Prestigious Orange County firm served celebrity clientele in the O.C. for 39 years

Richly carved circa-1880s French walnut buffet. Don Presley Auctions image.

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Over the weekend of Feb. 5-6 – Super Bowl weekend – auctioneer Don Presley will preside over the sale of the remaining inventory of Steven-Thomas Antiques and Interiors, which is closing its doors. Founded in 1979 by brothers-in-law Steven Shedd and Thomas Silk, the prestigious Orange County antiques and restoration firm has operated from the same Santa Ana venue since 1979, redesigning and repurposing antiques for functional use in today’s homes.

“Some of the finest oceanfront residences in southern California have benefited from the imaginative design concepts of Steven-Thomas,” said Presley. “The company is very well known here in Orange County, and they’ve sold $150 million in antique furniture since opening their doors.” Steven-Thomas also catered to a large celebrity clientele that included the late John Wayne, who resided in Newport Beach. Their custom work is also on view in the Dorothy Chandler House in the stylish Los Angeles neighborhood of Hancock Park, where they were commissioned to install antique kitchen buffets.

The idea behind Steven-Thomas germinated in 1971 while Steven Shedd was living in Italy and playing on a baseball team. “I was going back and forth to Italy, and a friend said, ‘You should get into antiques.’ That was when dealers were just started to ship antiques from Europe to America in containers,” Shedd recalled. He and his wife decided to cast out their nets to see if the idea had any potential. They started traveling all over northern Italy, buying up the type of furniture that could be bought cheaply there and resold easily in the States. “While there was an abundance of English rolltop desks and gateleg tables at the time, that wasn’t the case with high-end Italian Renaissance Revival furniture,” Shedd said. “We knew we had found an opportunity in the marketplace.”

French Gothic hall tree, oak, one of several pieces of 19th-century Gothic furniture to be auctioned. Don Presley Auctions image.

In 1980, the Shedd and Silk families purchased land on the 55 Freeway five minutes from the John Wayne Airport, and designed and built the Steven-Thomas showroom. It did not take long for Steven Shedd and Thomas Silk to ascertain exactly what their clients wanted.

“The customer base we were serving expected to see things in tip-top condition. To meet their needs, our business became 70% restoration – bringing antiques back to their original condition – and 30% recrafting,” Shedd said. “For instance, we would take two twin beds and make them into a king-size bed, or we’d use the carcass of a buffet to create an entertainment center. We developed a reputation for being very creative and eventually grew to a staff of 50 employees.”

After 30 years of building the business into a landmark antiques and interiors retail destination, the partners are now ready for retirement. Recently, the Steven-Thomas building was sold to a computer assembly company, and the premises must be vacated by Feb. 28. The Feb. 5-6 auction will dissolve the remaining Steven-Thomas inventory in its entirely, with no minimum bids and no reserves. Every article will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price.

The vast array of furniture includes complete bedroom suites, buffets, hall trees, dressers and chests, Louis XV and XVI mirrors, china cabinets, and dining tables with complete sets of 6, 8 and 10 chairs. Additionally, there are bookcases, desks, Renaissance-style trestle tables and kitchen cupboards. Coffee tables with carved figures at the base, glass tops and hand-carved finials are prime examples of the Steven-Thomas method of recrafting antiques into unique “fantasy” pieces. “It’s possible that someday those pieces we’ve recrafted with have value as unique articles,” Shedd said.

18th-century Russian bronze chandelier with enameled and star-decorated globe; rock crystal and bead adornments on the 12 arms. Don Presley Auctions image.

Befitting the palatial furniture on offer, Presley will auction several lavish crystal chandeliers. Among the top lots is a French robust-center chandelier with six patinated cherubs, each holding two lights; and an 18th-century Russian enameled-bronze chandelier with a blue star-emblazoned globe, and crystal and beads surrounding the 12 arms. A very special pair of Lalique chandeliers renders the illusion of a crystal waterfall. Its round, bronze body is decorated with cherub figures on Lalique glass.

