While in Charlottesville I had to stop in to one of my favorite places, Patina Antiques. “Patina” is an antiquing term that refers to the amount of character a piece has. Something described as having “fine patina” means that the piece has become more interesting and unique over time. However, this does not mean that piece has been kept in mint condition. In fact, it is just the opposite. To quote antiquing legend, Israel Sack, “Patina is everything that happens to an object over the course of time. The nick in a leg of a table, a scratch on a table top, the loss of moisture on the paint, the crackling of a finish or a glaze in ceramics, the gentle wear patterns of the edge of a plate. All these things add up to create a softer look, subtle color changes, a character.”
That being said, Patina Antiques does not disappoint.
I’m still racking my brain to figure out how I can justify buying this piece. It is over the top dramatic and the perfect focal point for a room lacking interest. The carvings are exquisite and honestly, pictures don’t do it justice. Someone poured their heart into this piece and it shows. However, thinking back to the word “patina,” the piece has nicks and chips. These imperfections give the piece even more character. I had to walkout of the store empty handed for two reasons. The first being that table is an awkward height. My idea was to use it as low TV table. Then I considered floating it in the middle of the living room as a coffee table. Unfortunately the carvings were only on the front, so coffee table idea was out.
This chair is dramatic but for other reasons. The shape and construction of the chair makes it a one of a kind piece. The subtle leather is a perfect juxtaposition to the studded steal on the back of the chair. In case you were wondering, yes- it swivels.
Patina Antiques, 1112 East High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
