Quirky Cool: Round Top Antiques Fair

If you keep up with my posts, you know I love visiting antiques and flea markets for great, one-of-a-kind finds. This is why I was so pleased to visit the Round Top Antiques Fair a few weeks ago.

The fair takes place biannually around the small town of Round Top, Texas, which is close to Austin. I’d visited the Spring antiques fair last April and was exited to come back for the fall event. Round Top is very different than other flea markets and antiques fairs I’ve visited (such as the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market I posted about in August). It’s immense—there are literally miles of of vendors along Highway 237, set up in tents, barns, and other buildings.

Like so many things in this part of Texas, the fair has a wonderful juxtaposition of quirkiness and sophistication. Many of the vendors set up in very retro looking buildings that could be straight out of a spaghetti western, but their antiques are quite refined and displayed in very creative ways. Although it has its share of flea market vendors, there are plenty of serious dealers—many from Europe—with great stuff. I was there for four days and didn’t see all of it!

I suspected I’d find some wonderful items at Round Top, and I did. I was particularly focused on Spanish antiques for the Las Vegas residence I’m working on. However, I found a variety of traditional and country antiques for a number of other clients.

One of my favorite finds were these Italian carved white chairs that I’m planning to use in my Dining Room in Dallas.

Here are just a few of my favorite displays, items, and sites from in and around the fair: