For antiques aficionados, the thrill of browsing legendary markets in France, Italy, and England is hard to beat. You never know what you might unearth—from colorful Murano glass to delicate lace-trimmed linens to neoclassical furniture. Thanks to antiques dealer Melissa Levinson, you can browse the best of Europe’s storied flea markets right here. Melissa travels across Europe in search of one-of-a-kind vintage and antique furnishings, bringing back containers’ worth of treasures to stock her L.A. emporium. Read on for a peek into her sourcing process, then shop her latest handpicked finds here.
A graceful antique chaise anchors a vignette in Melissa’s L.A. showroom, where carved, gilded, and crystal-encrusted surfaces delight the eye at every turn.
Each piece tells a story: This 19th-century carved French armoire was made as a wedding gift from a father to his newly married daughter.
The Thrill of the Hunt
From the South of France to the Italian countryside, Melissa scours flea markets and estate sales for the best of Continental design. On her shopping list? Mirrors with carved flourishes, Italian silks and trims, chandeliers dripping with crystals—anything that suits her penchant for Old World elegance.
Each of Melissa’s finds is one of a kind—and comes with a unique history. “That is what I love about antiques,” she says. “Every piece has its own life story.”
A handsome classical bust rests atop a carved-wood sideboard. Melissa is drawn to pieces with patina: layers of paint, faded gilding, timeworn textures.
Beauty in the Details
Pieces with “beautiful finishes and patinas,” from dappled art glass to antique wooden consoles covered in layers of faded paint, always catch Melissa’s eye. “I love that you can see the natural wood under the paint from years of use,” she says of these timeworn finds.
She’s also a fabrics aficionado. “My first love in the antiques world was textiles,” says Melissa, who has amassed an enviable collection of antique trims and fabrics from years of travel. She fashions these pieces into gorgeous accent pillows. A favorite fabric? “I never get tired of Italian Fortuny—I save every remnant.”
Though much of its original finish has faded, this carved-wood piece still shines with sculptural beauty.
With its rich green and metallic hues and delicate detailing, this blown-glass lamp base is a true work of art.
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