Treasure Trove
Unconventional is an apt description of Obsolete, a fine-art and antiques shop in Venice, Calif. The 5,000-square-foot space is filled with a mix of Contemporary art, classic furniture, lighting and unusual home decor—all things the store’s director Jared Rosenquist refers to as being hard to find, unique and often one-of-a-kind. Items imported from all over the world can be spotted here, but most have been picked up in Europe.

Quirky objects showcased include signs, folk art, scientific charts, toys and old-fashioned bikes. “The spectrum is pretty broad,” admits Rosenquist.  For those interested in wooden religious figures, Obsolete has a diverse collection. Pictured above are examples dating from the 16th century to circa 1900. Pictured: figure from Italy with original dress and gilded sleeves (left); Virgin de Vestir, Virgin Mother With Child from 16th-century Austria (top); a wood carving of an unknown saint from a village church in Italy (below).

To see what other finds await, visit the showroom at 222 Main St. For additional information, call (310) 399-0024, or log on to obsoleteinc.com.



Wooden Wonders
At Santa Fe’s Antique Warehouse, rustic-looking architectural elements and wood furnishings abound. Specializing in Mexican ranch furniture and Spanish Colonial antiques, the 8,500-square-foot store is home to everything from tables, benches and cabinets to stone basins, iron grilles and home-decor accessories. Mostly, though, you will see a vast array of doors, shutters and gates, making this shop a hot destination for homeowners who are remodeling. All of the offerings are imported from Mexico, where they are restored and refinished in a workshop. A new shipment with items hand-picked by the store owners will arrive in February, and will contain “a little bit of everything,” says co-owner Betty Kaye Gilmore.
Pictured here are mesquite doors, a bench, tables and trunks, as well as three morteros used for grinding grains (two behind the bench and one holding flowers). Visit the business at 530 S. Guadalupe St., Suite B. For details, go to antiquewarehouse-santafe.com on the Web, or call (505) 984-1159.



Square Deal
Colorful tiles displaying a variety of pretty designs are showcased at Tierra Mexican Tile in El Paso, Texas. The Talavera-, Colonial- and Mediterranean-style tile collections sold at this 1,500-square-foot shop are imported from the southern regions of Mexico, where the owner looks for new manufacturers on a regular basis. Varying in size, color and shape, the pieces are hand-molded and hand-painted by artisans who use traditional techniques. Hues featured on the tiles include ocher, cobalt blue, green and terra-cotta red. Also available at the showroom are Saltillo and clay tiles, as well as travertine. In addition, the company offers installation services to its customers.
Pictured here are three examples from the Colonial Collection: Cenefa Relief, Corrina and Guadalajara. To see more products, stop by the store at 1025 E. Missouri Ave., or visit tierramexicantile.com online. For information, call (915) 838-0361.