The Antiques
“Where did you get all of these antiques?”
The antiques you see in the main areas throughout the Chateau de Lis are actual European antiques, some from the 15th and 16th centuries. If you look closely, for instance, at the large oak hutch in the main kitchen, full of vintage and antique white dishes, with its barber-pole scaled design, you can see that each scale is slightly different. That is because, amazingly, it was hand carved with simple tools, artistry from a by-gone era. Such a piece these days can hardly find a home, but in a castle it is a piece that a kitchen is designed around.
As the time came to furnish the chateau, John put his crazy researching skills to work, and we found that there are basically three large European gothic antique importers in the country: one in Maryland, one in Texas, and the last in . . . Boring, Oregon. Amazingly, right around the corner from where we lived at the time that we started the process of furnishing was an importer named Jesse, living in a modest home with his wife and three adorable children, and an enormous outbuilding filled to the brim with beautiful things. His business partner lived over on the west side, and we were able to procure several beautiful original paintings, tapestries, and furniture from that location.
Another truly amazing piece of history is the liturgical furniture in the vestibule area between the front entrance and the Great Room. This piece comes from an ancient cathedral somewhere in Belgium. The center panel in the middle was identified by Jesse as the partial panel of a much older cabinet (15th century) which the woodworkers incorporated into the new piece. A closer look reveals the worm-eaten holes of Anobium Punctatum, a tiny beetle whose larva bores into the wood. The colors, carvings, and design are also a reflection of the older cabinet, with crests, shields and fleur de lis in relief across the top and sides.
When we toured in France and England, one of the very saddest things we noticed was the number of churches and cathedrals which were almost in ruins, their interiors in some places being destroyed by the elements from gaping holes in the roof. Particularly in smaller villages we would often see a sign with a plea to donate to the upkeep of these beautiful edifices, and a little box for the donations outside the front door. This piece was obviously from one of those dilapidated churches which was beyond repair, with the liturgical furniture being scavenged and sold off. Often when I look at this piece I imagine what it has seen in it’s “lifetime,” all of the revolutions and changes – and today it is happy again, being used and appreciated!
Besides our friend Jesse around the corner, John and I scoured Ebay and national Craigslist databases for the many pieces we were searching for. Eventually, John drove our box truck around the country and loaded it up with all of the treasures: the medieval chair sets for the dining room tables, bookcases, hutches, wedding chests and beds for several of the rooms. I may or may not pass along his crazy adventures on that trip, one that I declined to accompany him on, knowing I wouldn’t get a wink sleep as he loves to drive all night and eat Costco chicken bakes. When he got home it was a great relief – and a special delight!
The one piece that is not original is the large bed in the Medieval suite. As there is no such thing as a king-sized Medieval bed (and it’s called “king sized,” why?), so it had to be custom made. John contracted with a company in India to replicate it from an image he found of a museum piece. The large hutch in the Medieval suite, however, is an original antique. We call it the Narnia closet, and one day I’ll get around to attaching pine boughs along the back side and old fur coats on the hanger . . .
We are still working on finishing and furnishing some of the rooms, such as Victorian, Roman, and the Master Suite. A dear friend of ours, Sassy O’Sullivan, recently gifted to us a five-piece antique bedroom set to use in the Victorian suite, along with an over 100-year-old square grand Steinway that we will display (and use) in the new arboretum. So stayed tuned, there are more beauties to discover!
