating custom work for residential and commercial properties for 15 years, creating everything from the classic, antiquarian look to modern arrangements.

Orion Antique Importers
1435 Slocum St. 214-748-1177. www.oriondallas.com.
For 28 years, David and Shelley Stevens have supplied the trade with 17th, 18th, and 19th-century furnishings and architecturals from the Louis XIV, Regency, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Empire periods. Some 12 years ago, they started importing from Italy and now offer what has become, according to David, “a new staple of our industry: painted Italian furniture and Italian chandeliers and mirrors.€VbCrLf He tells me that antique chandeliers sales are booming.

Philip Maia Antiques
1209 Slocum St. 214-939-5200.
Philip Maia and his wife have been in the antiques business since the early ’80s. Their concentration is on 19th-century provincial furniture from France, Spain, and Portugal, though they have a few pieces from the late-18th and early-20th centuries. You’ll find an abundance of armoires, buffets, tables, and chairs, as well as European landscape paintings and portraiture, Philip’s favorite genre.

Pittet & Co.
1215 Slocum St. 214-748-8999. www.pittet.com.
Raymond Pittet once specialized in tapestries, and, though he’s since moved on to furniture, he still supplies Dallasites with the large-scale tapestries so necessary in this day of the mega-house. “Thanks to the Internet,€VbCrLf says wife Harmony, “we are wired into what’s happening in Europe and buy accordingly.€VbCrLf To Harmony, that means fine Italian furniture, marquetry, and pairs of anything from commodes to consoles.

San Miguel Allende Inc.
1418 Slocum St. 214-760-9117.
Abraham Cohen was one of the very first tenants on Slocum Street; he tells me that he doesn’t sell antiques, he makes them. His custom work-in stone, iron, and wood-is on view in some of the most notable residences in the country, as well as well-known local restaurants. The master craftsman and his studio, which is now more than two decades old, work with designers, architects, and contractors, as well as end users.

Slocum Antique Centre
1402 Slocum St. 214-748-8892.
Importers of 18th and 19th-century English and French antiques and accessories including clocks, blue-and-white transferware, and majolica.

Via Maggio
The Mews, 1333 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. A. 214-692-8502; Dallas Auction Gallery, 1518 Slocum St. 214-748-8353. www.viamaggioltd.com.
Kathi Shuford’s rich collection of 17th, 18th, and 19th-century Italian furniture, accessories, and decorative paintings has developed a devoted clientele, dovetailing nicely with The Dallas Auction Gallery, which she and her husband Scott also own. A great source for painted furniture, sconces, chandeliers, and majolica.

MIDCENTURY PIONEERS Wlodek Malowanczyk, a Polish-born Dane, and his wife/partner Abby have been established dealers of midcentury modern for more than 20 years, and their new-ish 8,000-square-foot Russell Buchanan-designed showroom is filled with serious collector bait, major works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Arne Jacobsen, and Finn Juhl, as well as the more widely known Herman Miller, Knoll, etc. Collage 20th Century Classics, 1300 N. Industrial Blvd. 214-828-9888. www.collageclassics.com.

Goodchild’s, Inc.
1330 Dragon St. 214-742-7000. www.goodchildrestorations.com.
Period antiques, antique leather desk inserts, and long-case clocks.

Gregor’s Studios
1413 Dragon St. 214-744-3385. www.gregorsstudios.com.
French and English mantels and their corresponding trumeaux and period-style furniture and architectural elements, including tables, chairs, armoires, doors, and alcoves.

House of Kirk
1525 Dragon St. 214-747-3115. By appointment only.
Merrill Kirk rose from teacher and radio personality to emperor of a seven-business empire, the centerpiece of which is House of Kirk, “the largest showroom and museum of its kind in the world.€VbCrLf Key words: opulence and ormolu. Another division, House of Kirk Italiano, makes hand-carved, custom-finished furniture, and yet another, House of Kirk Design, offers a complete design service for residential and commercial projects.

