Making the Rounds at Round Top

My life has been somewhat of a treasure hunt. At a young age, I took off to design school in New York. I would frequent the Upper East Side and West Side consignment shops during the week and comb the 26th Street Flea Market on Saturday mornings. After acquiring a proper education and amassing quite the collection, I moved back down South to open my shop and interior design business, Shabby Slips.

Whether it be in New York, Paris, Atlanta or Round Top, my favorite place to be is a flea market. Here in Round Top, folks have organized one of the best places in the world to go on that elusive treasure hunt. The Round Top Antique Show started 50 years ago in The Big Red Barn, and the show is still alive and thriving today – and what an antique metropolis this tiny Texas town has become! It brings in people from all over this country and as far as Europe.

Since the beginning, many shows have been added to the lineup, The Marburger Farm Show, the Arbor Show and Warrenton to name a few, with the newest being the Market Hill Show. Market Hill brought a more permanent presence to Round Top making it easier for dealers and buyers to shop in good lighting, climate-controlled environment (air-conditioning is much needed!) and a great restaurant to meet a friend for a glass of wine after the shows. 

At Market Hill, dealers have a home, for years to come, making it an annual go-to event in the spring and fall for me. I arrive early and stay late. There is a huge variety of things to buy. I shop for design projects I am currently working on, or pick up store fillers. You name it; it's there. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional like me, or just looking for that one small treasure, you are bound to find it and more. I hope this year will be another stellar one, after all, Paris is a much longer trip. See you in the fields! 

Renea’s Picks  
The important faces and places at Round Top    

Mark Massey of The Compound, Henkel Square and Rummel Square
Curtis Ann Davis, The Arbor
Armando Palacios… he is around somewhere... 
Marburger Farms – the best two Tuesdays of the year!
Mark Dooley of Excess, both sides of Hwy. 237
Warrenton (old timers) and Vincent Peach Pearls
Paul Michael of Market Hill, the Neiman Marcus of Round Top!

Renea Abbott and her mom, Barbara Carlton, started Shabby Slips in 1991 as a custom slipcover shop. Over the years, they have grown their Houston-based interior design business and have continued to travel, collect, purchase and import high-quality antiques and products from all over the world. Learn more at myshabbyslips.com. 

Vincent Peach

Photos courtesy of Vincent Peach

Jewelry designer and maker, Vincent Peach comes from a long line of “pearl” men. His upbringing may have set him on this path, but his creativity took him in a direction all his own. What makes his signature pieces so intriguing is the use of radiant rare pearls, brilliant diamonds, precious metals and exotic leathers expertly put together in a wearable way. The interplay of old and new, masculine and feminine, dazzling diamonds and durable leather, it all works beautifully. One of Vincent’s personal favorites (or “top picks”) is the Montana Double Wrap in 14 karat gold with Tahitian pearl and premium quality bovine leather. 
A native and current resident of Nashville, Tennessee, Vincent’s downtown studio is attached to the namesake Vincent Peach Boutique in Marathon Village. The inspiration for his collections comes from “life’s leisures and the romance of luxury travel.” 
His designs have been seen on celebrity clients from Miranda Lambert to Alice Cooper to Oprah Winfrey, which speaks to the range of styles he produces, but he wants everybody who wears his pieces to feel amazing, no matter who they are. 
Round Top presents a rare chance to meet the designer himself. Vincent always brings new pieces to the show. He says Round Top holds a special place in his heart, and that he considers it his happy place. 

To view his collections, visit vincentpeach.com. 

The Select Pick

Stacy Graubart says she first learned about a good design before she even learned to walk. 
“My mother would drag me to every antiques store, auction house and design store – even before I was out of diapers. We spent our weekends driving down winding lanes looking for architecturally interesting houses. My mother had extraordinary taste. The finest I have ever known,” she says. 
Stacy grew up in Houston, Texas, graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, then moved to Paris, France, where she studied design. She later studied furniture and antiquities at Sotheby’s London. 
She began her design career working in the costume design industry for film and television, which culminated with an Emmy Award nomination. Midway through her design career, Stacy turned to her real love of interior design. 
After working for Arlene Semel & Associates, a Chicago-based interior design firm, she formed SG Designs. 
For 15 years, Stacy has concentrated on high-end residential design and renovation. SG Designs specializes in designing livable homes, not masterpieces. Stacy loves the process of getting to know her clients, creating and catering to their specific needs. 
“I believe your home is the passport of your life. There is no invitation like being invited into someone’s home.”    
Stacy began coming to Round Top more than 20 years ago, first as a collector and now as a vendor and buyer for her clients. 
    “Round Top has only gotten bigger and better over the years. It is a great destination with limitless buying power. There is nothing I enjoy more than the thrill of the hunt. It’s a lot of work, but the inspiration and passion are always there. It’s quite addictive.” 
    The Select Pick is a new vendor to Market Hill, but Stacy has enjoyed shopping at Market Hill since it opened. 
“It is a unique shopping experience with a large selection of quality vendors all under one roof. There is no problem with wind, rain or the hot Texas sun. It’s the easiest way to shop Round Top.” 
    When asked for a preview of what she’s bringing to Market Hill, she says, “We buy what we love and hope others love it too. The pieces range from one-of-a-kind finds for the everyday shopper and rare antiques for the seasoned collector.”  

Featured Find
We are especially excited to include Tribute Good Fine Linens rare and collectible vintage Hermès silk scarf pillows curated from dealers all over the world. These unique designs are made from the entire vintage scarf in pristine condition and include concealed zippers and goose down inserts. (Photo credit: Julie Soefer) 

Two Round Top properties designed by SG Designs will soon appear in Country Living and Modern Farmhouse magazines. To see more, visit sgdesignshouston.com. 

