Monthly archives for May, 2012

Antiques: Before and After ~ Turning Gold into Silver.

Antique Letter EngravingThere is no question that styles come and go. What was in vogue a decade ago is many times totally abandoned by those that follow trendy styles. Antique styles temporarily go in and out of favor. Even types of finishes get repainted and covered by more the trendy hues. I remember in the eighties when natural wood finishes were all the rage. We stripped painted pieces to reveal the natural wood underneath. Today painted and white-washed shades are back in style, plus silver and pewter tones have returned into prominence among the trendy.

On a recent buying trip I came across a particular painting that caught my eye. It was sitting on the floor of a warehouse ~ almost asking me to be rescued. The canvas had an intriguingly vibrant seascape (which is one of John’s favorite subjects). Unfortunately the frame appeared to be beyond hope ~ painted over in globs of gold and void of any ornament or carving. However, I liked the canvas and after acquiring it from the dealer the painting arrived in one of our monthly antique shipments.

Antique painting before

As all of our antique paintings undergo a thorough cleaning and restoration before being placed in to the gallery, this painting and the frame was given the usual restoration treatment. As we attempted to clean the frame, the layer of frightening gold paint started to come off, revealing the original antique silver leaf underneath! What a surprise it was! This ugly duckling was transformed into a silver swan.

Antique Painting After

We can only assume that years ago, as silver frames went out of fashion, gold was painted over the silver leaf and buried underneath, the true intentions of the artist (usually the artist would choose the frame for the canvas).

I keep returning to the wall upon which we’ve hung the painting, just to admire it. I so love the way it looks now ~ a truly remarkable transformation, expressing the artist’s original vision and so capably restored by our expert in-house staff!

Inessa Stewart's Antiques

New Arrivals and the Winner of our Giveaway!

Antique Letter EngravingEver since I came back from my antique buying trip it has been nonstop and hectic, with exciting projects coming one after another.  Through experience I know Spring is always a busy time for me, since we always schedule an overseas buying trip, as well as travel to different markets stateside.  For all of us, discovering new finds and treasures is an exhilarating experience, and we return from these excursions with a lot of photos and many, many new ideas!

Antique Furniture

All the showrooms are abuzz because now these new and exciting items are starting to trickle in, sometimes a few items here and there, and of course sometimes an entire container. John has been working hard to put not one, but two new containers on the website.  You can see the containers in New Antique Arrivals, or if you look at the bottom left of our homepage, you can click on Antique Containers to see the full preview.  One container (2206) is docking today and bound for our Dallas showroom next week, while the second container, (2207) will be arriving in Baton Rouge mid-June.

Inessa Stewart's Antiques New Arrivals

Elegant yet comfortable and appealing Louis XV and Louis XVI styling is timeless and looks fresh with new finish and linen upholstery. Every week we have a great selection of new sofas, bergers, and fauteuils arriving to compliment our antique case pieces for your living rooms and dens. We found a great selection of dining chairs, mirrors, reproduction lighting, and so much more. Please visit our showrooms in Dallas, Plano, and Baton Rouge to see our new vignettes. We will share our room designs with you on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

Above are a few highlight photos; we will be posting more as thing will come in.  It’s important to realize that together these two antique containers hold over 1,000 new items!

Inessa Stewart's Antiques

 

…And now for the winner of our latest giveaway!

Inessa Stewart's Antiques painting

Congratulations Theresa! You’re the winner of this fantastic painting.

Antique Illustration

 

Mother’s Day Reflections ~ & Giveaway!

Antique Letter EngravingI remember my mother telling me: “You will understand me one day when you have your own children.” She was right, as a working mother and the engineer in the 60’s and 70’s she was a trailblazer. As an artistic person, she juggled career, family and home, at the same time writing poetry and always pursuing her artistic side. I only understood her challenges fully beginning about twenty some years ago, when I became a mother and started our antique business.
Mom has always been an inspiration to me, as well as the source for my foundations as she began to teach me about antiques, art and history from an early age. But the biggest inspiration she provided has been the strength of her character and her pioneering spirit.
Fast forward to today, our children have grown up: our son Chris is a great gourmet chef at the 2nd Street Bistro in Montana. Our daughter Rebecca is finishing college and working with us in the business, bringing a vibrant and young perspective. Both are creative and talented adults that are carving their imaginative niche in life, and my hope is that as they grow with their families, they will inspire their children as my mother and grandmother have inspired me.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers everywhere!

Being a mother is both the toughest job and the best job a woman can ever have, and I hope we all can continue to inspire and encourage the best in our future generations.

Inessa Stewart's Antiques painting

This lovely painting is this month’s Giveaway- just in time for Mother’s Day! It is a part of our collection of antique and reproduction original oil paintings showcased on our website. To see more of this beautiful art, visit our website.

To enter, just comment below to tell us about a female role model in your life. For an extra entry, like us on Facebook! We’ll announce the winner in one week.

 Inessa Stewart

Antiques in Style is a source of joy for me to create, and hopefully will be a source of inspiration for you! The variety, artistry and history of the antiques and vintage pieces that surround us every day provide pleasure, beauty and sometimes even intrigue.

The classics never go out of style, and each era, country, and even artisan's interpretations create an environment that is always full of surprises.

It is truly a pleasure to bring such timeless style together for every client and follower of my blog. And of course, your input is always welcome!

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