Calling All Antiques Lovers: Four Hands and Van Thiel’s New Collection Just Launched
Poet John Keats said it best: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Consider antiques that share their patinaed beauty and passed-down stories from one generation to the next. Their durability, however, isn’t as eternal as their histories. Thankfully, the masterful furniture minds at Four Hands and Van Thiel have partnered to design over 25 new pieces that expertly blend heirloom craftsmanship with modern functionality. The antique-inspired collection will be unveiled at High Point Fall Market.
The Lazy Monsieur Partouche Table
scoutandnimble.com
$4731.75
“As we see customers returning to more traditional and heritage designs, we felt compelled to revisit our previous collaborations with Van Thiel, dip into their archives, and reimagine these designs for today’s home needs,” says Adam Dunn, Vice President of Design at Austin, Texas-based Four Hands. “The collection is inspired by the Van Thiel family's history in antiques dealing—it’s meant to feel aged and time-worn. The careful selection of materials, paired with the distressing technique and finish allows these pieces to showcase unique artistry and craftsmanship,” he says.
Antiques found across the world influenced the furnishings' designs. The natural “Please No More Doors” Cabinet pulls inspiration from Scandinavian design, while the hand-distressed “It Takes an Hour” sideboard mimics Chinese styles. (The playful names are another nod to antiques’s passed-down stories.)
“For this collection, we used a mix of solid and veneer woods on tabletops, cabinet doors, and panels, as this technique mitigates movement, checking, and cracking that tends to happen in solid wood. This construction creates stronger, longer-lasting pieces of furniture that can be passed down for generations,” says Dunn. Grand scales and exposed joints lend modernity, while weathering brings a collected and curated look to the line.
Solid wood frames were distressed using hand-applied techniques designed to highlight grain movement, soften corners, and break hard edges. “These methods mirror the wear of true antiques, which are distressed in areas where hands touch and feet kick throughout the life of the piece,” Dunn adds. Using a combination of paint and stain, finishes are distressed and rubbed away to enhance the natural-looking aging of each piece.
It Takes An Hour Sideboard
scoutandnimble.com
$4999.00
“It’s not just about the finishing’s effects—and we’ve studied finishes across the globe and developed a number of unique techniques—but also its application,” says Rudy van Thiel Sr., who has been in the antiques and furniture industry for more than 50 years. “Careful attention is given to the areas that would truly experience wear and tear.”
The Four Hands x Van Thiel collection is available to the trade via the Four Hands Marketplace and directly to consumers at Scout & Nimble. Expect these beautiful heirloom-quality pieces to bring joy to the next generations of well-curated interiors.
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