Susan Horne Antiques

For Susan Horne, it all began at Round Top. 
    “I have been showing in Round Top since 2013 but have been shopping the fields for the last 20 years,” she says. 
    Raised in southern Georgia, Susan moved to Dallas then Houston where she met her husband, Houston-native Chip Horne, 25 years ago. A newlywed, she and her girlfriends, all recently married as well, would make the trip to Round Top to shop and to help each other decorate their new homes. It was out in the fields that Susan said that she would have a store out here one day, a booth in Round Top. It’s something her friends remind her of to this day. She is now a vendor at Market Hill. 
    “The experience Paul Michael has created for us is amazing in so many ways,” Susan says. 

In the past, Susan says she would only be able to take some of the pieces from her collection to Round Top because of being outside, being in a tent and being exposed to the elements in the heat, wind or rain. Now, all of it comes to Market Hill. 
    “Our containers arrive right to our space, and Market Hill provides help with the unloading, the installation of lighting and the placement of heavy items,” she says. 
More than the amenities, she talks about the people. 
    “The relationships we build and the business we generate at Market Hill makes it worthwhile. The friendship and support we receive means a great deal to us.”
    It’s also a part of her creative process.    
    “Our creative process starts the minute we finish each show. We take into account what our clients have expressed, the pieces they are looking for and the feedback we get. We make lots of written notes, and we keep all these ideas in mind as we start our buying trips,” Susan says. Other inspiration comes from her daughter Meghan as they work and travel together. 

“She has really helped me expand my taste into more pop culture and mixing antique pieces with modern and new pieces from market. It is very exciting to see what the young people like buying,” Susan says. 
On their buying trips, the beauty and history of Europe also inspire Susan and adds to that creative process as well. 
Among the pieces they have curated for the spring show include an 18th century Italian mirror with a beautiful crest and crown on top.
“This beautiful mirror is from Villa Armiento in Sorrento,” Susan says. “It is thought that the coat of arms was awarded to the family by Napoleon as a reward for their loyalty during his occupation of Naples.” 
“We also have a love for hotel silver and silver plate trophies, and we have a lot to showcase at the spring show as well as antique furniture upholstered in our favorite hue of  royal blue,” she says. “It truly is a joy to call this work.”

For more information, visit susanhorneantiques.com where you can very soon shop online for antiques and a special line of candles sourced from the U.K. 

Stephanie Wheeler

Somewhere between impressionism and abstraction, Stephanie Wheeler’s paintings shine through to reflect the masters who came before her (Manet, Degas and Bonnard) and emanate a style that’s uniquely her own. 
    “Painting is such a pure form of creativity… and to work with color is what I really love doing. My work has become more abstract, more about manipulating the paint and surface, but it’s always about the color… I can push color, but it’s not jarring to the eye. There’s a softness to it,” she says. 
Preparing for her 11th year at Round Top, Stephanie was the first visual artist to appear at the Antiques Fair, attending a decade ago on the insistence of a friend. Stephanie says it was “unconventional” back then for a painter to show artwork at an antiques show. 
    “At the time, you could find everything under the sun there except for art.” 
Now her works are available exclusively at Market Hill. 
A professional painter since 2002, Stephanie never imagined a full-time career in it. She studied art in college, but it wasn’t her major. Her father, also a talented painter, discouraged her from earning an art degree but did encourage her to study with greats. 
She immersed herself in the teachings of Russian figure painter, Marc Chatov. Much of her work today has been influenced by Chatov. She has also studied with some of the best contemporary artists in the country: Andy Braitman, Linda Christensen, Ted Goerschner, Jenny Nelson, all of whom, she says, have played key roles in her exploration of the landscape, figure and abstract space. Stephanie’s work has been displayed throughout the U.S., Canada, British Virgin Islands and Europe, but she still finds something special about Round Top. 
“Round Top is like no other show. This tiny town brings people in from all over. Its growth and longevity over the years is a testament to the diverse vendors. The excitement each season is contagious.” 
“Market Hill has been a great new location for me. I never dreamed that a venue like this could exist in Round Top, but Paul Michael did! And thank goodness for that! My customers enjoy all of the creature comforts our venue has to offer.” 
As for what inspires her year after year, Stephanie says, “Finding inspiration is an easy one for me. Sometimes I wonder if there will be enough time to paint everything I want to paint! Nature and a beautiful walk can really jazz me up, which means travel is a big part of my process. Visiting new countries, taking in the scenery, absorbing the culture has a huge impact on what I paint and the color palettes I explore. These visits can spark a new direction along with a desire to experiment with new materials and subject matter.” 
For the upcoming show, she shares her inspiration for several new pieces. 
“I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa this past fall. During the three-week trip, I traveled all around this beautiful country from Cape Town to Blyde River Canyon and then several days on safari in Krueger National Park – a complete bucket list experience! The awe-inspiring landscape, natural beauty and wildlife made a definite impact on my creative mind,” she says. 
    “Inspired by my visit to the Zeitz Museum in Cape Town, I have explored a new direction of abstract mixed media work using unusual materials and techniques. A massive departure from my more traditional pieces while still maintaining my selective use of color, these new pieces have an organic quality that I hope the viewer will find intriguing.”
    For customers looking for her more recognizable pieces, she is bringing her Colorado Aspens. 

To view more of Stephanie’s work, visit Stephaniewheelergallery.com. 

