Diva-scovery: Third Floor Antiques

to 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S17mB5RUuiI/AAAAAAAAEHg/ik4n57dH5JY/s400/third+floor+antiques.jpg” border=”0″ />top:2px;padding-right:5px;font-family:times;”>Recently, while discussing European antique shopping tips and trips, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Janet Schreibman, the proprietress of Third Floor Antiques, and her husband Stephen, who lends a helping hand with her business. Together they travel the globe, buying incredible jewelry in exotic European locales, returning home to America to sell their fab finds both at their online store and at antiques events in New York (look for them at The Pier Shows!), New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland. With a jewelry inventory covering Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and 20th Century, I was utterly intrigued with their ever-changing and varied selection and charmed by their open demeanor and inquisitive nature.

Interview with Third Floor Antiques

Antiques Diva:
Tell me about Third Floor Antiques. How did you get involved in specializing in this particular period of jewelry?

Third Floor Antiques:
My husband and I have been selling antiques for over 25 years. We became involved with Scottish jewelry while shopping an antiques market in London about 23 years ago. I saw a unique brooch with colored stones set in silver. I inquired about the price and was told it was 19th century Scottish and was 180 pounds. This was a great deal of money in those years, especially for silver! I thanked the dealer and left. Later in the day while resting in the hotel, my husband returned and purchased the brooch as a surprise for me. So began our mutual appreciation and passion for antique Scottish jewelry. Like many others, our love of collecting became a business. While my husband is a practicing Medical Oncologist, he still has been able to travel with me and assists me at exhibitions.

Antiques Diva:
What a romantic story! Could you tell Diva Readers what’s special about the period you’re interested in?

Third Floor Antiques:
I love its distinctive designs and naturalistic elements. I appreciate the intricate work fashioned out of materials that have little or no intrinsic value. My husband loves the more artistic pieces and I adore the very traditional designs.

Antiques Diva:
I know there are so many to choose from that it might be difficult to answer this question, but do you have a favorite piece in your collection?

Third Floor Antiques:
One of my favorite items in our inventory is #754380 stock #2189. It is a Scottish agate penannular brooch of exceptional size and choice of colors. The use of penannulars and fibulas to secure cloaks has been used for centuries. In this example the Scottish designers made the “look” sleek, modern and yet decidedly Scottish.
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Antiques Diva:
I’m swooning… it’s so modern and amazing that this piece dates back to the 1880’s. I love the description on the website explaining how it was made to adorn tartans. The (following) description of it on your online catalog really transports me to another time and place:

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