Antiques
Designing History
A Fayetteville antiques dealer offers clients one-of-a-kind French antiques and her eye for design
BY
Allison Cook
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Meredith
STYLED BY
Allison Cook




Chris Bronson has made it her mission to bring high-quality French antiques to Arkansas. “I really want people to know that you don’t have to travel to other metropolitan areas or bigger cities to find wonderful antique furnishings,” she says. Through her store, French Quarters Antiques, located just off the square in downtown Fayetteville, Chris has been directly importing fine French and European antiques for decades. “Having studied theater set design, architecture and interior design along with my love of travel all made becoming an antiques direct importer an easy choice,” she says. “I had the design knowledge to recognize not only the styles, but character and quality of the pieces.” She travels the French countryside, Paris, London and provinces several times a year, and always hand selects each piece based on its craftsmanship, beauty, investment quality and pricing. “I like to offer my clients a wide range of price points,” she says.

Alongside antique furnishings, Chris juxtaposes accessories, upholstery and custom pieces from chairs to rugs and sofas, along with full interior design services. “I like to stretch people’s minds,” she says. “Mixing styles is a wonderful way to design a beautiful and comfortable home. If I’m working on a very contemporary home, I’ll add an antique armoire or painting for an extra special touch.” She also enjoys repurposing items she discovers, such as the French watering cans she transforms into custom lamps, or the antique chairs she reupholsters to her clients’ specifications. “Whatever our clients need, we can give them,” she says. “Whether they are wanting a few furnishings to complete their home, custom upholstery or a complete design overhaul, we’re excited to help,” she says.  

Suzie Stephen a longtime client of Chris’ explains French Quarters impact on the area. “I believe Chris has brought the world to our little corner,” she says. “She is brilliant in color and placement. The accents and furniture that she has helped me gather is an expression of my personality, not hers, and she can pinpoint my moods, whimsies and designs a fun living space that makes me feel wonderful.”

Chris’ creativity and vivacious nature can be seen through the store’s collection of Limoges porcelain boxes. These small, hand-painted hinged boxes are made in Limoges, France. “They were originally pill and snuff boxes for the wealthy,” she says. “But have since become wonderful collectibles and quite interesting pieces.” These boxes follow a long tradition of craftsmanship from the early 1800s when Limoges began producing high-quality porcelain, which was a new material at that time. Limoges soon became an international leader in porcelain, and the unbeatable quality and beauty has continued to this day. Chris became inspired during one of her trips to there, and decided she could combine the elegance of Limoges porcelain with a time-honored symbol of her beloved Fayetteville. “The Old Main Limoges box was an inspiration of mine, and the process of designing it took over a year,” she says. “I first had to determine the design of the box, taking into account the complexities of the building’s architecture. For example, the north tower is taller than the south, and the details of the brick and rock foundation, pediments, columns, doors, windows and roof. Each aspect had to be hand-colored and painted by licensed Limoges painters and mold makers.” The Old Main Limoges boxes are now licensed by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and each one is signed and numbered. Chris’ eye for design, her focus on her clients and her love for antiques makes her a valuable talent to northwest Arkansas and to the entire state.