“Ghosts of the past.” That’s what Ann Schooler, the visionary behind Woolf Hall Antique Collective, sought in every piece. Woolf Hall is not just a showroom. It’s a portal through time located in the heart of Dallas’ Design District.
Here at Woolf Hall, you will find treasures from the 17th to the mid-20th centuries. Imagine pieces from France, Italy, and England filling this 10,000 square-foot space. Schooler spent two years curating these fine antiques before Woolf Hall even opened in 2017.
Notice the late 19th-century Chinese hand-painted wallpaper. It spent over a century rolled up in its original boxes. The colors are incredibly vibrant. Schooler explains that the gold never oxidized. These wallpapers show how rooms were originally meant to be colored. Hot pinks and greens bring a current feel to antique pieces.
See those ancient Jacobean chairs from England? They are updated with hot-pink damask upholstery. Geometric metal ceiling tiles from a 1920s Paris train station become modern art. A carved stone font from the Renaissance might have graced a private chapel in an Italian palazzo. You can almost see the thousands of hands seeking hope in its holy water.
Nearby, a pair of large 1940s starburst mirrors reclaimed from a Venetian hotel. Schooler says they feel like shooting stars with their exuberance.
Wolf Hall is a collaborative effort. Schooler works with talented people like London antiques dealer Timothy Langston. Langston brings a fresh take on classic English furniture. His 19th-century Chippendale-inspired presentation mirror is a rare find in chalk white.
Lauren Lachance, an Austin-based botanist, also contributes to Wolf Hall. She studied at London’s Kew Gardens. Lachance created the largest collection of plant pressings in the world. Look for her orchids, seaweeds, and wildflowers.
Originally, Woolf Hall was a warehouse to store Schooler’s European finds. The Design District was booming. Schooler knew it was the right time to open Woolf Hall.
While Woolf Hall is open to the public, most sales are to interior designers. Schooler hopes to host fireside chats on antique-related topics. Experts like Langston would lead these discussions.
Remember to take a breath and think about the antiques here at Woolf Hall. They take time to be appreciated. Each piece holds a story waiting to be discovered.