February 16, 2013
….simple elegance, in house or garden. Great way to add a touch of Asian ambiance.
Just see here the many ways they’ve been used by my customers.
NOTE: a large stock these what are rare finds is available in High Point. Check here for a wonderful selection of tall panels and here for a variety of sizes….and for more ideas on how others have used these classic beauties, check my Pinterest board on Chinese Screens here.
July 12, 2009
First Vistiors to the 15th Annual Garden Tour
Yesterday was the scheduled 15th Annual Garden Tour for the Maine Music Society. Rain or shine this was the date. With a heavy rain filled month of rain you can imagine how fervent our prayers were to the patron Saint of sunshine. (Yes, one of our committee members Googled patron saints and voila there was Julie!)
Picturesque Floral Display in the Center of the Garden
And the sun would shine down on us on all fronts yesterday. Not only could it not have been a more beautiful day for the tour, which showcased a total of 7 gardens, but we would come out of it having raised monies, from tickets and raffle prizes equal to that of last year!
A Serene Setting in the Woods
Chinese Antique Red Lacquer Box donated for the Maine Music Society Garden Tour Raffle
Antiques by Zaar was only one in a long list of local businesses that contributed raffle prizes to offer as part of the fundraising efforts.
This is my 4th year as a contributing alto in the chorale and I look forward to our next Season of making music and further fostering friendships along the way.
Yes, the sun is shining down on me!
(And again today as ALL of my children are home.)
Ruth Olbrych
www.antiquesbyzaar.com
ruth@antiquesbyzaar.com
July 1, 2009
American And Canadian Flags Flying at the Olbrych's
With myself being Canadian and husband being American, and as such our children having dual citizenships, we feel it appropriate to fly both flags at our home in Maine, and we proudly do just that. Similarly, with Canada Day and Independence Day back on back this week we feel it timely to acknowledge our gratefulness for the opportunities afforded to us by citizenship in each of these fine countries.
We are also grateful for the experiences afforded our children by way of the years we spent living in Asia. And although we don’t fly flags for Thailand and Taiwan we certainly acknowledge our time there by the furnishings and accents throughout our home. (Of course with a little punch from Haiti, where Mark and I met and lived pre children.)Yes, we were pretty much “full up” even before we started this business of importing and selling Chinese Antique Furniture.
Asian Antique Furnishings in the Olbrych Home
However, it doesn’t make it any less tempting to want to change things up abit and take any number of the beautiful pieces from our new shipments and give such a permanent home in our own home. Must say that with the warehouse moved from Maine to North Carolina it does deter this impulse somewhat. And so, I must remain satisfied with offering a wonderful selection of Chinese antiques to make available for you and YOUR home.
Delicate Artwork Adorning this Chinese Antique Sideboard
Happy to advise that we have a container en route and due to arrive mid July. Enjoy the sneak peak on a few items here and check out all at our FOTKI link. And, of course, our full inventory can be viewed by visiting our online retail store at www.antiquesbyzaar.com .
Traditional Chinese Antique Elmwood Altar Table, with carved Spandrels
Ruth Olbrych
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Ruth@antiquesbyzaar.com
June 30, 2009
Although I just did a blog on the usage of Chinese screens I wanted to share with you the blog that Gaita Interiors just put out with a similar bend, titled Chinoisiere Screen: A Timeless Interior Design Classic.
Gaitia Interiors Logo
Meg Braff Interiors June House Beautiful
Her blog was not only informative but a pictorial delight, including, among other photographic references, this image as created by Meg Braff Interiors and showcased in issue of House Beautiful.
After showcasing the multitude of venues screens are used she offers resources for those that want to create the look themselves and DYI, followed by sharing with you sources for buying the “real deal”, and that’s where we come in.
Chinese Antique Four Panel Screen
So glad we found each other on Twitter and are able to serve each other as resource. Thank you Leona for the added exposure for our business and hope I can do the same for you.
June 22, 2009
Almost 10 years ago to the date, we made the bold move to the United States after living in Asia for just shy of a decade. We had enjoyed our time and the people in Asia and wanted to keep that sentiment strong, surrounding ourselves with memorabilia in our new home in rural Maine.
