I recently spent ten days in Spain with some fun, wildly talented designers.
We were in awe of our surroundings, wandering slowly past every architectural beauty…pointing out the intricate details and almost always pausing for “just one more photo” to add to the already overflowing Spain albums on our phones.
We visited Seville, Marbella, and Granada, with detours through Ronda and the tiny village of Setenil de las Bodegas, where homes are literally built into the rock face.
A few highlights included a stone quarry in Almería, flamenco in Granada, and perfectly seasoned potatoes at a tiny tapas bar near the Alcázar.
This trip filled every bucket that was nearing empty, from inspiration and wanderlust to quality time with friends and a reconnection to ancient architecture and craft. I could talk about the experience for days.
But in the interest of keeping this blog under 47 pages, let’s talk about the main topic: antiquing.
Before leaving, I told myself that whatever I brought home had to be small-ish, though I collapsed my Hulken bag into one suitcase for the “ish”. Shipping costs are absolutely outlandish right now, and I had zero interest in navigating the post office or customs drama. So I hunted for pieces that could slip into a carry-on or tuck neatly into a checked bag.
What followed was ten days of treasure hunting (between sips of tinto de verano) in one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
What Makes Spanish Antiques Different from French or English Antiques?
French antiques are stunning, but they often prioritize elegance and ornament. They’re designed, in many ways, to be noticed. English antiques have a sense of comfort and practice restraint. They don’t scream for attention and whisper, “This family has been here for a very long time.”
Spanish antiques feel different. More soulful. Less tied to a single design language. And what fascinated me most is that Spanish antiques never feel like they’re overperforming, all while being maximalist.
Spain spent centuries absorbing Moorish, Catholic, and Mediterranean influences, and the antiques truly reflect that. There’s a tension I kept noticing between refinement and ruggedness. Yes, the carving is beautiful. But they also look like they’ve been touched, moved, and admired for generations…in the best possible way, of course.
The woods are darker. The proportions are heavier. The ironwork is more expressive. And the patina feels layered with history.
And when these antiques finally make their way to a family shop somewhere tucked away on the streets of Seville, you’re not just buying someone’s decoration. You’re buying their actual story.
Where to Find Antiques in Andalusia, Spain
When I search for antiques, I tend to approach it in two completely opposite ways: I start with intentional research, and then I get deliberately lost. Somehow, both work.
Before any trip, I search the hashtag “antigüedades” on Instagram, follow antique pickers and dealers in the regions I’m visiting, and try to locate the design district in each city ahead of time. That gives me a starting point.
Then I show up, wander, and let the treasures find me.
Some of the shops below came from weeks of Instagram rabbit holes. Others I stumbled into completely by accident.
Seville: Antigüedades Lolo Ortega (Plaza del Cabildo)
Tucked into the beautiful Plaza del Cabildo, this third-generation shop was one of the places I intentionally sought out before arriving in Spain. I sped across town in an Uber and arrived 30 minutes before closing…a little out of breath but absolutely determined.
Inside, I fell in love with a pair of hand-painted floral stools that had originated from somewhere in Asia generations ago. The owners, a father-and-son duo, went straight to helping me calculate shipping costs and potential customs fees while simultaneously disassembling the pair of antique stools. At one point, we discovered that one stool’s legs twisted off neatly while the other had apparently been glued and nailed together somewhere along the way in its history.
They carefully wrapped and boxed everything while I slipped next door for gelato, the best way to end my antique hunt that day.
Seville: Antigüedades El Pianillo (Calle Feria)
This shop felt less like shopping and more like an archaeological excavation.
I spent over an hour inside, moving maybe half an inch every few minutes to study every object hanging from the ceiling, stacked on shelves, or tucked into dark little corners. The entire place felt gloriously overcrowded in the best possible way.
This is where I found the tiles. Just three pieces among hundreds of others, the last remaining from their original sets. Two were encaustic cement tiles, made by pouring different colored cement into moulds. The other was an arista tile, with raised ridges separating each glazed color (a technique deeply tied to this region of Spain).
Each piece carries centuries of history, and I walked away giddy knowing these tiles would tell their stories from a corner of my very own home. Though they were heavy as sin…not the wisest weight decision.
