AboutMichael Andrew Wilson Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about European Antique Furniture and 20th Century
Decorative arts and Design furniture, including 18th century & 19th century construction
details, style, period and the craftsmen and manufactures that created them, I will also
attempt to answer questions about buying European Antiques and how to become a expert
collector, my speciality is French, Italian, English, Irish, Spanish, Belgium, Dutch, Danish,
Swedish, German, and Swiss.
Experience Since 1995, I have been, a professional art, antiques and design advisor and earned an unparalleled reputation for providing select clients: expertise in making informed purchase decisions for antiques and art acquisition from a wide range of categories and eras. Architects, interior designers, decorators, dealers, museums, collectors and private clients rely on me for a wide variety of services. I specialize in finding and facilitating the purchase of some of the most notable pieces in the market today. And because I know the market so well –including the secret locations where the world's best dealers purchase their stock – I are generally able to do this at a significant saving of both time and money.
My service includes: creating collecting and acquisition strategy including organizing personally guided buying trips throughout the International art and antiques markets, pre-shopping research, sourcing, analysis of markets, documentation and expert appraisals, handling, shipping and delivery coordination. In short, everything my clients need to be assured of the most knowledgeable, reliable, and pleasurable sourcing, acquisition and collecting experience. My approach is to offer maximum transparency. You can visit my website at: www.mawparis.com
Education/Credentials Moving to Paris in 1989, I worked, for five years as an Interior Design Project Manager for Polo Ralph Lauren where I helped to plan and open more than 60 Polo stores and showrooms across Europe and purchased antiques for one of Mr. Lauren's homes and as a result I oversaw the purchased over 30 million dollars of Art & Antiques, this experience gave a unique qualifications to understand the complexities of this market and gives me a rare insight into the professional antique & art market.
I also have taught “Furniture Design and Style” at the IESA (Institute Arts Superior) in Paris. and have a personal archive of over 170,000 photos of Furniture and 160 hours of video of the major European art and antiques fairs including: Paris’s Biennale des Antiquaires , Maastricht’s TAAF , and London’s Grosvenor House. Some of these videos can be see at: www.thewilsonreport.tv
Past/Present Clients I have a prestigious international clientele of noted business and entertainment figures as well as some of the word’s most important collectors, References are provided for serious enquires.
Question QUESTION: I was given an Empire sofa which had been reupholstered in the 60's. I was wondering if you could give me some more information on it regarding age and where it may have come from? The couch has a carving on top of it and also has claw feet on the bottom. Thanks for your help... IMAGE: Empire Sofa
ANSWER: This is not an Empire style sofa, the only thing that could look empire style would be the claw feet but even the foot is not empire style, it is more a American reproduction of an English neo classical style sofa, this looks like it is made circa 1930 at best. I would need to see a side view of the sofa, and a close up of the wood carving on top.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for your help. If you like I can snd you a couple more pictures of it. I'm not sure how to attach them to this email chain.
Answer You should be able to attach another photo to this message, just like you attached the first photo, if not send the photo with a new question or try uploading the photos to a service like shutterfly.com or another photo storage website and then send me the address
){kind=link}