Additionally, the on-site auction will feature hundreds of quality smalls, decorative art and other items. “There is so much merchandise from with to choose, everyone is sure to leave with something wonderful,” said Presley. “And there are sure to be some bargains.”

All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. Note: all purchased goods must be removed from the premises no later than Feb. 15 to make way for the new tenants.

Steven-Thomas Antiques is located at 800 East Dyer Road at the 55 Freeway in Santa Ana, CA 92705. The auction will commence at 12 noon Pacific Time on both Saturday, Feb. 5 and Sunday, Feb. 6. Preview goods any day prior to the auction from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to noon on actual auction days. For additional information, call 714-957-3989 or 714-633-2437. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place at www.LiveAuctioneers.com. Visit Don Presley online at www.donpresleyauction.com.

Evening Auction: Feb 15th 2011

Day Auction: Feb 16th 2011

1.24.11 Round Top, Texas – The Marburger Farm Antique Show is going to the dogs—- and the designers and the dads and the moms and the kids— and to anyone up for a fun way to feather their nest. The spring show in central Texas opens Tuesday March 29 and runs through Saturday April 2.

“When a show is dog-friendly,” says exhibitor Rebecca Looten of Monsoon Imports, “you know it’s also shopper-friendly.” Her yellow lab Marley will greet shoppers from one of the dog beds that Looten creates from antique altars. Buying in Rajasthstan, India for nearly a decade, Looten offers wooden and stone artifacts such as carved deities, rain cisterns, architectural fragments and marble serving platters. Looten plans to fill platters with refreshments during Marburger Farm’s benefit evening for Texas Children’s Hospital on Tuesday March 29.

Whether you bring your pooch, your pal or your kids, Marburger Farm is just plain bliss. “Spring is a luscious time in Texas,” says show co-owner Ashley Ferguson. “The pastures are full of bluebonnets and baby cows. People from all over America throw off winter and come looking for garden antiques and furniture for indoor-outdoor entertaining. Our goal is to have the best antique show in the nation, which includes giving shoppers the best memories and inspiration and enjoyment.”

With over 350 dealers on 43 acres, Marburger Farm consists of a not-so-small world of its own. Ten super-size tents and 12 historic buildings spill over with antiques from French to Fifties.

“One thing that makes for a great show is happy dealers,” says show co-owner Rick McConn. “Even with the huge truckloads of antiques coming in, we do all that we can to reduce the stress of set up. Then we do all we can to enhance the event for everyone.” This spring look for three food and beverage pavilions by Austin caterer Sterling Affairs, plus a bar in the Blacksmith Shop serving wine, ice-cold beer and “Marburitas”. An on-site shipper, free Wi-Fi, comfort stations, free parking and a parking shuttle service all add up to a stress-free event for shoppers too. “And we are packed,” says McConn, “with bloggers and shoppers coming from around the nation.”

But bluebonnets and bloggers aside, the main attraction is the stuff. What’s coming?

Ender Tasci of Elephant Walk Antiques in Orlando will arrive with a collection of 17^th – 18^th c. trunks from Spain, plus a pair of large 18^th c. gilded fragments from Italy. “The minute I leave Texas, I start missing Texas,” says Tasci. “For six months, I am living and breathing Texas to get ready for the next Marburger.” Being ready this time includes transporting to Marburger Farm all the fixtures from an old wine shop in the south of France, including wood work counters for use as buffets and nine feet tall wine storage cabinets for use as cupboards and armoires.

Al Linder of Northfield, MN also thinks big. “I’m bringing a primitive barn cupola, a full set of windmill blades, ten feet across, and a nine foot long quarter-sawn oak workbench for a fantastic kitchen island.” Why make the long trek to Texas? “In other states,” says Linder, “people look at these big industrial pieces and say to their friend, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ In Texas, people say, ‘If you don’t buy it, I will.’ I always look forward to Marburger Farm.”