Scoville Brown Cooperative

From the 1800s until the 1940s, the Scoville Brown Warehouse in Wellsville, New York, hummed with the sounds of a bustling grocery wholesaler. Though the wares have changed, the sounds of a busy building remain. Also evident is the “Hearts Delight” slogan, still visible on the north side of the brick interior. This is the home of Scoville Brown Cooperative where owner and craftsman Jim Braunscheide conducts his business of taking the old and turning it into something new.  
    Speaking with him on a salvage job site in February, it’s cold, and he has to step inside his warm shop (about a half-mile away) to talk. This particular project is an 1880 house with a demolition contract. 
“It would be laying on the ground in three hours,” Jim says. “This would all be thrown away if I didn’t get my hands on it. That’s what I’m most inspired by – saving history.” 
    Jim has been working on the job for a month, salvaging as much as he can. He sends over a photograph of an ornate architectural detail, a wood accent with a beautiful floral motif hand-carved into it. Jim intentionally left the cobwebs and dust intact to demonstrate what excites him most about it.  
“Just to walk in, to get your hands on something original, something that untouched, that’s what inspires me.”  
He sends another photo of his kitchen at home (another half-mile from his shop); natural light spills onto every surface, spotlighting his handiwork. Everything in the kitchen is reclaimed and reused – except for the appliances. All of the woodwork, cabinetry and lighting are repurposed.  
“Like anyone in their craft, my work has evolved over time. I began to see new, repurposed objects in the items I collected or salvaged. I combined what I learned as a young man building with what I learned through the antiques business and started designing and building furniture, lighting and accessories.”
What Jim brings to Market Hill is a variety of antiques and architectural finds. 
“These works are my artistic expression and interpretation of where history, creativity and functionality meet,” he says.  
“Market Hill is amazing. As a contractor, I can say, structurally, it’s impressive, and as a vendor, it simplifies all of the little things that make it difficult to sell on your own. From the building to the breezeway to the air-conditioning – everything.”
Come find Scoville Brown Cooperative at Market Hill. Meet Jim, and find something with an interesting story that’s been given a new chapter. 

For more information, visit, scovillebrown.com.

Sacred Heart Antiques

For Jessica Fairbrother of Sacred Heart Antiques, each piece is personal. Each one has meaning. 
When asked about her creative process, she says, “I spend about three months each year in France, Italy and Belgium. When I'm on a buying trip, I look for pieces that I love enough to keep myself. To pass the test, a piece needs to be old, have a history. It should be beautiful, showing its age, and it should tell a story,” she says. 
“I have to fall a little bit in love with the piece. I look for things with meaning. Things that touch my heart. Things that stop me in my tracks. I never know who I'm buying it for, but my things always seem to find where they are meant to be. 
In a way, Jessica feels it’s meant to be how she arrived at Market Hill. 
“Round Top is the biggest and most exciting antiques event in the U.S. Any antiques dealer worth his salt wouldn't miss it.” 
Jessica had been setting up at Round Top and Warrenton for more than 17 years at several different venues. 
She says, “Paul Michael bought from me years ago. I never would have imagined he would have built Market Hill. I was sold on it immediately. I actually said, ‘You don’t have to sell me on it. I’m there.’ It’s a good place to be.” 
Sacred Heart Antiques now exclusively sells at Market Hill.
    “Last year, I sold my warehouse in Tupelo, Mississippi,” Jessica says, “in order to relocate my import business to Market Hill. It's a great working facility to receive my containers. When the show opens, we are able to offer a comfortable, clean environment to our customers with air conditioning, a good restaurant and other modern amenities. But the real magic is the combination of vendors who appear with fantastic finds from around the world. Each one brings his own wonderful aesthetic and personality. Market Hill houses some of the best antiques dealers in the country.” 
    It’s hard for her to name one piece she’s looking forward to sharing in the spring show. 
    “I am excited to bring the whole collection to the show,” she says, “Each piece is special in its own way. One of the most interesting things I found this trip is a large desk with 12 secret drawers. When I found it, the drawers were empty. The dealer I bought it from had already cleaned out over 20,000 euros in gold coins. But the possibilities of what those drawers held over the years intrigued me more than the money he had found in it. Was it secret love letters? Information about the French Resistance? The formula for creating the perfect Bordeaux? You never know what history and secrets a piece holds,” Jessica says, leading into another great story. 
“Several years ago, I bought a chest of drawers in the south of France. The bottom drawer was locked, and I finally found a key back at the warehouse in the North where I packed my containers. In the drawer, I found the ashes of two dogs. I was advised to throw them out in the field and be rid of them. But I didn't have the heart to dump them out on cold strange soil. So, when I went back South, I took them to a spot near the Mediterranean, sort of a makeshift dog park by the sea where dogs are always running in the hills. I took my dog by that spot on my last buying trip. I told him the story, and I swear he listened and nodded with approval.” 

To see some of the pieces offered by Sacred Heart Antiques, “like” them on Facebook.

Provenance Antiques

Since the early 1990s, Provenance has been a prominent member of the Atlanta antiques scene, pioneering a brand of high-end furniture with European panache. 
Owners Artur Tybuszewski and Yarek Filipczak, who have been friends since childhood in Europe, took over the business in 2008, hand-selecting and directly importing each piece from estates, markets and shops in France, Spain and Italy. Artur remained in the South of France to secure purchases and prepare their shipment to the U.S. 
Melissa Estock joined the team, making the duo a trio and bringing to the table years of experience in luxury European goods and in owning and operating an antiques store in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Melissa and Yarek make trips to Europe every six weeks or so, primarily to the Mediterranean – the South of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. 
“We are very fortunate to make our living by doing something that we truly love. The hunt to find a precious piece is exhilarating. And finding that piece a new home where it will be loved is equally as rewarding. Inspiration and passion is in our nature,” Melissa says.
 “Our creative process is always evolving from classical and traditional to the latest trends – it’s all in the mix.” 
    Making the trip to Round Top for a decade now, there is still great excitement. 
“We have been exhibiting at Round Top for 10 years or so. Amazing how time flies by! Round Top is truly a magical place. It’s a beautiful setting in the country – the green trees, pastures, blue skies, fresh air, wonderful historical architecture and night skies full of stars. Most of all, what makes Round Top special is the people you meet – colleagues or clients – we are all there enjoying a shared passion – antiques! We have made many true friends there.”
Provenance Antiques is proud to call Market Hill home. 

