So I already featured some of the artisans I met at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, but a few of them had such interesting stories that I needed MORE space for them! So meet Jeff Turney of Lone Ranger Antiques in Florida!

Jeff specializes in antique Swedish furniture. Here are some of his wares on display at the Country Living Fair:

So, how does one get started in antique Swedish furniture? Jeff started visiting Sweden in 1986, when he was 21 and especially interested in Swedish girls um, culture. While waiting in line for ice cream at Kings Garden in Stockholm, he got chatting with an American guy and a Swedish woman. They bought him some ice cream – his Swedish language skills being non-existent – and they sat down to start chatting.

The American guy offered Jeff a job so that he could continue living in Sweden. The couple then invited Jeff to spend the weekend with them at their country farm house. Right across the road was an Estate Auction sign. All that Jeff bought was a box of old wooden tools for $2, but that was all it took – he was totally hooked. See Jeff’s own photos for proof:

Today, he owns his OWN Swedish country house, and spends summers in-country buying up items from estate auctions like an unstoppable force.

He has spent nearly three decades making the trip to Sweden each year, and frequently hears from customers that “there must be nothing left in Sweden.” He actually finds that with the popularity of IKEA and other modern, cheap options, there’s not a whole lot of demand for the type of antiques and collectibles he finds, and he never has trouble scooping them up and bringing them home.

In fact, the items he’s after are frequently called “Mors Mors Skit” by the Swedish. “Mors Mors” is “grandmother” and “Skit” is, well, just one letter different than its English translation. I can say that his wares are WAY better than that term implies 🙂

Jeff does four shows each year –  the Brimfield Antique show in Massachusetts (summer and fall) and the Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas (next show starting September 28th, 2015).

Jeff is the one on the right, FYI.