New furniture showroom features replicas from Princess Diana estate
Published 5:24 pm Monday, October 31, 2011
Landrum store opens today
Partners Keith Harmon, Phillip Maynard and Adele McAuley had the opportunity to meet with Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, when they purchased a portion of the Althorp collection – replicas of furniture pieces from Princes Diana’s estate.
“You’re actually purchasing a piece of history when you purchase this furniture,” Harmon said.
The Althorp Collection from Theodore Alexander includes handcrafted replicas such as an ornately carved mirror of more than 6 feet in height. Next to that sits a finely polished dining table of burl walnut. There are also several secretary desks and beautifully polished side tables.
“Virtually the only machines that touch it is when the wood is cut,” Maynard said. “Everything else is intricately carved by hand.”
Pieces in the Althorp collection are almost exclusively made from walnut. They also had to be approved, according to Harmon, by the Princess Diana estate before being available for market. The partners said they believe customers interested in and able to purchase these pieces will notice the quality of the craftsmanship.
“Generations of planning has had to go into the creation of this furniture,” Maynard said. “This furniture doesn’t hit the yard sale and it doesn’t hit the thrift store; these pieces become heirlooms.”
Price points for the furniture range from $1,300 for a wormy chestnut farm table to $17,000 for a 500-pound dining/conference table. The showroom plans to provide this furniture at liquidated prices around 40 percent off.
The showroom, inside the old Blockbuster building in front of Bi-Lo, will also soon carry EJ Victor, Ralph Lauren and Lloyd Buxton fine furnishings, along with John Richards lamps and accessories.
The showroom opens today, Tuesday, Nov. 1.