French Antique Decorative Arts and the influence of Interior Design…and the pendulum swings in 2012…upwards – maryhelenmccoy.com

Posted on January 1, 2012 by

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French Antique Decorative Arts and the influence of Interior Design…and the pendulum swings in 2012…upwards.
The 1980′s and the 1990′s were boom years for French antique decorative arts. The “Baby Boomers” were beginning to make money and wanted to decorate their lavish homes in the French, Continental or English Country style. Trade and shelter magazines were bursting with advertisements from antique dealers far and wide. “Coffee table” books were everywhere on the subject of decorating in the French style. “Antique” dealers were springing up everywhere across the globe. The word “antique” was used very carelessly and most of what was being sold was more like “Louis the Hotel” or “Brocante” and not period French decorative arts of the period or highest caliber.
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Great pieces could be found and it took years for a real professional to develop a network in order to locate these pieces among the trade. Once a piece was found selling it was not that difficult whether it be offered to a collector, a designer with a client willing to learn or a novice with a good eye. The difficulty was finding the next wonderful item and so the search was continuous for a true professional antiques dealer dedicated to dealing in the finest quality pieces. This is the world I found myself in and I would not trade the experiences and the relationships developed for anything!
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Many have spoken about the downturn in the antiques business over the course of the last four years but I tell you that this course goes back further than that. The downturn happened on September 11, 2001 when planes struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center, The Pentagon and a group of heroes rammed a plane into a field in Pennsylvania. This was an enormous shock to the World and the period of simplicity entered our lives. Suddenly the pages of the shelter magazines were filled with more austere rooms, subtle colors, straight lines, no “clutter” in the way of accessories and simple furniture. This “look” prevailed and influenced so many buyers and influenced the “new collector” to collect a modern form in the world of decorative arts. The collector and lover of French decorative arts was growing older, finding other things to collect or simply embarrassed to spend money during the year that followed September 11. The next 10 years also saw a decline of great dealers in the French antiques trade. This happened not only in France but in England and New York.  Many of my own mentors were dying or retiring and the heirs or family wanted no part in the aging business.
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The Great Recession as we all have come to know it has taken a toll on the trade however there are still collectors out there and the numbers may not be as grand but they are increasing in a younger group who are in their mid 30′s to mid 40′s. These are the children of the early Baby Boomers who grew up with the beautiful furniture and decorative arts that their families lived with and who wish to live with these pieces in their own way. It is this group that the shelter magazines are courting once again and if you look carefully at the recent pages of these publications you will note that we are seeing antiques in these homes mixed with modern and contemporary. It will be this age group who will define the market in the years to come and it has begun now right before our eyes. Better to have a client own even one great piece of history and place it in their home as a work of art rather then fill their home with junk to be thrown away. This is a fact we can repeat to our clients over and over. The client needs to realize as well that the prices of a fine antique have held their value and in most cases appreciated during the last few years. Fine and Important French antiques are not in the same category as the ordinary and expecting a “deal” is an insult to an honest dealer. I am not in business to mark it way up so that I can appear to be giving a client a great deal nor am I in the business of trading money!  As a dealer I am continuously trying to educate the public about the real value of the French decorative arts. This will be the year the pendulum will begin to swing up for the forces began at the end of 2011.  This upward movement may be gradual but it will take hold and I myself am determined to make this happen.
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Posted in: Antiques, Art