The Harlequin Antiques Stand
Last night was the opening night of our Melbourne antique fair for the Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association. Put together by the association, the fair is a wonderful showcase of Australia’s best antique and art dealers. We had a great crowd last night, enjoying a drink and a conversation. Our display as Harlequin Antiques was well received, in particular our Antique French Music Box with exquisite Swiss movement was an absulute drawcard.
French Kingwood Vitrine displaying Royal Worcester Collection
The fair is being held at the Royal Exhibition Building on Nicholson Street in Carlton from 11 until 7 tomorrow and from 11 until 5pm on Sunday evening. It’s well worth a visit to anyone seriously interested in collectables and antiques.
Two Scenes from our Harlequin Antiques Stand
Your typical French Antique Dealers lunch- Salami, Cheese and Bread!
Steve has just returned from a tour of France, and has brought back with him some beautiful photos of pieces to come. A wonderful collection with plenty of Twentieth century lighting and occasional furniture, French glass vases and Art Deco chairs.
Dinner at a bistro at Sete
Steve’s travels took him from top to bottom of the country and although it appears much fun was had, he assures me there was a lot of work to be done too. Included are some candid shots of his time away.
Some of the sights around Nimes
The container is due to arrive around June or July. When the shipment lands we will be changing our front shop display from the current French painted pieces to a 1960s/70s time warp! Shall keep you posted. ..
With all this gorgeous weather this summer no doubt you have all spent as much time as possible at the beach. Whether it be in your own beach house or somewhere rented. So I thought I’d gather together a few shots of inspiring pieces that would suit your beach house environment whether it be in Portsea, Queenscliff or Lorne.
Our latest European shipment arrived bright and early this morning. A few things will come in to the store today and tomorrow however it is a gradual process with items that need a bit more attention.
Luckily the rain stayed away as we unpacked the container. As someone who has only seen the pieces in photos, it was great to finally get a glimpse of all the fabulous pieces that Phil and Steve bought. This container is a real eclectic collection of pieces from 19th century clocks and marble statuary to vintage bicycles and 70′s dining tables.
As you can see there truly is something for everyone!
We have been busy little beavers, creating a new window display for you all. The result; a very earthy, naturally very French feel, with a combination of smart lighting, unique mirrors, and furniture of architectural proportions. Once again we have revealed how using antiques in an interior doesn’t have to translate into a fussy or pretentious room. This is understated style all over and it’s our pleasure!
Don’t forget our shipment arriving at the end of the month. This huge array of goodies will be just what we all need for Christmas!
One of our favourite Interior Designers Stuart Rattle is having an Open Garden Day at his private farm in Musk, just outside Daylesford. Described as “One of the best Australian gardens I have seen. It has style, botanic diversity and theatrical flair” by Rural Australian Gardens, Myles Baldwin. The handsome grounds are indeed inspiring and reflective of Stuart’s interior style. The weekend is coming up, Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20. Tickets are $10 with proceeds going to the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Restoration Project. Musk Farm 11 School Road, Musk, look for the sign between Bullarto and Daylesford. Melway Ref 609 D10.
A commissioned painting of the Capocchi's Eltham shop in 1981
It is 37 years this week, since Liz and Phil Capocchi opened their store Second Life Décor on Main Road in Eltham. Naturally much has changed since then, and here Liz reveals a little of the evolution of the business..
What inspired you and Phil to get into the antiques trade?
We were holidaying in the Barossa Valley one Christmas many years ago, and we went to a place called the Ravens Parlour; a large barn of a place, filled to the rafters with all sorts of things antique and vintage. That evening at dinner, we were once again discussing our ideas for future directions, and starting some sort of business for ourselves, when Phillip said “..why don’t we open one of those “junk” shops like the ravens parlour”..the rest is history.
Did you ever think your business would grow this large?
We were always hopeful of climbing to the top of the tree in the antiques industry, but never really dreamt of what was possible. I think the secret to reaching the pinnacle was a slow and steady growth through the years, by nature we are not risk takers and on that foundation we have built a strong business that is ready to pass onto the next generation.
What individual talents do you and Phil bring into the business?
We are very lucky in that our talents are largely complimentary. Phillip is fabulous at sourcing stock, organising the restoration and getting the product to our showroom ready for sale. And with my logical thinking, I look after the admin, staff, and displays in the shop. The displays in store reflect my natural inclination toward interior design.
How has your business changed in the last 37 years?
When we first started we essentially sold Australiana, brass beds, stoneware, a little jewellery, silverware and the odd American clock. Essentially it was an economic way for people to furnish as these items were very inexpensive. A few years after we opened our first store, this stock was becoming more difficult to find because Australia is such a young country and had only a small population in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Consequently the goods we were selling were never manufactured in great quantities. This paved the way for our first trip to the UK and we became importers of regular containers from England. Some 25 years ago our European backgrounds led us to France and beyond and the love affair with all things Continental started. During the first two decades we concentrated largely on beautiful quality objects and furniture from the 19th century, which has now broadened into still mainly European items from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. We particularly appreciate some of the more modern design that came out of the 50s and 60s. With such a broad spectrum to our stock our buying trips are more enjoyable as we can purchase any thing we like regardless of age.
Whats popular in the store at the moment?
Anything that is useful and functional in our modern lives and items that have been given a new identity. A great example is our European leather upholstered gym mats which people now use as coffee tables in their family living rooms.
Where do you see antiques going in the future?
Tastes appear to becoming more eclectic with individual pieces being very desirable; the combination of the old and the new will be an ongoing phenomenon, such as we have just witnessed with our Bromley collaboration. I believe that our clients are looking for comfort and versatility rather than the stiff formal interiors of the last century.
Any tips for those wanting to start buying antiques?
Speak to people that you trust and are comfortable with, buy with your heart and not with your head. Create a relationship with a dealer who understands what you are trying to achieve. Come and see us at Capocchi!
Crazy plaster figure on a Twentieth century stall at the markets down South
Steve and Phil are now back from their buying trip; here are a few shots of some truly weird and wonderful things they saw along their way. Their travels took them all over France, top to bottom, and up into Belgium. We viewed the final shots of the container today, and it is a really exciting collection of pieces. Hopefully we should begin to see things arriving mid November.
Who would think you could find anything of value in a place that looks like this?!
Ambiorix, in the Belgian town of Tongeren
The boys were excited to see this monument to the Celtic leader Ambiorix, in the town centre of Tongeren in Belgium, as we have recently acquired a bronze figure of the same famed rebel leader. We’ve heard Ambiorix may have inspired the Asterix comic book series. Our piece is also a 19th century bronze by Edouard Drout (1859-1945).
Robots, robots everywhere
Steve and Phil are currently on a European buying trip and have spent their time in the South of France so far. Apart from enjoying gorgeous weather with an average temperature of 26 they have been buying up a storm and are really excited, claiming this is already the best shipment of the year, and there are still two weeks of buying to go! We always find a great selection of outdoors and provincial furniture around these parts. It seems to go with the weather…
Liz and Phil Capocchi recently enjoyed a relaxing trip to the Indonesian island of Bali…yet being typical antique dealers they couldnt help themselves but buy a few things for the store. The shipment has just arrived and includes a wonderful collection of native Indonesian sculpture and artifacts. Pieces that sit perfectly with antiques and other modern pieces. The items have been listed on the website this week.
