The Curator of the Hidden: A Life in the Hunt

They say some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but being a native of Franklin, Tennessee, I was more likely born with a keen eye for whether that spoon was authentic 19th-century coin silver or a clever silver-plated imposter. My story isn’t written in ink; it’s etched into the patina of 1800s mahogany and hidden behind the cracked varnish of oil paintings that have seen more history than most textbooks.

The Education of an Eye

My professional journey didn't begin in a boardroom or a lecture hall; it began in the backseat of a station wagon, navigating the winding backroads of Middle Tennessee. I was mentored by the best in the business: my mother and grandmother. These women didn't just shop; they conducted tactical maneuvers through every dusty antique mall, cluttered garage sale, and forgotten estate between Franklin and the Cumberland River.

While other kids were learning their multiplication tables, I was learning the "The Eye." I watched them scan a room of junk and, with a single sharp glance, identify the one piece of soul-stirring history hiding in a corner. They taught me that value isn't found on a price tag - it’s found in the joinery of a drawer, the weight of a frame, and the "whisper" of an object that has survived two centuries.

The Thrill of the Hunt

I don’t just "shop" for antiques; I am a professional hunter. There is a specific brand of adrenaline that only comes from the Hunt - the kind that starts in your chest when you spot a piece of 1800s furniture through a layer of grime at a Saturday morning yard sale. My specialty lies in the 19th century, a time when things were built to outlast their owners and art was an exercise in patience and precision.

Whether I am tracking down a piece of period-correct Federal furniture or a hauntingly beautiful 1800s portrait, I approach every search with the persistence of a detective and the passion of a historian. I’ve spent my life turning over every stone (and every rug) in Middle Tennessee to find those rare pieces that bridge the gap between "old" and "extraordinary."

The Philosophy of the Find

For me, the 1800s represent a pinnacle of craftsmanship that modern manufacturing simply can’t replicate. There is a narrative in every scratch and a secret in every dovetail. My mission is to rescue these stories. I believe that a home shouldn't just be a collection of furniture; it should be a curated gallery of history.

I’ve inherited more than just a collection of trinkets from the women who raised me; I’ve inherited a legacy of discernment. In a world of "fast furniture" and disposable decor, I remain a steadfast devotee to the enduring, the authentic, and the aged. If it’s been buried in an attic for a hundred years, I’ll find it. If it’s a masterpiece masquerading as a dusty relic, I’ll see it.

I am a Franklin native, a Middle Tennessee explorer, and a lifelong student of the Hunt. And if you need me, I’ll be the one at the garage sale - the one who got there an hour early, looking for the one thing everyone else missed..