“Market Hill, simply put, is an exhibitor’s dream come true. Paul Michael and his family have put in tremendous thought and effort in creating Market Hill – not only for the exhibitors, but for the clients as well. They have succeeded in creating an environment that allows exhibitors to more easily and more safely set up their showrooms and that gives clients a place to comfortably shop (indoors in air conditioning!). Market Hill presents an eclectic variety of antiques and furnishings – with an outstanding group of professional vendors offering the very best in each category. All in all, it is a very entertaining experience.”
As for a sneak peek into what they are bringing for the spring show, Melissa is eager to share. 
“With all of our pieces, each must have a special quality, an exceptional characteristic distinguishing that piece. A few examples would be: a 15th century life-size statue of Jesus Christ in polychrome wood found in Spain; an 18th century Flemish commode in ebonized wood - very elegant lines and ever so chic; a sensational 17th century leather clad marriage trunk with bronze

nail heads and hardware; a whimsical pair of later-19th century painted commodes from Spain; a primitive painted enfilade from Provence; a very rare early 18th century round/drop leaf dining table from Lombardi, Italy – the patina! For us, so many of these pieces truly have a soul. We believe others will appreciate their beauty and integrity as well.” 

For learn more, visit provenanceantiquesatlanta.com.

The Plaid Veranda

Hello, folks, and welcome to the world-famous Round Top Antique Show and the wonderful Market Hill! 
    I am a newcomer here, but my owner, Judy Jones, is a 20-year veteran. My life began in Scotland in 1880 when Scottish craftsmen built my cabinet. Then I was sent to London where I was outfitted by F. E. and G. Maund with hand-painted tole bins for bulk tea. After many many years in a Victorian grocery shoppe, my new home became The Plaid Veranda at Market Hill. I like my new home, and I have some very interesting roommates! Judy has a penchant for big boys like me! There is a beautiful old grand oak library from the northern part of France with two doors. She flirts with the 32-foot haberdashery from Garnet, Kansas. It dates from about 1900 and has three bays with recessing glass doors, iron pull out racks, a dressing room and a built-in three-way mirror. 
    Please come visit us at The Plaid Veranda at Market Hill. Judy is an ardent supporter of the Round Top Antique Show and feels like she has gained a second home and family. She is genuinely thrilled with you like us. As she says, “This is truly a labor of love! No one in their right mind would work this hard otherwise!” 
    Where will my journey take me next? 

Pittet Architecturals

Swiss-born owner Raymond Pittet opened his first Dallas showroom in 1990. Already a recognized expert in antique carpets, tapestries and tribal weavings, he transitioned his interests into antique furnishings and architectural elements. For over 30 years, Raymond has traveled the world making connections in the antiques making Pittet Architecturals one of the leading importers of European architectural elements in the U.S. Their 40,000-SF showroom on Cole Street in Dallas is stocked monthly with finds from France, Spain, Italy and Morocco. 
    Raymond’s son Robinson joined the family business and creative team adding renewed passion and inspiration. 
    “Why do we find passion and inspiration in doors, fountains, mantels, and flooring? It’s actually very primal,” Robinson says. “When you think about it, the items we feature at Pittet Architecturals are both symbolic and actual representations of how humankind conquers the elements. We cover the earth with floors, keep wind at bay by doors, control fire in our fireplaces, and have water do our bidding in troughs, sinks and fountains. These ancient elements have deep symbolic and historic importance [and] lend themselves to cultural expression and artistic interpretation. We look for functionality, symbolical meaning and aesthetic appeal in our selections.”

Market Hill also protects vendors’ precious pieces from the elements, as Robinson describes. “Pittet Architecturals has never dealt with an abundance of ‘smalls,’ so it was not practical for us to exhibit at temporary venues,” he says. “Who would ever dream of installing nine-foot-tall limestone fireplaces or fountains in a tent? Our oversize stone and wood inventory is not typical to what one generally see at rural fairs. That all changed when Paul Michael showed us his new Market Hill concept. While the sheer size of the interior/exterior space is impressive enough, Market Hill features showrooms beautifully designed for ease of use and access. The secure, climate-controlled showrooms allow vendors to bring a different level of inventory that doesn't need to withstand the elements. Sliding doors, covered overhangs and drive-up access make moving stock of any size easy. Plentiful parking, airy and bright show spaces, excellent dining and amenities bring a new level of ease for shoppers, making it hard for them to leave. Plus, we'd rather experience the excitement of a Round Top rainstorm by staying dry, thank you.”
    “We understand that huge elements made of stone, and flooring are not ‘cash and carry’ items for the average buyer. However, Round Top clientele are sophisticated enough to recognize how singularly special and unique our inventory is. We hope that whenever a client thinks of specialty fireplaces, flooring or fountains, they think of Pittet Architecturals,” Robinson says.  
“This spring, with our improved stock displays, we will be catering to our future clients with a renewed energy. That being said, for those in the present, we are excited to be bring a curated selection of indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories. Look for an expanded selection of fireplace accessories, both big and small, practical and fanciful.” 
    They will also be bringing a selection of reclaimed antique and vintage tiles. “Hand-selected ceramic and cement encaustic tiles that feature truly unique colors and designs,” Robinson says. “Available only in small batches for that special project.”

You heard it here first. Meet the Pittets at Market Hill, and, in the meantime, visit pittetarch.com to learn more. 

Nomadic Trading Company

Nomadic Trading Company is a family affair. Demir Willford, his nephew, Timur, and wife, Lineke, work as a team traveling the world from Holland and France to Hungary and Turkey, bringing back rare antiques and decorative handmade rugs to their 13,000-SF warehouse and store on nearly two acres in Durham, North Carolina. 
“For us, there is only one way to find unique items: being at the right place at the right time,” Timur says. “[And] that involves a lot of travel.”
On their last trip to Europe, the trio covered six cities in less the two weeks. 
“Our inspiration is fueled by our finds, and the finds fuel our inspiration. When we are up at 5 a.m. on a cold winter’s day, searching through a flea market in some obscure village in France, we are never sure what will turn up, if anything at all. But, when it does, it gets [your] heart beating.”
You get that feeling when he describes a recent find from this trip.  
“The market was closed, but one of the dealers we had bought from previously was there. He got my attention to show me [this] cabinet, a beautiful apothecary cabinet from France, solid oak with expertly crafted dovetail woodwork from early 20th century. He had just gotten it out of an old building, and we were the first to see it. As I walked up to examine it, a huge smile came upon my face. Not a great way to start a negotiation, but it was hard to hide my pleasure. We made the deal immediately.” He adds, “This piece would make a great check-out counter for a retail store or check-in counter for a boutique hotel.” 
    While the Nomadic team travels all over the place, Demir says, “For us, there is no other place than Round Top.”
    “It’s one of the only places I know where free enterprise flourishes at many different levels from mom and pop vendors to large dealers who ship containers from overseas. This show brings in buyers from all over the world. They are all looking for the unusual products that you can't find anywhere else.” Among these one-of-a-kind products that Nomadic Trading Company offers are antique rugs, several of which they will bring to Market Hill.     
“Market Hill has set the bar up a notch,” Demir says. “It’s a true partnership.”
    What makes Market Hill special is that, “it’s an opportunity for us not only to sell our unique items but also be inspired by all the other dealers like us who love what they do.”

