Discovering the World of Wildschut Antiques

Behind the Velvet Curtain at Wildschut Antiques  
A Love Affair with the Past (and Patina)

✴ How did you start dealing with vintage and antiques?

Michiel: As a child, the antique pieces in my family home were more obstacle course than inspiration—rickety chairs you couldn’t sit on and creaky tables that wobbled like they’d had too much wine. But somewhere between dodging furniture and summers in Anduze, France, the seed was planted. The freedom of those sun-drenched days, the worn shutters, the dusty markets—it got under my skin. 
Also, I once saw a Citroën Méhari in a Louis de Funès film and decided that was my dream car. I now drive one. Coincidence? Non.

With dyslexia steering me away from academia, I found my rhythm in the real world—learning the ropes from a seasoned antiques dealer, sharpening my eye at Christie’s, and eventually opening my own shop in Amsterdam.

Baukje: Let’s just say I’ve always been the kid rummaging through the attic for treasure. “Old stuff” fascinated me. History? Loved it. Archaeology? My childhood dream.  
A stint at Sotheby’s during my studies sealed the deal. That’s where I realized just how wildly sophisticated and beautifully made so many antique pieces really are—especially compared to the cookie-cutter things churned out today.  

I adore honest materials, unapologetic patina, and interiors that tell you something about the people who live in them. Meeting Michiel meant merging forces: his technical savvy and trade know-how met my eye for design and composition. Voilà—Wildschut Antiques became a partnership.

✴ Any memorable tales behind your collected pieces? 

Our collection is a curated cast of characters: faded grandeur, rich atmosphere, a dash of practicality, and always that certain je ne sais quoi. We’re obsessed with trunks bearing original travel labels, and Venetian chandeliers that look like they’ve thrown a party or two. One of those even helped bring us together—serendipity with sparkle.

We source our pieces mostly in France, where history clings to everything like the scent of lavender. Do we always know their backstory? No. But we love that. It leaves space for imagination.

✴ What's the key to sourcing vintage furniture?

Pragmatism with a pulse.
We’ve learned to check: does the armoire have a back? A door? (Yes, this happened.) Is it structurally sound enough to restore with love—not with a small construction crew?  

Sourcing is a thrill, but we’ve learned not to get swept away by sheer beauty alone. Every piece must earn its keep, whether in utility or narrative.

✴ What are you most excited about for the future? 

We're thrilled to keep growing—both digitally and in-person—as more people fall under the spell of characterful antiques. The age of soulless, mass-produced furniture is losing its grip. Good riddance.

✴ Designs you’re drawn to?

We don’t follow trends—we follow goosebumps. Venetian chandeliers, yes. Crusty 19th-century mirrors, absolutely. We’re guided by feeling: the touch of raw wood, the tone of aged brass, that perfect mismatch of faded greens and dusty pinks. We buy what makes us swoon—not what the market says is “hot.”

✴ Tips for antique maintenance?

Use common sense, a soft hand, and the right tools:
- Olive soap for delicate cleaning  
- Antique wax to nourish old wood  
- Super fine steel wool for mirror glass (yes, really—but never the frame!)  
- Protect from sun and central heating—think bowls of water under armoires like old-world humidifiers.

✴ What do you love most about the trade?

The variety. One day we’re at a misty market in Provence. The next we’re waxing lyrical with a client over a 19th-century secretaire or solving the puzzle of shipping a fragile glass piece across the globe. It’s hands-on, heart-led, and endlessly creative. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Follow our adventures @wildschutantiques for a peek into the world where design, history, and romance collide.