View of my office with my Chinese Antiques
The chairs and screens shown here are part of a “housewarming” gift from my husband, to further add that flavor of Asia to our home. The gift that keeps on giving though, is the business we established, importing and selling Chinese Antiques. Buying an antique can be very “personal” and I am happy to be able to add to that my own special touch as I try and make buying an antique from Antiques by Zaar the next best thing to going to China yourself.
Although I’m decidedly keeping this set of folding screens, over the years we have been able to locate and sell similar sets to our customers. Commonly used as room dividers, or as backdrops, they have also been used otherwise.
Chinese Antique Screens used as Decorative Wall in the dining room
Chantal Lawrence, of Total Design Source in Old Saybrooke CT, found us online in 2001 and has been an Antiques by Zaar customer/friend since then. She backed a set of screens/doors with mirrors and mounted them on a wall to serve as backdrop in the dining room of her Asian infused home. Unquestionably, a wonderful and innovative way to use these carved screens. You can find TDS in our Designer Directory.
The carved screens were generally made of Elmwood and often carved on one side, leaving the back side flat, to facilitate the attachment of semi-transparent protective paper or cloth, for they were used as we would use glass in a window.
Chinese Antique Window Screen as Decorative Wall Art
The screen shown here is in an Antiques by Zaar customer’s home in Guilford CT. This particular screen is made of pine and is intricately carved. It was a perfect fit in the space he had between two rooms in his new house. The accenting of the stone statue on a simple Chinese bench, placed in front of the screen completes this lovely setting.
Some screens tell a story, such as this set of seven panels which hail from the Fujin province of China and date to circa 1890.
Set of 7 Fujin Chinese Antique Panels
Chinese Antique Window Screen
Others are more basic, showing the status of the previous owner as being much “less than” that of the owner of the decorated set shown above. These screens not only serve well on any wall, but would also fill in well hanging loosely inside of a window frame.
No matter the stature of the previous owners there is beauty to be found in the either the simplicity or the complexity of carving on what we know as traditional Chinese carved window and door panels. You can visit our offerings on our website and also see more of how our customers are placing Chinese antiques in their homes, in our Home Gallery.
Ruth Olbrych
www.antiquesbyzaar.com
May 22, 2009
Red Egg, from the west coast, and Antiques by Zaar, from the east coast, were first introduced to each other in the Fall of 2001 in High Point NC. Ruth Olbrych, owner of Antiques by Zaar, was on her first visit to High Point Market, walking the show to see viability of exhibiting her line of Chinese Antique Furniture in this venue. Carol Gregg was a seasoned exhibitor, showcasing her collection (which included Chinese Antiques) in IHFC.
Screens by Antiques by Zaar in Red Egg Showroom
First meeting was warm and informative for the two women that shared a passion for Asian furniture and were each in the business of selling what they loved.
Fast Forward 8 years to 2009.
Carol has departed from importing the original Chinese antiques and moved toward producing furniture, including Asian inspired pieces, right in North Carolina. And when she moved her business to NC she also made the move (from CA) to live in High Point.
Ruth remains in the business of importing and selling original Antiques, and although her center of operation (namely her 12,000 square foot warehouse) was moved from Maine to High Point, NC she currently maintains residence in the state of Maine, making frequent trips to High Point.
The two entrepreneurs would not only meet again but find themselves as members of the High Point Design Center, and more so, as members on the marketing committee, for this organization whose mission is to promote year round availability to the Trade in High Point.
It was with great pleasure that Ruth was able to help Carol complement a table she had made (just in time for Market) with a set of Chinese Elmwood high hat chairs, as well as some carved window screens to further accent the setting.
Chairs from Antiques by Zaar and Table by Red Egg
It was with pleasure that each would actively promote the others business, not only during Market but also during the first Wednesday Events that they both participate in as members of the High Point Design Center.
It appears their paths will continually cross as they are given the opportunity to foster the relationship that was so casually yet intentionally started more than 8 years ago, as each work to grow their respective businesses from High Point North Carolina, the furniture capitol of the world.
It’s ALL good.
Ruth
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