What I Look for When I'm Sourcing
Notes from a recent sourcing trip to Italy and France.
There is something wonderful about sourcing antiques in Europe. The depth of history, the extraordinary variety of objects, and the opportunity to discover pieces that have passed through generations make it an experience unlike anything we have at home.
For me, sourcing is as much about the people and places as it is about the objects themselves. Over the years, I've developed relationships with antique dealers in small towns and villages throughout Europe, as well as established dealers in larger cities who specialize in particular periods, makers, or exceptional collectibles. Depending on the project and the client, both have their place.
Sourcing for Ma-Tine is a little different. I'm particularly drawn to smaller dealers, tucked-away shops, and lesser-known collections where the selection might range from small decorative objects to extraordinary pieces of furniture. It's a more personal process, driven by curiosity and the pleasure of finding beautiful things.
The Pleasure of the Hunt
I've always loved the hunt. On a recent trip through France, I found myself photographing everything from worn leather armchairs and old stone vessels to beautifully aged books, architectural details, and unusual wooden objects.
I don't go with a shopping list but I do have an idea in my head of what we're sourcing for various projects and Ma-Tine. When sourcing for a client, there are dimensions, materials, and requirements to consider, but I always leave room for the unexpected. Some of the most interesting discoveries have nothing to do with what I originally set out to find.
What Makes Me Stop
I tend to respond first to shape and proportion. The curve of an armchair, the scale of a cabinet, the silhouette of an old stone vessel. There is a certain balance to a beautifully made object that is difficult to articulate but immediately recognizable.
Material is equally important. I'm drawn to things that have acquired character through age and use: leather that has softened over decades, wood with a beautiful original finish, stone weathered naturally, or brass with a rich, uneven patina.
During this trip, I came across a pair of leather armchairs with wonderful rounded arms and generous proportions. I could imagine them alongside contemporary furnishings, where their age and character would provide a beautiful contrast.
I also spent time looking at old textiles, carved architectural elements, and collections of antique books. Sometimes it's the smallest detail, the finish of a piece of hardware or the particular shade of a faded fabric, that makes me stop and look more closely.
The Importance of Knowing Your Dealers
One of the most rewarding aspects of sourcing in Europe is the relationships developed along the way. The best dealers have an extraordinary depth of knowledge, often built over decades. They understand the history of their pieces, where they came from, and what makes them unusual.
For Ma-Tine, I especially enjoy finding smaller resources that may be less familiar to an international audience. A dealer might have a remarkable old cabinet alongside a collection of pottery, architectural fragments, or objects originally made for entirely practical purposes.
These are places where I can spend hours looking, asking questions, and learning something new. And when you return to the same dealers over time, they begin to understand your eye, often setting aside pieces they think might interest you.
When There isn’t a Project in Mind
One of the challenges of loving antiques as much as I do is that I don't always have a client or project in mind when I find something wonderful.
There are pieces I simply don't want to leave behind. I may have no immediate use for them, but I can imagine how they might work in a home, and finding something similar again could be difficult.
In many ways, that instinct is what led me to create Ma-Tine.
I wanted a place for the things I discover on my travels, pieces I would happily incorporate into my own home or the interiors we design, even when there isn't an immediate destination for them.
Ma-Tine allows me to collect more freely, bringing together vintage furniture, objects, and unusual finds that reflect my personal taste. Some eventually find their way into our design projects, while others become part of someone else's home.
Collected Over Time
I don't believe creating a beautiful interior should be an entirely prescribed process. There needs to be a strong design direction and a thoughtful relationship between the pieces in a room, but there should also be room for discovery.
The homes I find most compelling are rarely those where everything was acquired at once. They contain pieces from different periods and places, things inherited, collected during travels, or found quite unexpectedly.
That's ultimately what I love about sourcing. It's an ongoing education, an opportunity to discover things I haven't seen before, meet people who share a passion for beautiful objects, and bring some of those discoveries into the homes we create.
And when I find something I love without knowing exactly where it belongs, there's always a place for it at Ma-Tine.
Working on a home in the Hamptons, New York, or anywhere in the country? Marie-Christine Design is a full-service luxury residential interior design firm with locations in Sag Harbor and Manhattan.
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