For the Love of Trinkets

Oh, the temptation of shiny, beautiful things! Just like magpies, humans have been susceptible to the draw of the artful knickknack since long before the throes of Western capitalism took over the world. The sparkle of crystal, the whorls of old wood—the surge of dopamine sparked by possessing gains a little bit of respectability when you start talking about handmade things, or antiques. Works of art and memory, promising to add character and story to your home. My particular weakness has always been boxes made beautifully, especially old ones. You can find these at each of the three locally-owned treasure troves below—along with much, much more. 

The sparkle of crystal, the whorls of old wood—the surge of dopamine sparked by possessing gains a little bit of respectability when you start talking about handmade things, or antiques. Works of art and memory, promising to add character and story to your home.

The Corbel, St. Francisville

Founded in the purest of ways, by two brothers who loved to make old things new—The Corbel has been around for decades, but its recently-opened 10,000-square-foot showroom in downtown St. Francisville is the talk of the town. Find handmade furniture, often built from salvaged materials, displayed gorgeously alongside a curation of antique doors, high-end furniture, and an incredible curation of designer décor and art imported from around the world. Go start your dreaming at thecorbel.com, and then get an in-person visit at 5741 Commerce Street on your schedule, pronto. Open Monday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm. thecorbel.com 

[Read Jordan LaHaye Fontenot's list of 5 local subscription boxes to try here.]

Maetiques, Baton Rouge-Online 

Started last summer by Maegan Durand from Baton Rouge, who is pursuing the great dream of turning her shopping addiction into her business, Maetiques sells a collection curated for the grandmillenial. Sourcing treasures from all over the world, which she styles fashionably for Instagram close-ups, Durand specializes in European heirloom antiques: hand-carved alabaster stone column bookends from Italy, wooden perfume boxes with floral inlay from the 1800s. She admits to having an obsession with French lamps. And girl does her research. Find her at @maetiques on Instagram. 

Sans Souci Gallery, Lafayette

For those of us who want to prioritize buying from our friends and neighbors, the Louisiana Crafts Guild’s Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery has been a go-to giftshop for over twenty years. Now in their brand-spanking new location right on Jefferson Street, the Guild has even more space for their inventory of locally-crafted works of art: jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, paintings, and even furniture. Everything in the store is made by Louisiana artists, inviting shoppers not only to support their local creative economy but also to explore the vast diversity of work being created by folks from around the corner. Learn more about the Guild at louisianacrafts.org, and visit the new space at 551 Jefferson Street, Wednesday–Saturday, 11 am–5 pm, Sunday 9 am–2 pm.