ROBUCK

THE ROBUCK VISION

SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN ATLANTA MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO BY SHANE ROBUCK AND KRISTEN WALLS, ROBUCK HAS REMAINED ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND INSPIRING SOURCES FOR FINE EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL AND BRITISH ANTIQUITIES, WITH MOST DATING FROM THE 17TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURIES.

ON THEIR FREQUENT EXCURSIONS TO EUROPE, SHANE AND KRISTEN SOURCE FURNISHINGS AND DECORATIVE OBJECTS, LIGHTING FIXTURES AND SELECT ARTWORKS THAT STAND OUT AS INDIVIDUAL PIECES. "EVERY ITEM WE PURCHASE AND FEATURE IN THE SHOWROOM IS SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO US," SAYS KRISTEN. "EVERY CREDENZA, CONSOLE, CHANDELIER, MIRROR, CHAIR, TABLE, AND CURIOSITY THAT WE FIND IN EUROPE AND BRING HERE IS DEFINED BY DETAILS AND HAND WORKMANSHIP THAT TELLS A STORY OF ITS MAKING." SHANE ADDS, "I LOVE THE RARITY OF THINGS, THEIR HISTORY, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I FALL IN LOVE WITH EVERYTHING WE BUY." ROBUCK'S GENERAL MANAGER, DOUGLAS SEARS, ADDS, "WHENEVER SOMETHING COMES INTO THE SHOWROOM FROM OUR TRAVELS, I LOOK AT IT AND ASK MYSELF, 'WHO HAD THIS IN THEIR HOME? WHO USED THIS AND WHAT DID IT MEAN TO THEM?'"

SHANE, WHO WAS INTRODUCED AS A BOY TO THE WORLD OF ANTIQUITIES BY HIS FATHER, RECALLS A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN HIS BECOMING AN ANTIQUITIES DEALER. AS A YOUNG MAN TRAVELING IN PARMA, ITALY, SHANE REMEMBERS WALKING INTO AN ANTIQUITIES FAIR AND KNOWING RIGHT AWAY, AS HE SAYS, "WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE. I HAD FOUND MY CALLING. BELLS WENT OFF."

KRISTEN, TRAINED AS AN INTERIOR DESIGN BEFORE OPENING HER OWN ANTIQUES BUSINESS PRIOR TO COMBINING FORCES WITH SHANE, POSSESSES AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO "READ" AN ANTIQUE. SHE IS ABLE TO EXAMINE THE FEET OF A CONSOLE, THE SHAPE OF A TABLE LEG, THE PATINA OF A PAINTING IN SUCH A WAY THAT, AS SHE SAYS, "IT'S AS IF THE ANTIQUE IS INDICATING ITS PAST TO ME AND WHY IT HAS ENDURED."

A VISIT TO THE ATLANTA SHOWROOM IS AN EXPERIENCE IN ITSELF. THE FIRST FLOOR IS OFTEN MANNED BY DOUGLAS, WHO BEGAN AS AN INTERN AT ROBUCK WHILE STILL AN UNDERGRADUATE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AND WHO IS NOW AN INCREASINGLY SEASONED EXPERT IN EUROPEAN ANTIQUES. KRISTEN IS OFTEN FOUND ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WITH ITS CAREFULLY CHOREOGRAPHED ARRANGEMENT OF CASE GOODS AND OTHER LARGE AND SMALL ITEMS. SHANE TYPICALLY OCCUPIES THE THIRD FLOOR, LARGELY DEFINED AS A AREA FOR RESTORATION AND REFINISHING. THERE IS A WARM AND EASY CAMARADERIE ABOUT AMOUNG THE THREE, WHO ARE OFTEN JOINED ON PREMISES BY VISITING RESTORERS.

THE THREE CONCUR THAT ONE OF THE MOST EXHILARATING ASPECTS OF ANTIQUES IS THAT A PERSON IS NEVER FULLY AN EXPERT BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS MORE AND MORE TO OBSERVE AND LEARN ABOUT AN OBJECT. INDEED, EVERY ANTIQUE ROBUCK FEATURES HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY SO MANY PEOPLE OVER SO MANY YEARS THAT IT IS IMBUED WITH HISTORY AND MEANING. PLACING ONE OF ROBUCK'S ANTIQUES IN A HOME TODAY MEANS THAT ITS HISTORY CONTINUES ON.