Julien Thery and Amanda Spiers in profile

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Julien Thery and Amanda Spiers.

Julien Thery and Amanda Spiers.

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1940s bookshelves bought from a french grocer who was closing down.

1940s bookshelves bought from a french grocer who was closing down. Image: Emily Andrews

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Multipl Chair designed by Joseph Mathieu in 1927 with moleskin seating.

Multipl Chair designed by Joseph Mathieu in 1927 with moleskin seating. Image: Emily Andrews

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Tapestry Cartoons.

Tapestry Cartoons. Image: Emily Andrews

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17th-century terracotta Sicilian statue.

17th-century terracotta Sicilian statue. Image: Emily Andrews

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Deyrolle anatomical print, Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle specialised in natural history publications and specimen taxidermy from 1831.

Deyrolle anatomical print, Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle specialised in natural history publications and specimen taxidermy from 1831. Image: Emily Andrews

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Bistro chairs, after the war these mid-century bistro chairs helped bring France back to life with bright colours.

Bistro chairs, after the war these mid-century bistro chairs helped bring France back to life with bright colours. Image: Emily Andrews

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With Julien Thery being French and Amanda Spiers a Kiwi, one can’t help but wonder about some quixotic holiday romance, but Spiers is quick to explain that the two met in pragmatic circumstances – through friends when Thery was working in New Zealand. 

Bistro chairs, after the war these mid-century bistro chairs helped bring France back to life with bright colours. Image:  Emily Andrews

Previously Thery had worked at the famed Paris antique flea market in logistics. The Paris flea market isn’t some small car-boot sale, this is a powerhouse centre of worldwide antique and furniture dealing and Thery forged close relationships with some of the world’s top interior designers and auction houses such as Christie’s. He returned to the flea market when the couple moved to Paris a few years ago.

Searching for a project that would allow them to live between the two countries, they started thinking about the possibility of importing European industrial antiques to New Zealand. Dipping their toes into the concept, they planned on opening a pop-up shop in Auckland to see how it went and proceeded to purchase objects for that shop over two years, storing them all in their 20 sqm Paris apartment. When pop-up shop opened last September, it sold out almost immediately, giving them the confidence to open The Vitrine, a showroom of French industrial antiques in Grey Lynn. With a bach-like space in the showroom, the couple’s living area has started to merge with it; they host dinner parties on the antique tables, and arrange their objects on the showroom shelves. In the midst of the five shipments of sourced antiques they are bringing in a year, the couple pick out a few of their favourite pieces from their home/shop. 


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