Stay tuned for Nomadic Trading Company’s online shopping experience at nomadictrading.com. 
 
 

Leftovers Antiques

Leftovers Antiques began in 2003 with co-owners Ed Fulkerson and Michael Breddin both realizing they shared a love of antiques from an early age. Their 17,000-SF store, located just west of Brenham, Texas, on Highway 290, officially opened in 2006. Ed and Michael travel extensively around the world in order to bring a unique mix of quality antiques, home accessories and gift items back to the store. 
    “Being in the antique business, inspiration can come from many places or from seeing many things but you have to have a passion within yourself,” Michael says. 
“It is not only the mystery of the origins that we find exciting, but the treasures themselves as well. Every day is like an adventure when we are traveling and hunting for whatever might catch our fancy or from something that we are hunting for in particular. We do not just travel the main pathways. One of the most exciting things that we love about what we do is being able to explore the backcountry of Europe. Whether it is following the little old man that we just met in a pub to his barn in the South of England or following the “tip” of a friend of a friend of a friend in France, it is like having the thrill of the chase inside you all of the time. When you find amazing sights and things around every corner it is not hard to maintain a passion for the antique business.” 

    When Round Top comes ’round again, Michael says, “I find it hard to believe that I have been a vendor at these shows for 25 years. Time flies when you are having fun,” Michael says. “It is my passion for all things old and interesting that brings me back to Round Top year after year, show after show.”  
    Speaking as one of the vendors fortunate enough to be able to be part of the Market Hill experience, I would have to say that it is a relief to know that my booth and all of my inventory are protected from the elements and in a location that is conveniently located right off of the road to Round Top. We have had so many compliments about not just the location but the building itself. Many of our customers and clients are relieved to be in a venue that has air conditioning, solid flooring and is easy to navigate through. They also love the fact that the Market Hill venue has plenty of parking, clean restrooms and a fabulous restaurant. All of those qualities are a huge draw for fans of antiques as well as hunters of unique finds.”    

When asked to share what special finds they are bringing to this show, Michael says, “It is not just one piece that we are excited about, it is the overall collection. It is about all of the pieces in the six containers that we have arriving for the show. Our excitement does not come from one project but from what we continue to create through our ever-evolving store and shows. It is about the next new thing or rather the next old thing that we find. We look for charming pieces that will steal your heart. We have traveled to many countries all over Europe to incredible antique markets, as well as amazing gift markets across the U.S. Every piece has a story, a history, and we want to continue to weave that story into the lives of our customers and clients. That is what Leftovers Antiques is all about, ‘leftovers from prior generations’ pieces whose story is added to by our lives. It is about carrying on the history, the provenance, and the memoirs of each piece through our age and into the future.”
To learn more about their story, visit Leftoversantiques.com. 

Uniquities Architectural Antiques, Inc.

Julia Shantz, founder of Uniquities Architectural Antiques, grew up in Wales where she recalls her earliest inspiration.  
“Wales is a playground of ancient architecture with more castles per square mile than anywhere else on the planet! My love for old is something I understood and appreciated from a child and is likely part of my DNA,” she says. 
This love of history travelled with her when she emigrated to Canada in 1983. In 1992, she and her husband Doug purchased a 1915 heritage home and went about the painstaking task of renovating. It soon became clear that the period hardware and architectural details needed to complete the house were impossible to find in Calgary. Where most would have settled for reproduction, Julia was inspired to research and develop the concept for Uniquities Architectural Antiques.
    The “architectural antiques” part of the name refers to salvaged materials, elements that were once permanent fixtures on or in buildings. Uniquities sources these materials primarily from the U.K., France and Belgium from many types of buildings – mills, schools, hospitals, factories, farm buildings, churches, manor homes and houses. 
“Repurposing is really the most environmentally friendly way to build and furnish,” Julia says. “It also preserves architectural history. When a carved panel door or an old gate is thrown into the landfill, it is gone forever. The superior craftsmanship, authentic period detail and beautiful patina of old materials simply cannot be reproduced. We want to inspire others to see the beauty and the benefits of preserving these wonderful snippets of history.”  
Uniquities is a relative newcomer to Round Top. 
“Although we had known of Round Top for a long time, it seemed so out of reach for us, being based in Canada,” Julia says. “When friends from Europe went and set up shop, it then seemed possible for us. We decided to visit in March 2016, and we were smitten. The first show we did was Fall 2016. Immediately, we found it intoxicating – the people, the atmosphere, the miles and miles of stuff, the laughs, the challenges. As entrepreneurs and antiques dealers, it’s what we thrive on.”
Market Hill made the process easier. “Paul Michael has built a stunning building that works for dealers,” Julia describes. 
For Uniquities, it’s more than a space; it’s a community. “We have had [our] business in Canada for 26 years with clients from around the world, but outside of Canadians, we rarely get to meet our customers face-to-face. Market Hill has given us the opportunity to personally meet clients and to solidify relationships.”
As for what Uniquities is bringing to the spring show, she shares, “On a recent trip to the U.K., we were privileged to buy garden items from a 17th century garden in Derbyshire. We purchased this antique Renaissance-style Italian wall fountain of Oceanus, Greek god of the sea. There is a clean old break to the corner, which had obviously broken away many years prior. We decided not [to fix it], but to take a leaf out of the Japanese art of repairing pottery known as Kintsugi. One should embrace the history of the object rather than trying to disguise it. Wabi-Sabi is the key decorating trend for 2018. The Japanese phrase literally means, ‘the art of finding beauty in imperfection.’ For the past 26 years, Uniquities' mantra has been ‘the perfection is in the imperfection.’ It is the most relaxed way to live our lives.”

