Taylor Thistlethwaite, proprietor of Thistlethwaite Americana in Middleburg, Virginia, returns to our Curious Objects podcast to defend the merits of “brown furniture.” Whether it’s earthy, richly figured black walnut or the sometimes-overlooked black cherry, it’s important not to “think of wood as just something brown,” Taylor says. “There’s so much life in it. And it matures like fine wine.” Case in point: Taylor’s three-hundred-year-old chest-of-drawers with chunky hardware and unusual feet that is as beautiful as it is rare.
It never occurred to me that people were not collectors of antiques—for me it was a way of life. Throughout my childhood, my family drilled into me the importance of history, and its relationship to the decorative and fine arts. After purchasing my first antique in my early teens, I knew there was no turning back; I was hooked! I wanted to build a career handling early American decorative arts and great twentieth-century design. In 2013 I established Thistlethwaite Americana, creating a business where I could share my knowledge and inspire others to enjoy the excitement of collecting. My success is based on integrity and trust: by emphasizing the history, authenticity, and value of each piece I hope to build a lasting relationship with each of my clients. Keeping a close eye on aesthetics and quality, I travel across the country finding objects for museums, decorators, and collectors.
Taylor Thistlethwaite
