By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com
In today’s fast-paced world of instant gratification, some things just aren’t made with the same quality and care that they used to be. That’s why Charlie and Joy Travis of Old World Galleries have made it their mission to bring back the fine art period of jewelry making.
The owners are joined by fine jewelry experts and staff members Jennie Trivette, who has served the needs of discerning jewelry buyers in the area for many years, and Morgan Shaw, who has been making jewelry for 40 years.
These professionals aim to provide the best possible service, which includes meticulous attention to detail, creative consultation and the matchless experience of a one-on-one, face-to-face design process.
“Each of us brings a level of experience and knowledge that we can apply to any project. That’s the beauty of it — we all have different strengths,” Charlie said. “We all have things that we bring to the table when we work with clients, and we believe that we can do anything the customer wants.”
The studio operated in Blowing Rock for more than two decades before relocating to its current storefront at 697 West King St. Step into the downtown Boone gallery today and you’ll enter a world of creativity, quality and care, where old and new things meet in a beautiful and interesting way.
No shopping experience at OWG is complete without meeting the couple’s two standard poodles — Ozzie, 9, and Boone, 1 — who are often the first faces you’ll see behind the counter.
“They are really fun and they keep us company. People like to communicate with them,” said Charlie. “Some people come in just to see the dogs. A lot of people started coming in to see Boone because he’ll get up here on the counter and try to wait on them.”
Old World Galleries
The professionals at Old World Galleries offer a variety of new and antique, vintage and estate pieces. They also specialize in restoring antique jewelry and building completely custom, modern pieces, many of which are created in the styles that were popular during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.
“The workmanship of 100 years ago is fantastic. That’s when the art form began to develop,” Charlie said. “Around the turn of the 20th century was the high art period in jewelry making, especially during the Art Nouveau period, from about 1890-1915, and the Art Deco period, from about 1915-1935.”
These high art eras of jewelry making are often the inspiration for custom-created pieces at Old World Galleries, like an engagement ring that Charlie recently developed using a 1930s diamond and modern technology, which resulted in a one-of-a-kind family heirloom for the client.
“Our objective really is to create something that the client wants,” said Charlie, “and we’re seeing a lot of interest in those old styles with delicate filigree work and curved lines that were first made during the periods of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.”
The gallery also features and offers for sale work from three local painters.
“We have Wes Waugh, who is from North Carolina and has lived in the area for about 35 years. He loves to paint watercolors and uses brilliant colors very effectively,” Charlie said. “We have Jane Miller, also a North Carolina native, who lives on Beech Mountain. She uses oils and concentrates on portraits, primarily. She does commissioned work for clients, as well as painting portraits of the people and the dogs that she loves.
“We also represent Gale Champion, who lives in Blowing Rock, and also works in watercolors. She paints beautiful local scenes.”
Whether you’re looking for something brand new, something antique, something custom or something in between, the team at Old World Galleries will be ready and waiting with plenty of options for you.
Stop by their shop on King Street and rest assured that tender love and care have been invested in every piece you see.
“We love all kinds of artwork. Our name, Old World Galleries, should we want to define that, means that we look at every product we sell as art,” said Charlie. “We’re a gallery of fine art and jewelry, and the jewelry we select is considered great art, and the same goes for the paintings. That’s the way we’ve always looked at the business, and that’s what we wanted to be associated with — fine art.”
OWG operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and appointments are not necessary for interested clients. Give them a call at 828-264-6559 or check out oldworldgalleries.com for more information.
Old World Galleries is a member of the High South Event Professionals network — a community of like-minded industry pros who work together to promote the mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia as the premier special events destination in the Southeast.
Meet the OWG team and other preferred local vendors at the High South Wedding Expo at the Boone Mall on Sunday, March 20.
In-store photos by Jessica Isaacs:
Product shots courtesy of Old World Galleries:
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