Tara Shaw and Century Furniture Reimagine Luxury European Antiques with a Modern Twist

Tara Shaw, a renowned antiques purveyor of over 30 years and an adroit interior designer, has combined the charm of luxury European antiques with cutting-edge American craftsmanship through her collaboration with Century Furniture. Featuring almost 80 bedroom, dining and occasional pieces, the collection masterfully captures the essence of antique styling. “Many of these pieces were inspired by treasures I found in Europe, paired with newly designed contemporary and midcentury items to create a line of furniture that makes a room feel truly collected,” says Shaw. The result is a well-rounded collection of detailed, high-quality pieces fit to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Though not direct reproductions, the pieces feature revivals of antique finishes, making Century Furniture the perfect partner to bring the collection to fruition. “What really stood out to me was Century’s hands-on approach—it’s the same approach I take when creating a detailed, beautiful, timeless product,” Shaw recalls. “Also, seeing their facilities in Hickory, N.C., was incredible. The fact that they can produce cutting-edge upholstery that’s both comfortable and detailed and ship it in just five to eight weeks is absolutely mind-blowing.”

Shaw particularly loves the Sainte Croix cocktail table, a gorgeous French midcentury brass cocktail piece with lion details and a neoclassical X-base. She shares, “There’s something about the beautiful honed stone top and the brass base with paw-foot detailing that strikes a perfect balance between dainty and bold.” Another standout is the Maximilian sandblasted daybed, which boasts handcarved craftsmanship and Swedish influence. “The finish is so authentic it rivals the beauty of an 18th century original,” Shaw claims.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, such a cohesive collection came about organically, with Shaw simply walking into Century’s High Point showroom and asking to speak with the president. “Dressed casually in paper bag pants and Birkenstocks, I certainly wasn’t there for licensing meetings!” remembers Shaw. “However, they were familiar with my book and my furniture line, Tara Shaw Maison. They invited me back for a meeting later that day, and just like that, voila, a furniture collection was born.” Like all of Shaw’s work, the remarkably versatile collection is based on the past but speaks to the present, making it more than suitable for those with a penchant for the modern and antique lovers alike.