Should you follow your head or your heart?!

This hand painted Dutch Frisian wall clock is a show stopper. And really.. what's not to love?! Frisian - Fryslân, is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea in what today is mostly a large part of the Netherlands. This piece itself dates back to the 1920's and was true testament to the heritage of the Frisian people. The work is detail-oriented with each roman numeral painted with precision, the brass details work to accent the beautiful backdrop painted ever so carefully by the artist. All in all, this piece is a home run. But let's say you didn't know any of that.. and you saw this piece at a flea market.. Would you get it? We say YES! Because truthfully, beyond the history of the piece, it's the feeling.

Although, watch and clock collectors exist in the millions.. we'll admit, we're not one of them. And that's okay. You don't have to be an expert on every piece you collect and you certainly don't have to build a collection around that one outlier piece you purchased. To be frank, we didn't need to do our 'research' here to know that this was a piece that was going home with us. It made us feel something - it opened up our eyes to the craftsmanship that went into item and we knew that it was worthy of saving from the dusty shelf of our antique store. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about antiques or flea markets are that the items end up there because 'nobody else wants them.' And although, chances are if you read this blog.. you already know that may be the biggest lie ever told but we'll debunk it again here - THAT IS NEVER TRUE. However, two people can look at a piece and 'feel differently' about it. One can be captivated by the item while the other could be indifferent. Our personal preferences are always at play and getting past 'researching' every item you buy to ensure it has value can sometimes be difficult. And we understand that - Who wants to feel like they got taken advantage of and purchased a reproduction that only pretends to be an antique! No one! But perhaps the biggest takeaway here is that you should let that feeling you have during your antique store hunts guide you. Because it has the power to bring you to new antiques and new 'collector' items that you would have never considered before! Like us with this Dutch wall clock.. no regrets here!

Our little treasure!

Treasure (from the Greek word θησαυρός - thēsauros, meaning "treasure store", romanized as thesaurus) is a concentration of riches - often those that originate from ancient history - that is considered lost and/or forgotten about until rediscovered. For us, it's no secret that we consider art to be one of the greatest treasures of all. And like a real treasure hunt, the best part of the story is how you find and collect your treasure!

The common thread in our art collection is travel. Of course not all of our pieces are purchased while being away from home - but inspiration does seem to strike while under the sun soaked coastal towns of the Adriatic sea. And our favorite little town on the Adriatic coast can be found in Croatia. Rovinj, also referred to as Rovingo (in Italian - this town is bilingual!) is a charming town with plenty of cobblestones streets and beautiful beaches and store fronts around every corner.

On one of our very first trips to Rovinj we explored the narrow streets day in and day out until we found one of the most talented local artist. She is the artist behind the horse painting we have chosen to feature in this blog - and behind many others (you have yet to see!) that line the walls of our family home. Besides having a degree in Fine Art and being a well known artist within Croatia, our fascination with her art began far before we began digging through her canvases.

This is something that happens often - before you fall in love with a piece of art, you fall in love with the story behind the painting or you gain a deep sense of appreciation for the artist behind the work. In return, it makes the piece you admire much more meaningful. This concept falls into one of the most common pieces of advice we give our clients - use your next vacation destination to really get to know the culture, the art, and overall, the heartbeat of where it is that you find yourself. It is one of the best ways to build your art collection and one of the most interesting ways to share stories behind the pieces that fill your walls.

It helps that this truly is one of our favorite pass times when we are on vacation - whether it be in Croatia, Cuba or England you can find us in a gallery, antique store or artist atelier searching for our next treasure! So next time you're laying on those sandy beaches, take the long way back to your hotel and get distracted by the beauty that is art.

The art collector's hunt!

You know that moment you have when you see something so beautiful that it simply takes your breath away? Well that exact moment, is what we felt when we saw this stunning piece of artwork at a local up and coming antique store. This find was totally unexpected and all that much sweeter because of it!

This original oil painting dates back to 1910 and depicts the most suspicious little boy that we could ever imagine. The richness and complexity of the color palette paired with the ever so regal feeling that this painting depicts is simply what dreams are made of. And frankly, what every art collector hopes to discover hanging in any antique store.

For us, every part of antique art collecting is important. Right down to the chipped frame that comes with the piece. For most of us living in a world of perfectionism, we hardly stop to admire the charm that comes with imperfections on item's that surround us. So instead of trying to 'fix' any piece you are lucky enough to come across - think, how can I best preserve this piece of art. And most often, the answer is to keep it exactly as-is.

For us, the aspect that makes antique art so special is that it often has a story that follows it. Often the owner of the antique store or of the auction house will be able to provide you with context on the past life of your piece. They may share with you highlights of ownership or the details regarding the artistic techniques used or provide context as to the period it was done in. The history and the stories associated with any given piece can increase its monetary value and often if documentation accompanies those stories, it can also substantial increase the desirability for a collector.

Now, not every piece will have a story that makes you stop in your tracks. And most often or not, you will have an antique vendor tell you that not much is known about the origin of the piece. But we've got news for you, THAT'S OK TOO! It's okay for a few reasons - 1) You can always do your own research on the piece - the internet is a magical place these days! 2) You can always consult an appraiser before committing to a more substantial piece if you are unsure and need extra convincing and finally, 3) Let your imagination run wild a little bit.. We rarely get hung up on a 'lack' of context when it comes to original pieces of artwork. Our checklist usually consists of one question, Do we LOVE it? If the answer, is yes then we let the details slide. The truth is, you may not know the history behind the piece but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have one. And it certainly doesn't mean that you can't spend some time exploring what it may have been. Look for hints such as the artist signature and the date on the back of the canvas etc.

At the end of the day, art collectors don't collect to make a profit. Of course, it is possible and very likely with high end pieces that are often acquired through accredited auction houses across the world. However, it is important to remember that art was not made to be an object of speculation per se. The true value of buying and collecting art comes from the enjoyment of having a wonderful piece in your home. And with this type of mindset, you are sure to have your own breath taken away on your next antique art hunt!