Joel Cooner Gallery
1605 Dragon St. 214-747-3603. www.joelcooner.com.
“We only deal in authentic pieces that have value in the international marketplace,€VbCrLf says merchant/adventurer Joel Cooner. The real deal is tribal art and Asian art and antiquities. Joel lived in Japan and traveled throughout Asia, where he used to pull material directly from the field. Today the museum-quality Asian, African, Aboriginal Australian, and pre-Columbian Mexican artifacts he sells come from secondary sources, primarily the collections of Colonial Europeans.

Maximiliaan’s House of Grand Pianos
1501 Dragon St., Ste. 101. 214-880-1777. By appointment only. www.pianomax.com.
Dutchman Maximiliaan Rutten is now based in Manhattan, but, lucky for us, his reproductions and restored instruments can be seen in his Dallas showroom.

Fairmount & Routh

Adam & Eve Antiques
3121 Routh St. 214-871-0225.
This is a shop for lovers of “smalls,€VbCrLf those hard-to-categorize items that are neither furnishings nor accessories but are old and charming, like a round deck of cards, pince-nez in a tortoise-shell case, or a set of buttons from a Confederate soldier’s uniform.

Alexandra Christian, Ltd.
2723 Routh St. 214-720-4020.
An inveterate auction-goer, owner Kelly Tiernan buys and sells important 18th and 19th-century French furniture, particularly from the periods of Louis XV through Directoire. It’s not unusual for her to carry pieces that are stamped with the names of the finest French furniture makers.

Dorrace Pearle Antiques
2736 Routh St. 214-855-0008. www.pearleantiques.com.
Dorrace Pearle has been selling antiques in this 100-year-old Routh Street house for more than 35 years, and now she has the good help of daughter Mary Jean George. They are known for dealing in sought-after antique and estate jewelry, small bronzes, and 18th and 19th-century American and English accessories.

The Eagles Antiques
2711 Fairmount St. 214-871-9301.
This charming store is chock-a-block with French and English furniture and accessories. Right now, the more decorative items-small paintings and tapestries, mirrors, and prints-are selling best. Peter has a “very exceptional€VbCrLf marble and bronze bust of Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt, by French sculptor Henri Weigele.

The History Merchant
2723 Routh St. 214-979-0810. www.historymerchant.com. 
This is the place to experience the pungency of an Old World, London-flavored bookstore. Enthusiasts of Winston Churchill, literature lovers, and rare-book collectors can browse to their hearts’ content. Other specialties: autographs, prints, and portrait bronzes of world leaders.

Reward
2604 Fairmount St. 214-871-9106.
“We don’t have a look,€VbCrLf owner Sherry Hayslip says. “Our signature comes from our belief that the home should reflect the people we’re designing for-it’s their home, not our personal space.€VbCrLf Reward carries Arts and Crafts furniture and objects, numerous 18th and early-19th-century Continental pieces, and some pieces in the most under-appreciated style in Dallas, early American.

R.L. Riddell Rare Maps & Prints
2611 Fairmount St. 214-953-0601.
Royd Riddell specializes in fine, authentic, hand-colored prints from the days prior to mechanization of the printing process. There are no reproductions here, only originals from the 1600s to 1880s, and some prints by such leading contemporary printmakers as Henry Wolfenson, whose sporting prints are made by dry-point plating, the most difficult type of engraving. There are prints for every taste, from those who collect illustrations of pottery and porcelain to those who like clocks or machinery.

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THE NEW TRADITIONALIST Melissa Melville’s exquisite eye for British antiques comes to her naturally; her family on her father’s side is from Devon and Sussex. Melissa’s traditional English furniture and accessories appeal to a broad range of collectors because of their quality and character. Of note: papier-mÃ.che trays and tartans, which she says are the “it€VbCrLf collectibles. Melissa’s stall in the newly created Antique Row on West Lovers Lane is one to watch. Antique Row, 5013 W. Lovers Ln. 214-353-0080.