For more information, visit uniquities.ca.

Hastening Design Studio

Louis Shields has worn many creative hats – he might’ve even designed a few.  
“I have been an antiques dealer for 35 years. I am an interior designer. I design and fabricate custom furniture, and I am a contemporary painter with my own gallery, so I am always busy, never bored,” Louis says.
He has been involved in the process of art and design all his life. He studied painting at the University of Alabama, printmaking at the Washington Studio School and figure drawing at the Corcoran. He became a fashion designer in San Francisco and he opened a boutique of his own designs on 5th Avenue in New York City. 
He later moved to London to pursue a career in art but fell in love with antiques. He then spent 11 years in England dealing antiques and restoring early period houses before moving his family and business to Middleburg, Virginia in 1981. He currently owns Hastening Design Studio specializing in 18th century European furniture and his own contemporary furniture and works of art. His paintings hang in harmony in the studio with his carefully chosen antiques. 
As for current projects, he is working on a local estate in Virginia. “The main house was built in 1798, and we have researched and restored all the rooms to their original paint colors. We are using appropriate fabrics and 18th century period furniture,” Louis describes. Two other projects include the restoration and complete interior design of a 16th century villa in Florence, Italy (“wonderful silk fabrics and early Tuscan walnut furniture”), and a Middleburg home with an “incredible 20th century art collection,” all of the fabrics are contemporary and will be appointed with interesting modern furniture. 
When it came to picking pieces to bring to Market Hill, he says, “I am always drawn to furniture that has a historical architectural inspiration, balanced structural elements, and, if it is wood, then the surface, color and patina are extremely important.” 
On how he continues to find inspiration in his work, he says “I have been an antiques dealer for 35 years. I am an interior designer. I design and fabricate custom furniture, and I am a contemporary painter with my own gallery, so I am always busy, never bored,” Louis says.

To learn more, visit hasteningdesigns.com. 
 

Gallery Auctions

Vikki Vines is the top female auctioneer in Texas and, arguably, in the nation. Vikki started Gallery Auctions in Houston – “the best little auction house in Texas” – more than 25 years ago and has created a worldwide buying trip under one roof. 
A trip to Gallery Auctions, Vikki says, holds the same excitement that she feels when she’s in England, Belgium, Argentina, Spain, France or anywhere in the U.S. 
As the largest trade source in the southwest, Gallery Auctions has become known to dealers around the country as the place to go to for great variety of antiques and accessories from traditional French and English antiques to mid-century modern furniture to on-trend accents. 
“Volume and variety have always been a part of the Gallery Auctions experience,” Vikki says. “Every day is like Christmas since we unload and sell 10 or more 45-foot containers every month from all over the world. Each day is surprising and interesting. We get consignments from important estates and from Manhattan rug dealers frequently. There are always treasures to behold.”
Vikki runs auctions every Monday beginning at 9 a.m., and once a month on Sunday. She has since brought on her son Jon Goodling to assist with the business. 
When asked about Round Top, she says, “We are full tilt in this business every single day all year long, so how could we not be a part of this special show?”  
Gallery Auctions has been part of the Round Top scene for 14 years. 
“It is the single largest gathering in the United States of buyers, sellers and traders, and we are fortunate it’s only an hour and twenty minutes away from us.”
Vikki is a newcomer to Market Hill and is excited about the space. 
“Part of what I think is exceptional about Market Hill,” Vikki says, “is the design of the business itself. It is suitable for buyers and vendors. This is the most well-planned building! The management has a special vision. They are leaders in creating an environment that is appealing for shoppers and vendors and provide all amenities from the food, the lighting, the parking, the late shopping – the complete experience.” 
As for what to expect from Gallery Auctions at Market Hill, Vikki says, “Upholstered furniture, bamboo items, copper accessories, French flourishes, contemporary furnishings… there is so much. The highlight of this show is the monumental 7-½-foot tall bronze fountain featuring the Three Graces. It was acquired from a Southern estate. We are very happy to offer it at Market Hill.”
 
To learn more, visit galleryauctions.com. 

The Restaurant at Market Hill

Chef Preston Higgins

Paul Michael is a Renaissance man. In addition to having four Paul Michael Company stores, an exclusive line of handmade furniture and his recent new development Market Hill, he loves baking bread, making pizza (with his famous red sauce) and even has a brick oven that he, of course, built by hand inside his office on Main Street in Lake Village, Arkansas. He is a maker and a baker. So, when it came to imagining what Market Hill could be, a restaurant was always part of the plan. 
    Paul’s culinary vision led to Preston Higgins, chef and owner of Baxter Catering Company in Bastrop, Texas. Preston has 20 years of experience and takes great pride in his food. Everything prepared in his kitchen at Market Hill is grilled, roasted or smoked. There is no fryer. The intention behind this is to prepare fresh, healthy, delicious meals for Market Hill guests and vendors. When asked about the Market Hill experience, every vendor mentioned the restaurant. 
    The Restaurant at Market Hill features daily lunch specials and dinner options with a variety of proteins – lamb, beef, chicken and fish – and vegetables – brussels, spinach, broccoli and asparagus. “We toss the potatoes with a little extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and pepper and we bake them,” Preston says. It’s simple, real food with good flavor, nothing artificial. “I love the transformation of raw product to what you see on your plate,” he says.  

