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Spring
Antiques Treasure Hunt
May 10 - 20, 2007
(Extend your stay for three days and visit
the Puppenfestival, Germany’s biggest doll show --
optional )
 A delightful Tour de force to
three prime antiquing spots in Germany and the Czech
Republic. Enjoy antiquing like you’ve never experienced it before
as you travel through the old kingdoms of Franconia, Saxony and
Bohemia and visit the lush, beautiful
Rhineland.
You’ll trawl villages, Saxon hill towns and splendid
Medieval and Baroque cities for one-of-a-kind antiques, furnishings,
art and collectibles. And best of all: the
shopping is tax-free.
If you live for the thrill of the hunt and love the
drama of antiquing, this trip is for you. Whether you’re redesigning
your home and looking for exciting new finds, buying for your
collection, helping a client find that perfect piece or looking for
inventory for your antiques shop, you’ll love what you see:
furniture, small antiques, textiles and linens, art,
jewelry, estate finds, ceramics, art glass, collectibles, garden
antiques and treasures of all kinds, including high-style,
vernacular, ready to display or ready to
restore.
Sources
We’ll visit chic
shops and dusty warehouses, mom-and-pop
stores, large dealers in crumbly
Stalinist-era factories, galleries, auction houses
-- and maybe even a couple private
collectors
. And we’ll be out early to scour three
of the very best markets in Europe.
Our stops include
Prague, Central Europe’s city of a thousand spires;
the Bohemian Highlands, small antiquing towns in
the countryside of Saxony; and
Bonn , home of Beethoven and former
capitol of Germany, where we search for treasures at Germany’s
biggest market, right on the banks of the Rhine.
This expedition is all about
antiquing, but if you would like a break, you can take time out to
explore cultural attractions and historical
sites. And you’ll kick back in the evening and enjoy
great regional cuisine, local wines and terrific
beers.
Objects of Desire
If furniture is on your shopping list, you’ll
be able to choose among a fantastic range of styles, eras and price
ranges. You’ll see high-style and vernacular furniture
from five centuries, including Baroque and Biedermeier, Louis
Philippe and various 19th century styles. You’ll encounter relaxed Central European Provincial
as well as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Postwar, Country, Black Forest,
Cottage and more.
If small
antiques, decor, art and collectibles are on your
list, you won’t be disappointed. Central Europe has been a fountainhead of
innovative design and great craftsmanship for two
centuries. A huge selection in all price ranges awaits you --
art glass, folk art, porcelain, ceramics, high-style accessories and
décor, jewelry, country antiques, vintage
textiles and antique linens, miniatures, graphics, paintings,
dolls, toys
, lighting, kitchenalia, technical and medical antiques, stained glass,
architectural antiques and
much more. Buy a little or a lot -- there is no
minimum purchase or mandatory "buy-in."
Prices in Central Europe tend to be lower than
in France, the Low Countries, Italy and the U.K., and the selection
is huge.
Spring is one of the best times to
travel. The outdoor cafes and beer gardens are open and,
the asparagus is ripe and the landscape is
lush. Our Spring Antiques Treasure Hunt provides all
the ingredients for stress-free antiquing: an
individual guided shopping experience, comfortable accommodations,
great technical support, and individual attention. Plan your
treasure hunt now.
Highlights
- 10 days/9 nights
- Airport
transfers
- Professional orientation materials
- Shared transatlantic container shipping
included
- Ground travel in comfortable, private Mercedes
minibus
- Welcome dinner
- Delectable antiques and décor -- all price ranges,
all periods, high style, vernacular and in between
- Tax-free shopping and insider access to our sources
in Franconia, Bohemia, Thuringia and Saxony, and three
all-day markets
- Hand-picked, comfortable hotels -- charming,
comfortable rooms with private bath – breakfast included
- Opt in -- opt out. If you want to take an
afternoon or a day off, we’ll help you plan other activities
- Experienced, bilingual sherpa with you every step of
the way
- No
minimum purchase – buy what you want, where you want!
- Ongoing technical assistance and professional advice
- Tax-exempt for antiques professionals, designers and
buyers
- $3695 per person, double occupancy (single rooms
available)
- Tour starts and ends in
Frankfurt
Flights
Flights are available from several cities in the U.S.
and other countries at reasonable cost. We work closely
with a non-profit travel agency that will be glad to give you a
quote and help with your flight arrangements. You are also free
to use your own travel agent.
Shipping
If you’ve
ever shopped for antiques overseas, you know that shipping is
expensive, complicated and time-consuming, and can be a source of
endless frustration! People who hear about our antique buying
trips for the first time often can’t believe that we offer such a
diverse itinerary, so many venues, such great ground arrangements
and include
shipping all for one
price. It’s a winning combination -- and it sets
our tours apart from many
others.
We will
work with local dealers to make sure your treasures are delivered to
the place where they are to be loaded, or arrange outside
transportation if necessary (charges may apply for local
transport). We oversee loading, export
documentation and get the container to the
port
. We handle wharfage and ocean
freight as part of our service. If you need short-term
storage in Europe or the U.S. we can arrange that as well.
Extra charges apply for warehousing, customs, insurance, ground
freight and additional services if required. But we will help
you stay on top of these so there are no “surprises.” Please
let us know if you have any questions.
If you
intend to buy a larger quantity of antiques, we can arrange a
solo container
for you at additional cost. We can have your
items packed, cleared, freighted to the U.S. and delivered to your
door for one price. Contact us early on so we can discuss your
needs and find a solution that works best.
We also
arrange container shipment to southern and west coast
ports in North America, as well as the U.K.,
Australia, New Zealand, Korea and other
countries
. Please contact us if you have
questions. We would be glad to help.
Great antiquing -- friendly prices – flexible shipping
options! Reserve your tour
now. |
Great
Value...
