We've all see the episode on "Antiques Roadshow" where the man or woman brings in a cast-off doodad they found in their attic (a toy car, a painting), and suddenly -- on national television no less -- they're being told they have something of surprising value. Antiques are becoming more rare and are an investment. To adapt what they say about real estate: They're not making any more antiques. England has been effectively bought out, except for the really high-end pieces. France is headed that way, and rarity adds to value. When shopping for antique furniture, two 18th Century buffets, for example, what increases the value of one over the other? READ MORE FROM CRAIG NELSON, FRENCH MARKET ANTIQUES...
While shopping for antiques in northern France, my partner and I decided to explore just over the border into Belgium. As we drove into Belgium, we noted marked differences in the scenery, the architecture, and the overall feel of the area. Houses and lawns were almost clinically tidy and manicured. We visited "off the beaten path" warehouses and an ancient farmhouse. READ MORE FROM JUDY NELSON, FRENCH MARKET ANTIQUES...
Do you like country French? How about antique spinning wheels, bedwarmers, grain grinders and hay rakes? How about antique wooden wheel barrows and grain measures? That’s country French and country French is cool. One place to find these things still in some abundance is Brittany, located in northwestern France. On my last buying trip, I went directly to Brittany and bought for three days, going through barns and warehouses to really get back to country French -– my roots in antiques. READ MORE FROM JUDY NELSON, OF AMELIA ISLAND'S FRENCH MARKET ANTIQUES...
Paris is the hub of the French antique market and Les Puces de Paris St-Ouen is the hub of the hub. Located in the 18th arrondisement on the north side of Paris, "the fleas," as they are familiarly referred to, provide a "one stop shopping location" for people in search of antiques. Judy Nelson of Amelia Island's "French Market Antiques" gives a behind-the-scenes peek at what's involved in shopping for antiques in France...
Judy Nelson's last ANTIQUES column gave readers a "behind the scenes" peek at what's involved in getting antiques from France to our local Fernandina "French Market Antiques" shop on historic Centre Street. Judy continues this month with more about her buying trip to France...riding a bullet train through the French countryside, visiting a deboulage (dealer fair), and buying antiques (chevets, enfilades, and a wonderful petrin) for transport back to Fernandina Beach...
Amelia Island Living eMagazine is pleased to introduce a new column, “Antiques,” by Judy Nelson. Judy has spent over thirty years managing and operating antique stores in Atlanta and Los Angeles (and now Fernandina Beach), including extensive buying and research trips to France and England. Judy will share her knowledge of antiques in general, her “French” specialty, and discuss local antiquing on Amelia Island. As Judy is about to depart on a buying trip to France, her first column gives a "behind the scenes" peek at what's involved in getting the shop's inventory from France to our local Amelia Island "French Market Antiques" shop.