Seville: Susi Antigüedades
I wandered into Susi Antigüedades because of theatrical masks and a sort of mysterious storefront that practically dared me to come inside.
The next hour disappeared while I combed through cabinets overflowing with antique vestments, religious garment remnants, and tiny forgotten objects. The owner pieced together English descriptions of each item’s age and provenance while I nodded enthusiastically and tried not to buy the entire shop.
I left with several 19th-century appliqués for future pillows, a tiny silk floral slipper small enough to fit a five-year-old (the shop owner suggested I hang it on my bedside and put scrolls of paper in it, which made me chuckle and further endeared me). The last treasure I found was a gift I bought for my mom. This one, you’ll just have to imagine because my mom reads this blog and I haven’t yet gifted it to her.
Granada: Tauriq
After a tinto de verano-filled lunch in Granada, I spotted Tauriq from down the street, its terracotta-drenched storefront practically glowing in the afternoon sun.
Inside was the most impeccably curated antique shop I visited while in Spain. My Puerto Rican design friend initially translated all of my aggressively nerdy antique questions until we eventually realized the owner spoke perfectly good English the entire time.
From the doorway, I immediately spotted a giltwood mirror with a hand-rolled mirror plate catching the light from high up on the wall. The owner pulled out a ladder so I could inspect it more closely, which was all the encouragement I needed.
After a long internal debate about whether it could fit in an overhead bin, I decided this was a future-problem situation.
The owner disappeared briefly and returned carrying cardboard from his nearby apartment, which he carefully deconstructed and rebuilt into a custom box for the mirror’s journey home.
What I did not yet realize was that several days later, I would be sprinting through the Madrid airport, feverishly swinging that mirror under my arm for 20 straight minutes. And not one minute did I regret having it with me.
A Few Antiquing Tips Before You Walk Around Spain
- Search “antigüedades” on Instagram before your trip
- Ask locals or your hotel concierge where the antique district is
- Visit markets like Mercado del Jueves in Seville on Thursday mornings
- Build buffer time into your schedule. The best antique shops are never quick visits
What Should You Look For When Sourcing Spanish Antiques?
So how do you know when an antique is extra special versus when it’s simply decorative Usually, you feel it before you can explain it.
I’ve built most of my knowledge over the last 20 years through curiosity and a borderline obsessive appetite for learning. I ask questions constantly. I Google Lens objects in shops (if “Google Lens” isn’t an official verb, it needs to be). I read auction listings and museum archives late at night like they’re novels.
Over time, you begin to recognize the difference between something that has merely aged and something that has truly lived.
The clues are usually in the details:
- The weight of the wood
- The depth and irregularity of the carving
- Hand-painted glaze that isn’t perfectly uniform
- Signs of repair or wear from generations of use
- Whether the patina feels full of history or artificially applied
One of my biggest clues? If a piece makes you stop and stare while everyone else keeps walking, it’s probably worth investigating.
Then do the work:
- Ask for provenance
- Research the maker or region
- Google Lens the object
- Follow your curiosity down every rabbit hole possible
One easy rule I’ve learned over the years: if it feels slightly irreplaceable, it probably is. When sourcing antiques in Spain specifically, I’d pay close attention to the craft traditions tied to each region. Keep an eye out for these specific details:
- Encaustic cement tiles: Made by pouring different colored cement into molds. They’re regional, collectible, and increasingly rare.
- Arista tiles: Traditional southern Spanish tiles with raised ridges separating each glaze color.
- Carved and turned wood furniture: Often darker, heavier, and more expressive than their French counterparts.
- Religious and ecclesiastical objects: Vestments, appliqués, carved relics, and fragments rich with provenance and craftsmanship.
- Hand-painted ceramics: Particularly in Seville’s Triana district, known for centuries of ceramic production.
Even finding a single fragment from a larger series can be meaningful. One rare tile or salvaged appliqué can become the entire springboard for a future room design.
How Do You Bring Antiques Home From Spain?
Getting antiques home from Spain requires a mix of planning, creative packing, and a willingness to negotiate with shop owners over disassembly. Before you travel, decide whether you’re shipping or carrying, and set a size limit for yourself. For anything you plan to bring on the plane, think “overhead bin or checked box” before you fall in love.
