s John can tell you, Spring has always been an inspiration for me. While witnessing the earth awakening from its winter slumber, 
we are greeted with the fresh colors of nature, and for us, Spring also means new discoveries of antiques and decorative treasures awaiting.
This Spring was no exception as we embarked on our March buying trip. Landing on a cold and crisp day, the rising sun held promise of warmer, brighter days to come.
While driving through the countryside, vestiges of Spring bore witness along the roadside, with brilliant forsythia budding everywhere. The year’s first daffodils were sprouting too, a fact not lost on the locals who can pick their own or find them at street markets in various types of rustic pots.
As exhaustive as our buying trips always are, we are 
nevertheless fueled by the inspiration and excitement of wonderful keepsakes that can be found if one simply knows where to look. Some of the more unusual treasures are pictured here, but we ended up with over 700 items in all, making this a very challenging but highly successful venture.An amazing pair of matching hand-carved Cararra marble pedestals with their original urns was a rare
discovery. Then, a set of four carved plaques was found, each depicting Mathew, Mark, John and Luke, was an inspirational find. Because of my love of gardening, I love jardinières, and we found plenty. Some were bronze, some were cache pots, and some were
carved in wood, but this beautifully preserved faience jardinière was one of my favorites. Another jardinière of wood with delft tile insets provided a more rustic appeal.
A pair of superbly preserved Louis XIV fauteuils with exquisite aubusson tapestry caught my fancy. I cannot imagine how long it took to produce such fine needlepoint with such skill and artistry. A stately 
long case clock, plus a superb bar/counter and a gigantic entry door were fun finds. Elegant marble and bronze cassolettes contrasted sharp
ly with rustic confit pots. A stunning cararra marble fireplace
mantel was a rare discovery, along with a fantastic pannetiere in solid hand-carved walnut. Several mirrors were found, with this specimen being particul
arly remarkable. All in all, we’re glad to be back, but even more glad that once again we were blessed with a superbly productive trip which will yield container after container of exceptional heirlooms for months to come. Stay tuned to our website for photos which we’ll be uploading as soon as we can!
A