Antique Row
5013 W. Lovers Ln. 214-353-0080.
Dallas’ newest antiques collective is a boutique mall of two dozen dealers, carrying an eclectic assortment of furniture, from formal and country French to English and Italian. Accessories include silver, porcelain, toleware, architectural elements, majolica, and Staffordshire. If your passion is papier-mÃ.ché, this is the place to go. They claim the best collection in town-inkwells, fire screens, trays, boxes, even tilt-top tables.

City View Antique Mall
909 N. Industrial Blvd., Ste. B. 214-824-4136.
City View literally sprang from the ashes after fire damaged the Lower Greenville Avenue Antiques Mall. The 40 dealers relocated to Industrial Boulevard to strut their stuff-Victorian, some early French, and some Mission furniture; Limoges and early English china; and a variety of chandeliers. Although almost all articles predate 1950, one dealer specializes in midcentury modern.

Debris
1205 Slocum St. 214-752-8855.
I love this place. Some 50 international dealers and designers proffer wares from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Outsized architectural pieces such as 18th-century statuary from Gloucester, England, vie with Japanese bamboo chests, French doors, Continental furniture, and a number of T. Rex-sized stone garden ornaments. Debris owner Josef Edwards has also opened Found, another collective with generally more affordable pieces.

Forestwood Antique Mall
5333 Forest Ln. 972-661-0001.
A midpriced cooperative of more than 200 dealer/owners, the mall seems overwhelming at first, but good organization and itemization make navigating the 266 spaces quite doable. Home furnishings range from early American and 19th-century English and French to art deco and ’50s pieces, as well as chandeliers, Oriental rugs, jewelry, and vintage clothing. Collectors will find majolica, blue-and-white Canton ware, Depression and cut glass, American art pottery, and a large number of smalls. I always shop here for crystal.

The Gathering
1515 Turtle Creek Blvd. 214-741-4888.
A high-end collective of some 50 dealers occupying 18,000 square feet of space, The Gathering is a must for those chasing down gilded mirrors and glittering chandeliers, 18th and 19th-century furniture and accessories, rare Oriental rugs, first editions and illuminated manuscripts, bronzes and ivories, and the incomparable frosted glass objects marked “R. Lalique France.€VbCrLf Owner Wayne Prokay is both a gentleman and a scholar.

Love Field Antique Mall & Classic Cars
6500 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-357-6500. www.lovefieldantiquemall.com.
Over the past 14 years, this antiques supermarket has grown to 250 dealers of antique linens, china, glass, silver, books, furniture, and sundry collectibles. If you’re a car buff, you’ve simply got to see the car mall in the back where a number of influential Dallasites rent space to showcase and sell their vintage vehicles. Recently on view: a ’56 orange and white Mercury, a ’64 red Corvette Convertible with white top, a ’52 maroon, two-door Hudson hardtop, and a mahogany Yellowjacket boat.

Lovers Lane Antique Market
5001 W. Lovers Ln. 214-351-5656. www.loverslaneantiques.com.
The word “market€VbCrLf is not tony enough to denote the upscale offerings of the 30 discerning dealers who comprise this antiques collective, or “group shop,€VbCrLf currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. The purveyors offer a constantly changing menu of fine American, French, and English antiques: long-case clocks, Staffordshire, sterling silver napkin rings, Imari, and the folk art of Virginia artisan Nancy Thomas.

Lula B’s Antique Mall
2004 Greenville Ave. 214-824-2185.
Aptly located along hip and kitschy Lower Greenville, Lula B’s specializes in home commodities from the ’50s to the ’70s with some antiques displays threaded through the space. Those “updating€VbCrLf their homes with retro-themed merchandise can pick from a large selection of vinyl, neon, and the requisite shag rugs.

