People often ask, “How in the world did you learn / get in to the antique business?” The simple answer is that we learned by making lots of mistakes, asking lots of questions and reading incessantly.
After collecting antiques (or was it used furniture in those days?) since the day after she and Mike were married, Jean opened a store in Cockeysville, Maryland in 1980 specializing in imported English Furniture. Mike was off doing his corporate thing during the day but helped out nights and weekends.
After a few years, and lots of hard earned lessons, Jean branched out into French antiques, traveling to Normandy, Provence, Paris and most points in between in search of the right stuff at the right price.
It is not unusual to start a buying trip in the South of England and, after finding slim pickings, head for North Yorkshire in search of buyable furniture. If North Yorkshire was a bust, she thought nothing of catching the overnight ferry to France to find the right stuff. And people ask why we never make advance hotel reservations!
Jean and Mike gradually built their store into one of the largest antique stores in the mid-Atlantic region mainly focusing on English and French furniture and one-of-a-kind accessories. Complete interior design services were added in 2005 and are now an important part of the overall business. Art has always been an essential ingredient, starting with antique portraits, still life’s and landscapes. More recently, art works by contemporary artists have been added, mainly focusing on the Chesapeake Bay and mid-Atlantic region.
Jean McHale also accepts Consignment merchandise for those down-sizing or right-sizing. We are happy to inspect furniture and accessories that you are considering selling to advise you whether Jean McHale is the proper outlet. Rates are competitive while service is excellent.
The McHale’s made the decision to downsize their business in 2008, closed the Baltimore store and opened a small store in Easton, Maryland, near where they had lived since 1996.
Jean McHale Antiques, Design and Fine Art is now located in the heart of historic Easton and attracts client from across the United States, particularly the mid-Atlantic region. The store is open seven days.