 There’s also a great selection of beer and wine and homemade desserts. 
    The long tables in the restaurant are set up to be experienced family-style. It’s a great place to gather, enjoy a meal, share stories from your day over a glass of wine. 
Market Hill brings people together. The Restaurant at Market Hill feeds them. 

Don and Marta Orwig Antiques

 This couple has made the 20-hour drive from Corunna, Indiana, to Round Top, Texas, for nearly 30 years. Each season, Don and Marta Orwig bring two semis filled with antiques. Don, long-time wheeler and dealer, is hesitant to show his hand on any particular pieces they’re bringing this time ’round, because he says customers will want to buy them before they can put them on the truck. 
“What we do say is that we bring the very best things we have found in the last six months,” Don says. We are known for unusual, odd and unique American pieces. We love old advertising signs and have some killer ones to bring this spring.” He adds, “We do have a barn find, an original red 1958 Chevy 3100 pick-up truck for sale.    Don’s affinity for barn finds goes way back. Raised in a farming family, Don would accompany his parents to auctions when he was just a boy. This is where he credits getting his start in the business of buying and selling, on a small scale, using his allowance money. It was in college at Purdue University in 1972 that Don made the leap into antiques after borrowing a few hundred dollars from his dad to score an entire lot at an incredibly low cost. He loaded and unloaded his Chevy truck nine times and used this haul to open his first store in Corunna. 

He began coming to Round Top in 1990 when Karen Anderson, a dealer from nearby Fort Wayne, Indiana, invited him to share a booth with her at Emma Lee Turney’s Antiques Show. Emma Lee Turney, “The Grand Dame of Round Top,” was, of course, the visionary and founder of the original Round Top Antiques Show. That year, he sold nearly everything he brought, and he’s been coming ever since. 
Don and Marta are happy to have found their home at Market Hill. 
 “We have been setting up at the Round Top shows for nearly 30 years. Having done shows from Maine to Colorado and all points between, there is no other venue anywhere in the U.S. that offers the quality and quantity that the dealers here at Market Hill do.” 
He says the amenities like air conditioning, the restaurant, public restrooms and being able to have a glass of wine are among the other perks for Market Hill customers. Being open for a good stretch of time helps too, for vendors and customers.  
“Most shows are only open for a day, maybe two or three. Being open here at Market Hill over the course of two weeks lets many more customers have the opportunity to plan day trips or weeklong trips to shop. It gives everyone a chance to buy and sell to a much wider audience.”
“Market Hill is just this kind of experience. A unique collection of some of the very best dealers at Round Top. Most have years of experience, generous personalities and a great desire to give the customers a warm and comfortable shopping trip plus the food at Market Hill is the absolute best of any of the fields.”

“Doing antiques shows is really our life. Our friends are mostly all in the business. We get to see each other every fall and spring. We socialize together, eat at our favorite restaurants, catch up on what each other has found in the last six months. We even get to buy from one another and try to ‘out-do’ each other in sales. Antiques dealers are really quite a special diverse bunch of very nice people,” Don says. 
According to Marta, “This is our home for as long as they will have us.” 

For more information, email martao@live.com. 

Gather ’Round

Sheila Youngblood welcomes all to sit at her table under the big Texas sky. 

Feast in the Field
March 26 and 27
Rancho Pillow 

When owner Sheila Youngblood opened Rancho Pillow to the public in the spring of 2016 during the Antiques Fair, she welcomed all to sit at her table for the first Feast in the Field. 
“I thought it would be a wonderful way to introduce people to the property for the first time, taking tours, telling stories and connecting over a home-cooked meal under the stars, as I would with my own family,” she says. 
More than a meal, it’s a feast for the senses too. Arriving at the 20-acre, technicolor compound, it’s more of a fantasy retreat than boutique hotel. It’s spacious and secluded with plenty of room to wander and to dream. There’s something imaginative, artful and fun everywhere you look – neon signs, a teepee, the large three-story Dutch barn filled with antiques, collectibles, books of poetry, bongos and cowboy hats; there’s the “Love Shack,” “Red House, “Tower House,” a bathhouse, swimming pool and fire pit. Getting the lay of the land, drink in hand, there’s this kind of cool, calm, communal vibe that wraps itself around you like a Mexican blanket. The guests you meet there; they get it too. It’s a feeling of finding your people when you didn’t even realize you were looking for them. 

Then there’s the food. For the upcoming feasts, Sheila has selected San Antonio chef Steve McHugh of Cured at Pearl restaurant to prepare the meal on March 26 and, the following evening, on March 27, New Orleans chefs Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, of Coquette, will do the honors. 
"The menu is completely up to the chefs. I only ask that one part of the meal is prepared over an open fire in the field,” Sheila says.  
“[We’ve had] paellas in giant pans, chickens roasting in the wood-fired oven on wheels, whole pigs on a spit, vegetables on a grill over a small ground fire, pineapples hanging on a Frances Mallmann-style cooking dome. Our guests love interacting with the chefs doing what they love and being with them in beautiful country in a place full of heart. Every chef impacts people in meaningful ways, and it is lovely to see.”

When it comes to the table, true to Sheila’s nature, every detail is thoughtful, intentional and arranged with love. Prepared for 100 guests, the place settings include mismatched china, flatware, glasses and jars in all colors. Bright florals and flickering candles add to the ambiance. 
How the evening unfolds: The gate opens at 5 p.m. Guests are invited to a welcome cocktail and are encouraged to roam the property, sharing stories from their day. The bar opens; the wine flows and light bites are brought out from the kitchen and passed around the party. As the sun begins to set, guests make their way to the table. Dinner is served family-style with multiple mains and sides. Some folks leave after dessert while others shuffle over to the fire pit where guitars come out and intimate conversations strike up.  

“Rancho is about celebrating authenticity,” Sheila says. “I invite our guests to connect with one another in a deeper way. Connecting, sharing, laughing, inspiring – and deeply listening. We discover more about each other (and ourselves) that way.”
For tickets to Feast in the Field, visit RanchoPillow.com. Tickets will sell out, so make sure to follow @ranchopillow on Instagram for other opportunities like pizza pop-ups on the property during the Antiques Fair. 