McKinney Avenue Antique Market
2710 McKinney Ave. 214-871-9803. www.mckinneyantiques.com.
Whatever you collect, you’re bound to find examples here. Their 45 dealers cover a lot of territory from samplers to Quimper, from toleware to tartanware, the fancy of Queen Victoria. Much of the merchandise is displayed on shelves, buffets, dining room sets, and little desks-all for sale.

The Mews
1708 Market Center Blvd. 214-748-9070. www.themews.net.
This golden flea market spreads across two adjoining buildings in the Design District and was the vision of designer Doris Hart. Of the merchandise, Doris says, “We lean toward the French, a little Italian, and Continental, primarily because that’s what Dallas buys. Even those into English Chippendale are decorating in the French style now, and quite a few of our dealers specialize in it.€VbCrLf

Park Cities Antiques
7830 N. Central Expy. 214-696-5983.
A favorite of decorators but also open to the public, this eclectic mall relocated from Lovers Lane last year and is now settled into new, commodious space off Central. There are some 75 dealers offering a mix of items at every price point, with emphasis on English, French, and some American antiques. Lovers of flow blue, majolica, and French cameo glass will have a field day.

Snider Plaza Antique Shops
6929 Snider Plaza. 214-373-0822. www.sniderplazaantiques.com.
They characterize themselves as “a multi-dealer antiques marketplace featuring quality antiques for the serious collector and antique-buying tours of Italy.€VbCrLf Somebody has to do it! I like knowing that the dealers of furniture, rugs, lamps, sterling silver, needlepoint, Italian ceramics, and Venetian glass work the store, unlike some cooperatives where the dealers are in absentia. And wouldn’t it be fun to tour Tuscany with the mall’s proprietors, attending an Italian trade fair where 1,200 dealers from all over Europe show their wares?

PEGGY’S FAVORITE DESIGNER SHOPS

B. Gover Limited
410 N. Bishop Ave. 214-941-4070.
“If you love it, it will all work together,€VbCrLf owner Barbara Gover says. An interesting mix of hand-picked, one-of-a-kind items makes B. Gover Limited a priority visit on this shopping list. The look here ranges from primitive to gilt designs. A distressed Chesterfield leather settee, a blue Fois Gras butcher’s table from France, and a fantastic high-backed chinoiserie bed with gilt hand-painted figures are particular favorites.

Cathy’s Antiques & Estate Jewelry
500 Crescent Ct., Ste. 150. 214-871-3737.
If your home furnishings are lacking the luster of your jewels, then you won’t want to miss Cathy’s collection of European antiques, including fine china, porcelain, silver, and crystal, some pieces dating back as far as 1790.

Ceylon et Cie
1500 Market Center Blvd. 214-742-7632.
East meets West at Ceylon et Cie with an intriguing mix of 18 and 19th-century French and Asian antiques. The bone inlaid Indian mirrors are magnificent, but an irresistible pair of rock-crystal candlesticks made my shopping spree complete. Owner Michelle Nussbaumer says, “It’s all about color, ethnic touches, and making a statement with pieces that you absolutely love.€VbCrLf

Collage 20th Century Classics
1300 N. Industrial Blvd. 214-828-9888. www.collageclassics.com.
This is the place for vintage furniture pieces by noted designers and architects. Aalto, Eames, Wegner, Juhl, Matthson-you’ll find their work here. These are the names and designs that changed furniture design forever. Collage carries classic, modern pieces that will add the little something special to any décor, be it modern or traditional.

Gerald Tomlin Antiques
54 Highland Park Village. 214-526-3702. www.tomlinantiques.com.
Specializing in 18th and 19th-century antiques, Gerald Tomlin Antiques is a second-generation family-owned business with roots in appraisals and investment-quality furnishings. (Gerald Tomlin is a regular appraiser on The Antiques Roadshow.) For 12 years, the Tomlin family has stocked only the finest pieces from Western Europe. Among my favorites are a beautiful pair of Georgian mahogany urns with hidden inserts for stashing cutlery.