Don Orwig of Corunna, IN agrees. “Spring at Marburger Farm is our top show of the year. We plan on doing a lot of business,” says Orwig, who will unload a box truck of industrial antiques, store counters and advertising signs. He’ll have factory pieces re-furbished for homes, such as work tables to be used as dining tables and bookshelves made from factory flooring with metal sides from old iron bridges. Also arriving with Orwig will be a set of 70 matching bistro chairs that he bought from a restaurant in Paris.

Paris may never be the same after the winter shopping maneuvers of a band of Marburger Farm dealers. “We’re going to shop our hearts out,” says Stephanie Talley of Fluff Antiques. “We’re all looking for wonderful smalls, art, textiles, jewelry and anything eccentric that we can get back to Marburger Farm.” Of the shopping gang, jewelry dealer Janet Waldrop of Skip 2 My Lou Antiques is the most experienced at shopping in France. “Janet keeps coaching us on how to shop without being conspicuous foreigners,” laughs Talley. “But just wait till that Texan opens her mouth!”

Single-minded shopping, months of preparation and many miles characterize over 350 Marburger Farm exhibitors who will alight near a herd of longhorns with everything from investment antiques from Sweden to mid-century modern antiques for new collectors. In the mix will be creative and mind-boggling displays in each booth, making for room settings of visual wonder.

Peg Van Dyne of French Vanilla Antiques will bring her new golden retriever, Emma, who color-coordinates with the neutral and calming tones of Van Dyne’s always-scrumptious booth. What’s coming along with Emma? “I’m starting with a clean slate and a light palette,” says Van Dyne. “I’m going on a big buying trip and coming straight to Marburger Farm full of surprises.”

So come for surprises, for the sunshine and for the stuff. The Marburger Farm Antique Show opens for Early Buying with $25 admission on Tuesday March 29 from 10 am through 2 pm, when regular $10 admission begins. Tuesday evening, extended shopping hours until 7 pm will directly benefit the Texas Children’s Hospital with a portion of  the entire show’s proceeds  benefitting Texas Children’s Hospital. Admission is good all week, with the show running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Saturday, April 2, from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission is free for children 15 and under and dogs on a leash are always welcome.

See information on vendors, travel, maps, lodging, shipping and special events at roundtop-marburger.com or call Rick McConn at 800-999-2148 or Ashley Ferguson at 800-947-5799.

CONTACT:

Rick McConn  713-703-6371

rick@marburgershow.com

Ashley Ferguson  800-947-5799

ashley@marburgershow.com

roundtop-marburger.com

African-American Fine Art Auction: Feb 17th 2011, 2:30 pm

Catalogue available online

Winter Fine Art, Furniture & Chinese Auction Jan 29th 2011, 10:00 am

Preview: Jan 28th Noon-8:00 pm, Jan 29th 8:00 am – 10:00 am

The sale will include a broad spectrum of art and antiques including European and American decorative arts and furniture, fine jewelry, fine art, Chinese artifacts, Americana and bronzes, amongst other categories.

Auction: Feb 4th 2011  Noon – Early 20th C. Design/Arts & Crafts

Auction: Feb 5th 2011  Noon – 20th-21st C. Design/Modern

Auction: Feb 3rd 2011  10:30 am  &  2:30 pm

Catalogue available online

Saturday, Jan 22nd Art and Antiques meets Superheroes:  Two Great Auctions, One Great Auction Experience!

Jan Art and Antiques Auction: Jan 22nd 2011  10:00 am

Superhero Museum Collection Auction: Jan 22nd 2011  2:00 pm

Auction: Feb 6th 2011  11:00 am  &  Feb 7th 2011  12:00 pm

Preview: Feb 2nd – 5th 2011  10:00 am – 5:00 pm (open until 3pm on Feb 5th)