On May 1rst, 1980 my husband Erwin and myself opened the doors of Claeys Antique shop.
What an experience! The shop was cutely decorated with some small antiques, which were collectable at that time, such as Flemish potterie, art deco and art nouveau objects, small silverware and religious items and, in between, some old lace. In the 1980’s, there was not really a demand for old or antique laces. But I loved to look at the delicate, fine textiles.
The tasks in the shop were divided as follows; my husband was the buyer and I was the seller. I would listen to the customers for what they would like to purchase and Erwin tried to find the items which would satisfy the clientele.
As I stayed in the shop all day, I loved the look of the old laces. Their designs and shapes were a witness of a rich past. It was a pleasure to have a lacy entourage. And on top of that, soon customers came to buy the laces. The demand was growing. We studied hard to recognize the different kinds and to be able to date the laces.
In Belgium, there was no place to find antique laces, so we decided to try London.
In his early buying stage, Erwin often asked the English sellers if they had Mechlin lace. As the dealers didn’t know my husband’s name, he was called “the Mechlin man”. For many years this name was renowned in the lace circles, all over the world.
If we look back, the most wonderful antique laces were bought and sold in Claeys Antique shop. Even nowadays, we can see the collections in some musea which bring back memories for us. How the laces were bought by Erwin, how we could admire these before the laces found their way to the new owners.
When I look back on these 30 years, the best I can do is bring homage to a dedicated person, my husband Erwin, who made so many people happy. He was never tired of looking for the best for our beloved and dedicated customers.
I would like to express my gratitude to my family and all people who made it possible to continue Claeys Antique shop.
Diane Claeys