Inessa Stewart’s Antiques Interiors
5201 W. Lovers Ln. 214-366-2660. www.inessa.com.
In 1998, Inessa and John Stewart turned a sprawling health food store into one of the most remarkable antiques showrooms in the city, and now claim the title as the largest importer of French antiques in the country. Every piece is restored in their back room. A Louis XV secretaire with a drop-front leather-topped desk with intricate veneer and marquetry made me swoon. And their prices are jaw-droppingly affordable.
 
John Phifer Marrs, Inc.
5021 W. Lovers Ln. 214-352-4949. www.johnmarrs.com.
With a unique gallery and true vision in home design, John Marrs is a man on his way to the top. The Lover’s Lane shop reflects John’s love for combining old and new, as in the wonderful old oak chest that has been slightly revamped as a washstand. I covet the 1940s French desk with inlaid leather top and brass accents.

Lisa Luby Ryan At Home with a Past
6712 Snider Plaza. 214-696-9991.
This quaint Snider Plaza boutique specializing in English country antiques has just celebrated its first anniversary. Judging by the friendly staff and charming selection of hard to find English designers, such as Cath Kidston and Caroline Zoob, At Home with a Past will likely enjoy many successful years to come. My picks: funky sailboat pillows made from vintage textiles, an antique blue-painted wooden bench, and Cath Kidston aprons that are just too cute to resist.
 
Loyd-Paxton
3137 Irving Blvd., Ste. 313. 214-521-1521.
Since 1960, Loyd Taylor and Paxton Gremillion have scooped up countless honors for their fine interiors filled with amazing antiques and objets d’art. Their store has also become legendary for its fine selection of museum-quality pieces, which run the gamut from 18th-century French, Italian, and English to royal Asian and Indian. The pair also operates their interior design firm from the store (see one of their most famous and exquisite interiors in the “Crystal Palace€VbCrLf feature from this issue). Their reputation precedes them as they’ve been honored by Architectural Digest as the only designers from the Southwest that have been named among The 100 International Designers and Architects for two consecutive decades (1990 and 2000).

Mary Cates and Co.
5015 W. Lovers Ln. 214-871-7953.
Mary Cates recently moved her eclectic store filled with English antiques from Boll Street to this West Lovers Lane location. The new showroom still offers custom lamps and bedding (the store has their own fabrics in stock). On a recent visit, I saw a gorgeous English pine armoire, an early 1900s chest, and an exquisite leather antique screen.

Notable Accents
8204 Kate St. 214-369-5525. www.notableaccents.com.
Owner and interior designer Charlotte Taylor specializes in English and French decorative antiques, hand-selecting each of her pieces in Europe. Charlotte also offered up some shopping advice: “Be very careful, and buy one piece at a time.€VbCrLf Her store merchandising reflects this meticulous approach, and her antique linen selection is legendary.

Rue No. 1
6701 Snider Plaza. 214-265-0900.
Owner Brooke Crew has been filling her store for more than four years with some of the best French vintage finds in town. Dusty chic is the game here, and Brooke travels to Paris every year to scout for treasure, including antique French furniture, chandeliers, Bella Notte linens, handmade paper and stationery, and Tocca candles. Brooke’s selection of apothecary products and sweet baby gift items draws Park Cities moms by the Explorer-load.

Rutherford’s
5647 W. Lovers Ln. 214-357-0888. www.rutherforddesign.com.
Robert Rutherford’s Lovers Lane store has been a mainstay since 1989. With more than 70,000 yards of fabric, trims, tassels, and beads, this specialty shop sends me reeling with delight every time I visit. This is the place for designers and do-it-yourselfers alike, whether in search of luxury furniture, accessories, or textiles. In-store services include plush custom pillows and draperies, floral arrangements, and residential design, and Rutherford’s selection of antique ribbons and trim is one of the best of its kind.

