Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/889110
74 perfect backdrop for the pair's antique furnishings and Minton's large collection of Hatcher shipwreck blue-and-white Ming dynasty porcelains, much of it purchased from Betty Gertz's store, East & Orient. While Peavy's preference and expertise lies with rare French antiques, Minton gravitates to the simpler look of furniture produced in England, where he has spent so much time. Still, their combined fur- nishings fit perfectly inside the house and look as if they had always been a part of the oak drawing room. "We didn't need to buy anything new, as everything miraculously fit," Peavy says. A 18th-century French writing desk with a worn leather top and ormolu decoration stakes its claim under the large windows in the oak drawing room, attended by a pair of Louis XV-style leather chairs. Hung high is a pair of 18th-century gilt French boisserie panels and an 1865 English gilt mirror. Minton brought some favorite pieces from his former New York pied-à-terre, including the comfortable ivory-linen-slipcovered sofa. The large glass-and-iron coffee table in front of the fireplace is a contemporary piece from the Minton-Corley Collection, and the table behind the sofa is 18th-century Irish mahogany, which originated from Loyd Paxton. There are period Queen Ann chairs with exquisite original needlework upholstery; a large pair of blue-and-white pots from a Drouot auction in Paris; a rare silver-leaf Italian grotto chair from the 18th century; and a small gilt-bronze ormolu table by the preeminent French cabinet maker of the 19th century, Paul Sormani. The dining room includes a walnut table from the early 1800s or earlier, surrounded by dazzling 18th-century Italian gilt chairs upholstered in parrot-green Hermès shoe leather. A 1970s plaster console in the style of Serge Roche holds antique crys- tal globes, while an Adam-period pedes- tal holds a classical-period Roman bust. Minton and Peavy brought back a pair of George III bookcases from the Paris flea Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Hatcher Collection Ming dynasty porcelains from East & Orient. Nineteenth-century Chinese porcelain ox. Directoire-style 1875 candelabra. The 300-year-old oak drawing room from Wingerworth Hall in Derbyshire, England is 16 feet tall. English gilt 1865 mirror. Period Queen Ann chairs with original tapestry. Regency-style chairs from 19th century, covered in green Brunschwig silk. Courtyard designed by Joe Minton. Kevin Peavy's dressing room with French 19th-century bench in Old World Weavers tiger velvet. Chest from Joseph Minton Antiques, 19th century. Middle painting by David Cox, 1828. Above, 19th- century mythological painting from San Francisco.. Large antique tortoiseshells from London. Godchaux 19th-century painting. Satyre candlesticks, 19th century. French clock depicting goddess Diana by Raingo Frères, circa 19th century.. Fire fender, 19th-century silver, pewter and bronze. market for the library; they're filled with books on architecture, history, and design. An old English tufted-leather chair in the library is their terrier Sassy's favorite place to curl up. I n 2010, Joe Minton and Kevin Peavy traveled to England for an unprece- dented sale of treasures accumulated in the attics and stores of Chatsworth, held by Sotheby's. Before he left, Minton tucked a photo of himself stand- ing in front of his marble fireplace into his jacket pocket. They had invited friend and former Dallasite Jerry Hall — the ex-wife of Mick Jagger and newlywed to Rupert Murdock — to come with them to the auc- tion. Afterwards, the Duke of Devonshire invited them to lunch in his private quarters. "We were directed upstairs into the dining room," Minton says. "As we passed through a sitting room, I looked to the left, and there was a fireplace mantel exactly like ours." He couldn't wait to get a closer look. The group retired to the sitting room after lunch, and Minton sat next to Bill Burlington, the 12th heir of the Duke of Devonshire. "I told him we had a room from Wingerworth Hall, which they knew all about, as the Duke's aunt had married one of the Hunlocks, who owned Wingerworth." Minton pulled out the photo of his mantel and showed it to the Duke and his son. "Oh, your fireplace is prettier than ours," the Duke exclaimed. While the Duke's mantel has a center plaque that was an unadorned slab of colored marble, Minton's center plaque is a stunningly carved depiction of the goddess Diana. The plaque has been attributed to Edward Poynton of Notting- ham, the favorite carver of Francis Smith of Warwick, who carried out work at both Chatsworth House and Wingerworth Hall. The connection between the two great no- ble houses is awe-inspiring. "It's remarkable how the oak drawing room traveled from 18th century Derbyshire England to 21st century Dallas and into my house," Minton says. "My favorite place in the world is lying down on the sofa, looking at the oak walls with the fire going. I used to think I'd have to be in England to see a room like this — I never imagined I'd have one in Dallas."