A SIAN AD O B E From China and Beyond Photos Carolyn Wright
W
alking into Asian Adobe, you feel like a kid walking into a candy store; there are many bright things to look at, many things to touch and try. Where does one start? Asian Adobe has its roots in the mid1990s when store owner Fidelia Kirk and her husband lived in northern China. She began developing relationships with the local antique furniture collectors, and cultivated an interest in collecting
Chinese baby hats, baby collars and other hand-embroidered textiles. She further became enchanted in the wide variety of pearls readily available and began studying the colors, shapes and sizes as she built her personal collection. As a result of this study, Asian Adobe now boasts the finest collection of pearl jewelry in New Mexico. “I buy things I love,” explains Kirk. “And I love pearls!” With a background in banking, oil and gas, Kirk is an unusual
candidate to found and own a retail store. However, her interesting life path led her to China and Singapore, only to lead her back to Santa Fe to share her love of buying and collecting. Asian Adobe has been open for 12 years — four at the Railyard and eight at the current location on Johnson St. The attractive well-made art, furniture, accessories and décor like lamps, paintings, pillows and floral-pieces harken from all over the world, spanning
well beyond the shop’s initial Chinese bent. Items’ place of origin includes India, Japan, Tibet, Korea, Thailand, Mexico and Canada, as well as locally made jewelry. For instance, one of Kirk’s favorites is the line of Beatriz Ball, the shiny Mexican platter-ware made from up-cycled aluminum that easily goes from fridge to oven to table without ever needing a polish. Another in-store favorite: the vivid life-like paintings of Guo Ming Fu, whose work is carried exclusively by Asian Adobe in the United States. The New York Times describes Asian Adobe as “marrying the warmth of Southwestern décor with the austere grace of Asia.” Regular customers from Texas and California make a point to drop in to Asian Adobe on trips to Santa Fe, checking in to see what new things Kirk has up her sleeve.
“It’s difficult to go to China and find original pieces,” says Kirk. “They’ve gotten so good at making reproductions it’s become difficult to ascertain whether or not something is an antique.” Although Asian Adobe does carry both originals and reproductions, as well as an extensive collection of contemporary art and décor, customers know they can trust Kirk to sell them a quality piece of value. “People have come in and been surprised to learn we don’t just carry Chinese products,” Kirk notes. Though her time in China certainly underscores her approach, it is Kirk’s eye for unique, gorgeous pieces that makes Asian Adobe a Santa Fe retail destination. RIGHT Fidelia Kirk, owner
Asian Adobe 310 Johnson St. 505.997.6846 AsianAdobe.com