Shop Around the World The Finest from the East, West and Beyond! By Carolyn Patten Photos Carolyn Wright
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ne block west of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, nestled close to a bakery, wine bar and art galleries, Asian Adobe is a treasure house of exquisite home décor accessories, high-quality antique Chinese furnishings, gifts and the finest collection of pearl jewelry in New Mexico. Owner Fidelia Kirk traces the origin of the store to the mid-1990s, when she and her husband lived in northern China. Over time, she developed close relationships with local antique
furniture collectors, began collecting hand-embroidered textiles and built her personal collection of pearls. Now those relationships and interests are showcased in this multi-room shop, and Kirk says her finest and most unusual pieces of Chinese art and furniture are on consignment from American collectors. “We are getting some amazing things,” Kirk says. “Everything from antique kimonos to a huge collection of blue and white ceramics to a rare coromandel
screen. Many people have inherited antiques from their parents, and others are downsizing and find that their homes aren’t large enough, or they simply want to switch up their furniture and décor, so they place these pieces on consignment.” From its beginnings offering antique Chinese furniture, Asian Adobe has expanded and evolved to include the full range of home furniture and design, adding gifts, jewelry, flower arrangements and a myriad of accessories in a mixture
of styles, including hand woven rugs, pierced metal hanging lamps from India, mirrors and an ever-changing array of consignment pieces from Santa Fe’s finest homes. High-quality leather and upholstered easy chairs, wingback chairs and sofas made in Toronto share floor space with the finest Chinese antiques — medicine chests, lacquered armoires and side tables, trunks, intricately carved screens, altar tables, garden stools and a variety of chairs. It’s a prime stop for gifts for weddings, celebrations and holidays, with New Mexico’s largest selection of Votivo candles and home fragrance items, and accessories such as leather and stone boxes, baskets, Buddha figures, silk and cashmere scarves, crystal paperweights, vases and luxurious sheepskin pillows. Discerning shoppers will find a full range of handmade Beatriz Ball metal ware. Made from brilliant, recycled aluminum, the sandcast serving and decorative pieces never need polishing and rival the more common Nambe ware in design and functionality.
Famed contemporary Chinese artist Guo Ming Fu is shown exclusively in the United States at Asian Adobe. The selection of freshwater pearls — from necklaces to earrings, and from baroque to coin and ring pearls — is outstanding and most of it has been custom made to Kirk’s specifications. RIGHT Fidelia Kirk, owner
Famed contemporary Chinese artist Guo Ming Fu is shown exclusively in the United States at Asian Adobe. The selection of freshwater pearls — from necklaces to earrings, and from baroque to coin and ring pearls — is outstanding and most of it has been custom made to Kirk’s specifications. “When I travel to China, my first stop is the pearl market, where I’ll inspect the pearls and place an order. By the time I leave, the jewelry is ready to take with me back to Santa Fe. Meeri Khalsa, the in-store designer, creates custom silk flower arrangements for any occasion and setting, and also provides custom home design and decorating services. In addition, all pieces can be taken on approval, to make sure they work perfectly with the homeowner’s existing décor. Asian Adobe 310 Johnson St. 505.992.6846 www.asianadobe.com