Top Antique Dealers & Designers Share Their Most Extraordinary Finds

Dining room with a long mahogany table and chairs, a blue banquette, a gallery wall of vintage pictures, and antique candlesticks and sconces — (Image credit: Future)

Jump to category:

1. An 18th Century Oil Painting
2. A Rare Midcentury Armchair
3. An Antique Floor Covering
4. An Indian Column Capital
5. An 8ft High French Tapestry
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The beauty of antique shopping is its unexpectedness; you never know what you'll uncover. While those of us who enjoy decorating with antiques could likely tell a tale or two about the gems we've unearthed, unsurprisingly, the best stories come from the dealers and design experts who are among antiques every day.

The most extraordinary finds are those that surprise us. From an ornate column capital salvaged from a scrap yard in India to an eight-foot high tapestry sourced from a French flea market, these are the favorite finds of dealers, experts, and designers who love antiques.

1. An 18th Century Oil Painting

Fireplace with tiling, blue and white antique ginger jars, and an antique oil painting on the mantel of a stag and dogs. — Ambrice Miller's 18th-century oil painting of a stag hunt from a Paris auction house sits proudly on her mantelpiece.

'Last December I sourced a huge 18th-century French oil painting in the circle of Alexandre-François Desportes,' begins Ambrice Miller, founder of Relic Interiors. 'The painting depicts a dynamic stag hunt with its composition balancing the grace of the stag with the energy of the scene. I am always partial to a large painting depicting animals, but by coincidence, a dear friend (and fellow antiques dealer) was getting rid of some old Sotheby’s auction catalogues from the 90s-00s, so I grabbed a few as reference documents, as I love to flip through and learn about antiques that way.'

2. A Rare Midcentury Armchair

Midcentury blue upholstered armchair on a wooden floor beside a gilded console table — Anthony's beloved midcentury armchair, designed by Ilmari Lappalainen, now sits in pride of place in his kitchen.

'During my adult life, I’ve been lucky to both acquire and inherit an array of antiques and vintage pieces, explains Anthony Barzilay Freund, antique specialist and editorial director at 1st Dibs. 'Each wonderful for a variety of reasons (none of which necessarily includes its value or price tag). My most recent acquisition was a mid-century modern armchair that adds the finishing touch to the much-used seating area in our kitchen.'

'Created by Finnish designer Ilmari Lappalainen in 1948, the lounge chair is from his Laila series, which he created for Asko, the iconic 20th-century furniture manufacturer. I found it on 1stDibs from one of my favorite dealers, Lawton Mull.'

'I’ve always been drawn to the gently enveloping curves of Scandinavian seating, but I’ve never owned a piece in that style. For the last decade, we’ve been slowly fitting out our kitchen with things we love – an 18th-century Swedish farm table here, a mod pair of chrome-based swivel chairs there, a banquette covered in a boldly graphic Madeline Weinrib textile – without a ton of thought about how they all fit together. Missing just one piece to finish the room, I chanced upon the Laila chair on the site, and we snapped it up immediately.'

'Thanks to the help of Cordelia Lawton and Patrick Mull, who reupholstered the cushions in a durable, dark blue Dedar fabric (Purple Flower), which picks up the medallion of the banquette, and stained the legs to better relate to the walnut top of our kitchen island, the chair miraculously completes the scattershot ensemble – and it’s incredibly comfortable to boot.'

3. An Antique Floor Covering

Living room with lime green walls, fireplace, antique carpet, green velvet sofa, mahogany games table and chairs in the corner. — The antique tapestry-turned-floor covering that James Yarosh sourced from a rug and textile store in New York City.

James Yarosh, interior designer and gallerist at James Yarosh Associates, explains the story behind a one-of-a-kind antique tapestry he sourced.

'This antique tapestry, used as a floor covering, became the defining element in a second-floor family atrium. Windows on two floors above allowed daylight to filter down into the atrium, casting a soft and shifting spotlight that animated the floor throughout the day.'