THE DAUPHIN AND DAUPHINE OF COUNTRY FRENCH The name of their shop says it all. Wendell and Suzie Patterson not only qualify as two of the nicest people on the planet, but also as savvy dealers of everything country French. Their two showrooms reflect their six to 10 shopping trips to France each year: miles of honest, rustic furniture and delightful smalls-confit pots, canisters, bundles of antique silver, and the like. The Whimsey Shoppe, 2923 N. Henderson Ave. 214-824-6300; 1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. 215. 214-745-1800.

After-Glow Antiques & Refinishing
417 E. Church St., Lewisville. 972-221-6907.
Antiques and furniture restoration.

Alton Bowman Studio
6524 Orchard Dr., Flower Mound. 817-430-3032.
Highest quality restoration of period French furniture, as well as gilding, French polish, and finishes.

Antiques by Eric
1223 Levee St. 214-748-4714. www.antiquesbyeric.com.
Antique wood furniture repair and refinishing and creation of antique reproduction furniture.

Art Restorations, Inc.
7803 Inwood Rd. 214-350-0811.
Paintings, porcelain, silver, crystal, malachite, cloisonné, jade, tortoise, and dolls.

Brown Mountain Restoration
2809 N. Henderson Ave. 214-824-3205.
Paintings, porcelain, papier-mÃ.ché, gilding, and mirrors.

Dallas Silversmiths, Inc.
11126 Shady Trail, Ste. 113. 972-620-8866.
Plating of gold, silver, copper, brass, nickel, pewter-nearly any type of metal.

Esmaili Rugs & Antiques
1500 Hi Line Dr. 214-651-7847.
Antique rug restoration and cleaning.

Fegan Fine Art Restoration
1316 Conant St. 214-631-2920. www.williamfegan.com.
Paintings, porcelains, ceramics, frames, some metals, and screens.

Gallery Central
1932 Skillman Ave. 214-827-3431.
Antique painting and frame restoration and gold and silver leafing.

Las Negras Studio
2103 Irving Blvd. 214-871-0410.
Gilding: furniture, frames, and architectural elements.

Lisa Erlandson
940-668-6758. By appointment only.
Quilt restoration and appraisal.

Molloy Mirror
2635 Floyd St. 214-826-4452.
Re-silvering of mirrors and restoration of cut glass.

Noles-Davis Antique Restoration
2711 Manor Way. 214-358-1731.
Gold, silver, pewter, brass, and copper plating.

Norton’s Restorations
3129 N. Hwy. 67, Mesquite. 972-613-9331.
Period furniture restoration.

Pascale Blasiak
1621 Shreveport Trail, Plano. 972-517-5600.
Antique needlework and tapestries.

Wildman Art Framing
1505 Hi Line Dr. 214-741-7100.
Antique frame restoration.

William B. Schieffer Studio
2419 Stutz Rd. 214-352-5328.
Woodcarving and furniture design using fine art woods, as well as restoration of fine antiques.

ODDS & ENDS

Vintage Furniture & Accessories
Century Modern
2928 Main St. 214-651-9200. www.centurymodern.com.

Trade-only Special Finds
Vivian Watson
1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. 316. 214-651-0211.

Chinese Exports
Jane Elmore
Snider Plaza Antiques, 6929 Snider Plaza. 214-373-0822.

Catherine Dunlap
Snider Plaza Antiques, 6929 Snider Plaza. 214-373-0822.

Oriental Rugs
Caravanserai Ltd.
1435 Dragon St. 214-741-2131.

Esmaili Rugs and Antiques
1500 Hi Line Dr. 214-651-7847.

Farzin Rugs & Design
The Gathering, 1515 Turtle Creek Blvd. 214-747-1511.

Park Cities Oriental Rugs
6915 Preston Rd. 214-526-8500.

Talebi Rug Gallery
1525 Hi Line Dr. 214-747-0707.

