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Vivianne Metzger Antiques
Issue: 2021/07 – July
Nimble thinking and the wise application of 21st century technology have ensured that Vivianne Metzger Antiques emerges from the Covid Catastrophe with a cabin of treasures and a filled-to-bursting warehouse. The shop is located at 31 Canoe Point in Cashiers.
Bill and Cherie Tibbetts, and Vivianne Metzger
When Vivianne Metzger and her husband Bill opened Vivianne Metzger Antiques in Cashiers 20 years ago, she quickly developed a reputation for maintaining an ever-changing collection of rare and precious English and French antiques and furniture.
When her daughter and son-in-law, Cherie and Bill Tibbetts, joined the business in 2007, that collection mushroomed to vast proportions that required an expansive warehouse to store everything being shipped across the Atlantic.
Central to all this were the deep personal connections that Cherie and Bill forged with dozens of trusted dealers in the UK and France. These dealers came to know the pieces and the colors and aesthetics that were suitable for display in Vivianne Metzger Antiques and, ultimately, in the homes of its clients.
Everything changed with the arrival of a global pandemic in 2020 – no more visits to quaint little villages, no more long conversations with dealers who’d become close friends.
“As we all know, 2020-21 was a very unique and challenging year, for all aspects of life & business! You certainly had to be prepared to roll with whatever came your way,” says Cherie.
“We at Vivianne Metzger Antiques, became concerned about whether we would be able to shop in the UK without quarantining. We knew we’d miss all those small antique fairs where we find so many smalls. Our lead time for shipping continued to shorten, so we decided to shop and order via FaceTime with our long term, most trusted dealers.
“It was a very intense process, involving hours of reviewing piece by piece. We had to critique all aspects of each piece looking at finish, dimensions, age and overall quality. It was not the same as viewing, touching and evaluating in person, but we were able to fill our (normal) 40-foot container.”
So how did this bit of clever gamesmanship work out?
“We were so pleased to receive our container in May with a wonderful variety of very unique pieces from England and France,” says Cherie. “We invite you to come by and see it all and are open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.”
Vivianne Metzger Antiques is located at 31 Canoe Point, just off of Highway 107 South in Cashiers. For more information, call (828) 743-0642, but you really owe it to yourself to stop in. You can also follow them on Instagram, where Cherie spotlights her finds every day, and also posts about their buyings trips.
