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87 ago," he says. "We were still unpacking boxes when he arrived." Along with screens, lighting, and accessories, the man bought crate-loads of blood-red cinnabar furniture, so scarce now that even Taylor has trouble finding it. Like many newly rich Chinese nationals, the man had deep pockets. He asked to see even more rarities, so Taylor and Gremillion brought out more boxes from the back and unwrapped the contents. In all, the man bought enough to fill three 40-foot shipping containers back to China. "That's what people have always come to us for," Taylor says. "Things that no one else has." T he Chinese have always b e e n L o y d - P a x t o n 's b i g g e s t c u s t o m e r s , followed by collectors from Mexico, Europe, and around the United States, including New York, California, and Florida. But even if you don't have $24,000 to drop on an old door from Afghanistan, there are plenty of small accessories for around a few hundred dollars to get your collection going. In 20 years, Loyd-Paxton has survived the vagaries of the antiques market by keeping an eye on what's trending and adding it to the mix. "People love lighter woods with beautiful grain now," Taylor says. "I look for quality mid-century furniture because so many younger people are buying it." In addition to the singular Takahama table, the showroom features a pristine leather chair and ottoman by Adrian Pearsall, along with a striking pair of 20th-century Italian cabinets. "I find it harder to find things that are unusual," Taylor says. "Most of the old European estates that had fine Oriental things are gone now, and fewer pieces come onto the market." While wealthy Chinese are still among Loyd- Paxton's biggest clients, they are not buying crate-loads like they once did. Instead, like many Americans, they're selecting one or two show-stopping antiques for their downsized residences. "People moving out of big houses and into condos are a big market for us now," he says. Regardless, the showroom still dazzles with statement-making furniture and art, scaled for palaces. Among them is a huge four-poster canopy bed designed in the 1840s for an English diplomat in India, with exquisitely carved acanthus and palm leaves. Taylor has several monumental portals, including a 17th-century carved-sandalwood door from Afghanistan. A rare Qing Dynasty throne, covered in brilliant blue cloisonné enamel, perches atop claw-footed gilt copper lions. The throne, which is whimsically shaped like a mountain and depicts dragons and clouds, was made in the palace workshops for the Chinese Imperial family. The price tag: $27,500. The era of acquiring vast troves of Chinese antiquities is over, says Taylor, since much of it has been repatriated by Chinese nationals and their government. These days, Loyd-Paxton buys much of its inventory from private sellers — often, children who have inherited treasures from parents who collected. As the Dallas Design District expands, Taylor sees more interior designers from around the country in the showroom, and the recent maximalist resurgence has been a boon. Whether you buy anything or not is irrelevant. "I just love showing people what we have and seeing their reactions to it," Taylor says. "Discovery is part of the excitement. My whole life has been a treasure hunt." Loyd Taylor Rare cloisonné throne from the Qing Dynasty. Another rarity, a circa-1900 blue Baccarat chandelier, hangs over a 19th-century Italian desk inlaid with ivory.