'In searching for the right foundation for the room, I collected antique furniture to create a visual dialogue between design and fine art. While sourcing rugs with Josh Nazmiyal at Rug & Kilim, I was drawn to tapestries, which are typically reserved for the wall. He encouraged me to pursue that instinct, to work outside the expected and open new possibilities. His no-limits approach to beauty met my vision seamlessly. The piece introduced a subtle wedding motif – signifying a poetic “marriage” within the space of fine art and design.'

'It proved to be my favorite solution for the floor,' says James. 'In this private setting, experienced only by family and close guests, it anchors the room, elevates the surrounding furnishings, and serves as an anchoring subplot worthy of connecting the carefully curated artworks surrounding it.'

4. An Indian Column Capital

Minimalist living room with limewash walls, concrete floor, a jute rug on top, a white sofa, and a large antique Indian column made from stone used as a coffee table. — The 19th-century column capital discovered by Neha shines in all its glory in this minimalist setting.

Known for her love of antiques, Neha Gupta is an interior designer and founder of NU Curations. 'This is the most exceptional antique I have ever sourced and handled: a large 19th-century hand-carved red sandstone column capital, originating from a haveli (traditional mansion) in northern India.'

'During a business trip to conduct traceability work for construction and building material procurement, I encountered a sudden monsoon downpour at an open, cluttered storage yard for old construction materials,' explains Neha. 'While seeking shelter from the rain, I tripped over a massive concrete block. Rainwater washed away grime and coal soot that had accumulated over decades, revealing intricately carved lotus patterns and weathered geometric designs on the block’s sandstone surface. Long crushed beneath a rusted iron gate, the block had been completely forgotten.'

'This century-old stone carving is the most prized piece among all of my private collections. It integrates historical depth, sculptural art, and original inherent textures, and retains clear chisel marks left by craftsmen from a hundred years ago. The natural patina on its weathered terracotta-toned surface cannot be replicated by any modern craftsmanship, and it is fully capable of setting the atmosphere for the entire room.'

'To make architectural remnants compatible with contemporary residences, a high-contrast design logic must be adopted. The author transformed a large stone column capital into a sculptural cocktail table and placed it in a minimalist, well-lit living room,' says Neha. 'This original interior furnishing I created places a piece of rough red sandstone marked by erosion next to a low, ultra-modern custom white linen sofa; the contrast in texture between the two generates striking sensory tension.'

5. An 8ft High French Tapestry

Living room with antique tapestry wall hanging, a beige carpet, a brown loveseat with a tapestry pillow, an ornate glass coffee table and two floor lamps on either side of the sofa. — The 18th-century tapestry Debbie sourced from a French flea market hangs at the heart of her living room.

'It's very difficult to decide which antique I have sourced is the most extraordinary as I have been doing this for a number of years,' explains owner and principal designer Debbie Mathews LeRoy of Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs.

'If I had to pick just one, it would be an 18th-century French tapestry that I purchased more than thirty years ago. I found it at the Paris Flea Market and instantly fell in love with it. It was hanging in an outdoor booth and featured a pastoral scene in soft shades of green, terracotta, and brown. It measures eight feet tall and fourteen feet wide.'

'It was very expensive for me at the time,' explains Debbie, 'but I did my best to negotiate the price down. I was not successful, and I left the Paris Flea Market empty-handed. But I couldn't stop thinking about this magnificent piece, and I returned several days later. I was told by the vendor that he would take a lower price but that I would need to pay him in cash. My husband and I had to go to multiple banks all over Paris to collect the designated amount of cash since there was a maximum withdrawal amount at most banks. The vendor and I then made the exchange in our hotel lobby just hours before flying back to the United States. We transported this precious cargo in a large duffel bag so that it never left our possession once we acquired it.'

'It is my favorite find because of the story behind it! This piece has always been a focal point in our home because of its size and grandeur. It now resides in my living room right off the entrance hall. Most guests immediately notice it, which is an opportunity for me to tell the story and adventure of how it was purchased.'

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