Discover a decorative opportunity in antiques and vintage art …
While antique furniture and homewares never go out of fashion, part of their renewed allure is a collective pushback against the rise of AI and mass production.
The dining table laden with silverware at Thrushcross Grange in Emerald Fennell’s 2026 blockbuster movie Wuthering Heights.
Period-wise, early 20th-century pieces, especially Art Deco, attract the most attention, with other design movements hot on its heels, from brutalism to post-modernism.
18th-century George III mahogany bachelor’s chest of drawers, POA, at O’Sullivan Antiques, Dublin 8.
Functioning pieces with a rustic or brutalist edge, in darker woods, are good investments. Bachelor’s chests are among the prettiest and most practical antiques on the market, they have a pullout writing surface which can double as a folding station for laundry.
Inside Klassic Copenhagen’s treasure trove warehouse where hundreds of freshly sourced, under restoration Danish modern classic chairs are stacked high.
Model 45 upholstered teak armchair by Finn Juhl, €14,875; www.1stdibs.com.
Art Deco oak tables and chairs by Charles Dudouyt are having a moment, as are original Ligne Roset Togo sofas which offset sharper architectural schemes beautifully, according to Sophie Salata, head of brand for Vinterior.
The magic of candlelight: 2026 sees the revival of the antique candle wall sconce.
As a rule of thumb, if you want to add antique and vintage pieces to your home, being aware of different eras is important. Embracing one or two decades can ensure a space feels characterful rather than confused and cluttered. The accessories of the antiques world are tapestries, especially Verdure and Aubusson styles from the 17th to 19th centuries, which are incredibly rare and have tripled in price.
Serveware from a selection at Enniskerry Antiques, Wicklow.
1786 Dublin silver sugar basket, €3,100, at Weir & Sons, Dublin 2.
Silver is also having a moment (as are Instagram posts on polishing vintage pieces). A small étagère is perfect for serving cheese, grapes and biscuits, while silver coffee bean spoons are an original (and inexpensive) gift for tablescapers.
18th-century Irish stone garden salvage at The Store Yard, Laois.
As entertaining moves outdoors, we’re ditching the classic bistro table set in favour of mix and match. Try a Victorian cast iron table with wooden benches, a distressed Steamer chair beside a contemporary planter. Collecting garden tools or decorative items from different periods can add fascinating layers too.
Raven in ceramic by Oisín Kelly, €450, at The Treasure Chest, Blackrock, Dublin.
Find the best of Irish art and furniture at Adams, curated by Nicolas Gore-Grimes.
Hunt for vintage art online. Follow dealers whose taste you trust; try @vintageartroom and @hueandholasz.