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EMPEROR OF THE EXOTIC Del Frnka deals in history, not objects. His Design District gallery is filled with one-of-a-kind pieces from such faraway locales as Morocco, Asia, New Guinea, and the South Pacific. Bone and stone are not out of the place here, as some of the pieces date back to 400 B.C. Del travels the world in search of these antiquities, so, of course, his stock of stories is as amazing as his inventory. Del Saxon, 1525 Hi Line Dr., Ste. B. 214-742-6921. www.delsax.com.

The Moving of Antiques
Abrupt changes in temperature can affect wood, glue, and glass, so don’t move objects from a cold to a heated place or vice versa. Use plenty of padding between pieces; make sure furniture is hefted, not dragged (dragging can damage legs, I learned the hard way). Separate heavy and fragile items no matter how well packed; use compartmentalized cartons for glassware and other delicate items and un-inked paper for wrapping, not newsprint.

On Cleaning Old China
No dishwashers, please. Place a towel in the sink and another on the counter, so that if you drop anything, there’s a layer of protection. Fill the sink with lukewarm water and add several squirts of Dawn. Dip object gently into water and wipe off with a cotton cloth. Use a toothbrush to get into crevices of ornamented pieces. Air-dry on paper towels.

Bargaining at Antiques Shows
It is not unladylike to bargain. Most dealers are amenable to discounting a piece by at least 10 percent. Negotiate graciously. Ask, “Is this the best you can do?€VbCrLf As the show winds down, dealers are more apt to reduce prices-sales mean fewer things to repack and lug home and more cash to refresh stock.

Buyer Beware
Most changes made to original pieces reduce their value, so inspect furniture and accessories to see if: feet or legs have been replaced; drawer fronts have been altered; new doors have been hung on cupboards, cabinets, or secretaries; a highboy base has been married to the top from another piece; and/or the piece has its original veneer or has been intentionally “stressed€VbCrLf or embellished.

On Antique Tabletop Linens
Ah, my passion. Look for beautiful monograms, unusual patterns traced in damask, delicate embroidery, or fanciful appliqué. Smell and feel the cloth. If there’s a strong scent of bleach, beware: bleach residue will weaken fibers. If it smells musty, feels crisp, or sounds crinkly, the fabric may be too dry, and the fibers will eventually give. Old, well-cared-for linens soften deliciously with age.

Buying Old Silver
Old silver gives me endless pleasure, and even a beginning collector can buy wisely. Check for maker, age, country of origin, and, of course, true silver (rather than sterling). Then ask yourself, “Must I have this?€VbCrLf

PEGGY’S FAVORITE ESTATE SALE ORGANIZERS

Help Me Ronda
Blonde bombshell Ronda Ross Hooks conducts some of the best sales in the Park Cities and Lakewood. Ronda cut her teeth managing the first antiques co-op in Dallas, then blossomed into an appraiser.

Arthur Rousseau
Arthur conducted estate sales for 20-plus years as a sideline, then turned his “profitable hobby€VbCrLf into a full-time business. He is an accredited appraiser of antiques and residential contents and knows the price and value of just about everything. Rousseau deals in high-end properties and “digger€VbCrLf sales, where customers need archaeological skills to unearth buried treasure.

Marion Tanner Westbrook
Marion oversees no more than six sales a year, some running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Students who take her appraisal course-16 sessions, from French furniture to Depression glass-examine the real McCoy. Marion comes by her expertise honestly: in 1913, her grandfather founded the William Tanner Furniture store chain, a Dallas institution for many years.

Ruth Taylor
A gifted organizer, Ruth Taylor runs a totally professional sale. Her forte is visual presentation, a skill perfected during her tenure as a million-dollar producer for Baker Knapp & Tubbs. So it’s no surprise that she’s an expert in fine reproduction furniture.

Allison Galt-Hall & Associates
Allison has been handling liquidations since 1986. Her sales are tidy, clean, and well-researched. A qualified appraiser with a specialty in tabletop (china, glass, and silver) and smalls, she uses
others, such as fine art expert Andrew Roughton, for the big stuff. Allison only handles three sales a year, but she continues to do appraisals for lawyers handling estates.