The Elephant Walk

Ender Tasci is the man behind The Elephant Walk. 
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, he came to America 30 years ago to get his Ph.D. in international business. He also has degrees in economics, finance, human resources and restoration, which relates to materials, textiles, woodworking, metal work and construction. 
When he was asked to furnish an employer’s home, he went to Europe with the couple to bring back antiques and special pieces. Within eight months after his work for them, he had four new clients. This was the beginning of his business. 
“My passion comes from within,” Ender says. “You have to love what you do, and it has to be within your capabilities. Being an antiques dealer isn't for everyone; it requires massive amounts of knowledge and conviction to relay that message to someone else to create a demand for an item that is not a necessity.” 
“There is a difference between looking and seeing. l follow trends and news very closely. Antiques and home decor are just like fashion, they change constantly. Being able to see which way the trends are going is a secret to success in any business.” 
As for his personal style and eye, he says, “l love scale, texture, color and, most of all, drama. If the item you are selling is not serving those four purposes, it certainly isn't worth selling. I have been looking for pieces with very clean lines for the last couple of years, simple shapes with great color and texture in the right scale is the magical combo.”

Until recently Ender’s home was in central Florida where he lived with his wife and children, maintaining a farm – raising sheep, chickens, peacocks and emus – and managing his permanent showroom in Orlando, The Elephant Walk Interiors and Antiques. Last year, he sold the space to relocate to Round Top, specifically, to a ranch where he will do some farming and do the Antiques Fair twice a year.  
      “We have 20 years of great experiences with educated, loyal clients that love what we bring to them,” Ender says. 
    “I believed in Paul’s concept of bringing comfort to the Round Top experience. Our venue provides an incredible amount of the most reputable dealers with an exceptional selection of merchandise. Our climate-controlled showrooms, food and all the other amenities make it a refuge for so many people visiting Round Top.”

The pieces Ender is most excited to show this spring include “an old French linen press with great color and texture, a simple silhouette at nine feet tall gives us all the drama any room could ask for. It has the coolest interior with pigeon hole shelves and paper labels for the maid to place the items in the proper hole. Next is an 18th century Madonna life-size, carved with great patina and Lady of the Lourdes with roses carved under her feet, a great statue.”
    He also has something new to show, “I love glass, and I have been collaborating with a glass studio from Mexico to create modern glass wall installation. I hope to have samples in for the upcoming show.” 

Ender is definitely someone you will want to meet at Market Hill. For more, visit elephantwalkantiques.com. 

BoBo Intriguing Objects

Mark Sage is the man behind the brand BoBo Intriguing Objects. The story of how BoBo came to be spans two decades and multiple continents. His middle-class upbringing in Nebraska was very typical, very stationary. The intriguing part of his life – traveling the world as an antiques dealer – would await him. 
Mark earned an MBA with an emphasis in franchising and was brought on by a hair salon company. Climbing the corporate ladder, he rose to VP of International Development and split his time in Moscow and Paris opening hair salons and selling hair products and cosmetics. The Nebraska boy was living the dream, working in his field of study and seeing the world. Then the company was bought out, and his position was eliminated. He was given a severance and kept his apartment in Paris.  
Now unemployed, Mark began running around the city with his antiques dealer friends. BoBo was what they called him, “bourgeoisie bohemian,” Mark says. “They know you have some money and lead an artistic and self-employed life, so you’re bourgeois, but when they see you, you’re like a bohemian.”  
While in Moscow and Paris, Mark always enjoyed the flea markets. He would buy trinkets, bring them back to the states and sell them to friends in Atlanta where he had maintained a home base for three years before his promotion and big move to Europe. It occurred to him that he could explore doing this on a larger scale. Living in Paris, buying antiques, shipping them to the U.S., selling them in Atlanta. 
Over the years, as the Atlanta-based BoBo Intriguing Objects has evolved into mostly reproductions (about 80% of his business), the thrill of the chase is still as exciting to Mark as it was 20 years ago.

 “It’s that ‘magic pill’ vocation for me,” Mark says. “What would you do if you could swallow a magic pill and do anything you wanted? Being an antiques dealer takes me to small towns in exotic places. I buy antiques each year in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, India, Asia, Brazil, Nicaragua and Argentina – 22 containers last year alone. You are always finding something that you’ve never seen before. The people you are in contact with overseas who are selling antiques run the gamut from gypsies to royalty and everything in between. It’s simply a blast to rummage through barns and castles, to meet these people and learn their stories.”
    BoBo has been at Round Top for the last two shows, both at Market Hill. 
“For us, what sets Round Top apart from other shows is the energy, and the diversity of the people who attend the show. BoBo is primarily a wholesaler, we sell most of our antiques to businesses that resell the product. At Round Top, you’re dealing with a much more diverse crowd. It’s a party. It’s a pilgrimage,” he says. 
“It really does have a unique vibe unlike any other antiques show in the world. Plus, the area is simply beautiful.” 
Mark has spent a lot of time over the years doing just about every show, and he says Market Hill is the easiest for him as a vendor. “Level floors, wide doors, HVAC, being out of the elements. It’s all been well thought out and planned. The assortment of dealers at Market Hill is also very well curated. Paul has really chosen very nice dealers with great antiques.” 
As for special finds he’s bringing to Market Hill, he says, “I just returned last night from a two-week buying trip to Europe. I bought three containers that are going directly from Belgium to Round Top. I really don’t ‘edit’ the pieces I bring to Round Top. Cool, beautiful finds at a great price will sell in any market.” 

Then he adds, “Storks! There are 50 of them from the Alsace region of eastern France. They are stone, from a zoo that opened in the 1930s. Each stands on its own with mounted metal legs. I like unique collections of things. These would look amazing in someone’s garden.” 
Intriguing objects indeed. Come meet Mark, and see what other unusual finds he’s brought to us. 

To see what else Mark Sage is working on, visit bobointriguingobjects.com.