I went into this trip with a firm internal rule: I wanted to stay within a TSA-size box. Shipping and customs fees are high right now, and I wanted to avoid them if at all possible. Here’s how that played out in practice:
The stools: The shop owner in Plaza del Cabildo calculated potential customs and shipping fees right there at the counter, and then, mid-math, realized he could twist the legs off one of the two stools.
The mirror: This one was too fragile not to carry, so I hand-carried it on all three flights.
The tiles: I knew these were durable enough to leave my side, so I wrapped these pieces very carefully and slipped them into my checked luggage.
A few practical tips for bringing antiques home from Spain:
- Ask shop owners about disassembly. Many are experienced at this and happy to help.
- Ask the shop to wrap items for travel.
- For delicate pieces, consider mailing them to yourself rather than flying with them.
- Look into what’s subject to customs duty before you go. Antiques over 100 years old imported to the U.S. are generally duty-free, but always verify current regulations with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- When in doubt, carry it on.
Ready for your own antiquing adventure?
If you’re wondering, yes, the antiques I brought home all arrived safely, thanks to an alarming level of hovering, padding, and protective instincts on my part.
And currently, they are doing what good antiques always do: circulating. The mirror I thought would sit on an easel in my closet ended up hanging from the ceiling in my studio. The tiles are sparking ideas for future projects. The stools are in my home for now, but if the right client comes along and I can see them in their space, they’ll find a new custodian.
That’s how I think about collecting antiques for design work: you’re not the final owner. You’re the respectful custodian for this chapter.
If you’ve been on the fence about a sourcing trip to Spain, I’m here to tip you over it. Go. Wander into the antique shops, get lost in the districts, ask all the dorky questions, and carry something home that has a soul.
Ready to start building your own collection of meaningful antiques? Start here with how to find and navigate estate sales like a pro. And if you’re curious about other antiques I’ve collected over time, visit my Chairish shop, The Circa Flea.
FAQs on Antiquing in Spain
Can you bring antiques from Spain back to the United States?
Yes, you can bring antiques from Spain back to the U.S. Items that are at least 100 years old are generally duty-free under U.S. Customs regulations. For newer decorative pieces, standard import duties may apply. It’s always smart to check current CBP guidelines before you travel and ask shop owners for a receipt that notes the item’s age and approximate value.
What is the best city in Spain for antique shopping?
Seville is widely considered one of the best cities in Spain for antique shopping, particularly the Calle Feria area and the shops around Plaza del Cabildo. Granada and Madrid also have strong antique markets. In Andalusia specifically, you’ll find a concentration of regional crafts, including encaustic tile, carved wood furniture, religious artifacts, and ceramics that reflect the area’s layered Moorish and Catholic history.
How do you ship antiques from Spain to the U.S.?
To ship antiques from Spain to the U.S., you can work with a local shipping service or ask the antique dealer to facilitate, as many experienced shops regularly ship to international buyers. Get a detailed invoice noting the item description, age, and declared value. Fragile or large pieces should be professionally boxed. Shipping and customs fees can be significant, so factor that into your budget before you fall in love with something large. If you absolutely must bring home a larger piece of furniture, your best bet is usually a consolidated shipping container. Your piece will travel by sea with other shipments, arrive at a U.S. port, and then make its way to you by truck. It’s far more practical than trying to fly home with an antique armoire, but it does require patience. These pieces move at the speed of cargo ships, not Amazon Prime.
What should I look for when buying antiques in Spain?
When buying antiques in Spain, look for pieces that reflect the regional craft traditions: encaustic and arista tile in Seville, carved wood furniture, ironwork, and ecclesiastical objects are all strong categories. Always ask for provenance, use Google Lens to research what you’re looking at, and pay attention to the patina. Authentic age shows in the weight of materials, the consistency of wear, and the quality of handcraft. If it makes you stop mid-stride and ask questions, that’s usually the right instinct.
How do you know if a Spanish antique is authentic?
Authenticating a Spanish antique involves asking for provenance documentation, researching the piece with Google Lens or a quick image search, and learning to recognize the materials and construction techniques of specific regions and periods. Third-generation family shops with long-standing reputations are generally reliable sources. When in doubt, buy from dealers who can speak to where the piece came from and are willing to discuss its history openly.