Good Friends
Antiques mavens should keep an eye out for Good Friends ads. Members of the North Texas Society of Appraisers, Linda Shelton and Carolyn Taylor Wilson were antiques dealers before they landed on the small planet of estate liquidators. They’ve already handled nine sales this year!

West Appraisal Consultants
While living in England, Conan West trained his eye, then joined an antiques business in Dallas some 30 years ago, before eventually branching out on his own. With cousin Bonnie West, they conduct fine-art and estate appraisals, as well as estate sales.

CALENDAR OF ANTIQUES SHOWS, FAIRS, AND AUCTIONS

Buchanan Markets Antiques & Collectibles
Dallas Fair Park, Automobile Building, 1010 First Ave. www.buchananmarkets.com.
A 7-year-old monthly market showcasing antiques and collectibles from across the United States and Europe in more than 85,000 square feet of space. Held at Fair Park every month except September and October, when it moves to Market Hall to make way for the State Fair.
May 10 (Garage Sale)
June 7 & 8
June 28 & 29
July 19 & 20
August 16 & 17
November 15 & 16
December 6 & 7

Dallas Market Hall, 2200 Stemmons Fwy.
September 6 & 7
October 25 & 26

Dallas Auction Gallery
1518 Slocum St. 214-653-3900. www.dallasauctiongallery.com.
Named in D Home’s 2003 “Best of Everything€VbCrLf as the creators and owners of the “Best Alternative to eBay,€VbCrLf Scott and Kathi Shuford have built an auction house with an enthusiastic following.
Call for schedule.

First Monday Trade Days
Canton (60 miles east of Dallas on I-20). 903-567-6556. www.firstmondaycanton.com.
One of America’s first flea markets, now encompassing 4,000 dealers, they are strong on Americana, with a large supply of furniture, from Arts and Crafts to willow. Good selection of
vintage linens. Held the weekend before the first Monday of the month.
May 1-4
May 29-June 1
July 3-6
July 31-August 3
August 28-September 1
October 2-5
October 30-November 2
November 27-30
 
Fort Worth Antiques & Collectibles Show
Will Rogers Center, One Amon Carter Square, Fort Worth. 817-220-3092. www.fortworthant.show.
In two short years, this show has earned a reputation for variety and quality. Some 150 dealers from around the country offer a huge assortment of furniture, glassware, antique and vintage advertising signs, and cowboy and Indian artifacts from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s.
May 3 & 4 (Saturday afternoon Appraisal Clinic raises money for such charities as the SPCA and the Cowgirl Museum)
September 6 & 7 (Appraisal Clinics held Saturday and Sunday)
 
Texas Book & Paper Show
Freeway Hall at Market Hall, Market Center Blvd. 713-961-0514. www.texasbookshows.com.
Antiquarian, rare, and out-of-print volumes, presented by the best authorities in their fields.
December 6 & 7

PEGGY’S CHOICE FOR ANTIQUE REPRODUCTIONS

Adele Hunt European Collectibles
1007 Slocum St. 214-651-7542. www.adelehunt.com.

The Englishman’s Antiques and Interiors
14655 Midway Rd., Addison. 972-386-5996. www.theenglishmanantiques.com.

Goodchild’s, Inc.
1330 Dragon St. 214-742-7000. www.goodchildrestorations.com.

Gregor’s Studios
1413 Dragon St. 214-744-3385. www.gregorsstudios.com.

Gutmann’s
2802 Greenville Ave. 214-821-9380.

J. Manheim Antiques
1415 Slocum St., Ste. 101. 214-742-2344. www.jmanheim.com.

Michael Stallings
2604 Fairmount St. 214-668-0560.

Nathaniel Byron
1519 Hi Line Rd., Ste. C. 214-651-0100. www.nbpempire.com.

Sedersi, Inc.
1022 Dragon St. 214-653-1951.

Terrence Sweeney Design
1615 Dragon St. 214-651-7101. www.terrencesweeneydesign.com.