FOUNDERS OF ROME

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FOUNDERS OF ROME

Along with Statuary, busts, plinths etc, we are Importers of French and Italian Antiques, furniture, wrought iron, homewares and more.

A passionate & experienced family business, importing handpicked antiques from France & Italy, procuring for client projects, & bespoke buying tours.
🇫🇷Paris, Provence, 🇮🇹Tuscany & more | shipping & logistics worldwide🌎| Retail & Trade Anne Martin, original Co-Founder of Phoenix Italia, Palazzo Roma and Karaka Point Vineyard & Lodge travels the world to bring home that 'special piece of Europe' f

or you to use in your home and/or business. We can help you create exceptional interiors with classic taste and a unique flare with a strong European influence, in both residential and commercial spaces.

31/08/2026

A glimpse from storage. Yes it’s chaos. But in the beautiful chaos sits one of the more wonderfully eccentric things we brought home from Italy.

Sometimes you just can’t wait for a staged photo to share something that is just COOL! With that Italian pensione / garden room / old apothecary vibe we love this late 19th Century Italian Washstand.

An antique painted iron washstand, complete with a newly cut marble top, pivoting mirror, candle holders (!!!) and a place below for the original water pitcher.

We’ve had a new piece of marble cut with the slightest bevel, replaced the mirror and gently touched up the green, but otherwise we’re leaving all that wonderful age alone. Even the back is beautifully shabby, utilitarian and… just cool.

Dressing table? Powder room? Guest bedroom? Something completely different? A quirky bar, fill the bowl with ice maybe? (How do we always land back at how to chill Ch*****ne?).

DM for details if it already has your name on it.

22/08/2026

A Gilt & Bronze Selection To Love - See our latest email and join our list by visiting our website, to get first glimpses of collections, events & news. https://mailchi.mp/foundersofrome/the-gilded-beauty-of-things-worn-well

05/08/2026

Hidden in plain sight. What am I hiding?

At first glance, a beautifully proportioned French Louis XVI style sideboard.

Then, a detail reveals itself.

A leather-lined writing slide glides effortlessly from beneath the top, transforming this piece from storage into a desk exactly as it was intended over a century ago. We imagine many a love letter was written at this desk. ❤️

Swipe through to see the hidden desk, the beautifully worn original leather, and the carved details that speak to its craftsmanship and history.

France, c. 1880–1910.

Link in bio to collection.

05/07/2026

We are thrilled to be collaborating with a local fave, Vic Road W**e Bar & Cellar for a unique take on a French Market Day!
As a Devonport local and European Antique Dealer, how could we resist bringing Antiques, W**e, Cheese and treat together with this fabulous crew. We hope you can join us!

30/06/2026

A little piece of France is arriving in Devonport soon.

On Saturday 18 July, Founders of Rome Antiques and Vic Road W**e Bar & Cellar will transform the w**e bar into a French Market Day filled with antiques, beautiful w**es, French treats and market discoveries.

Save the date.

Saturday 18 July
10–3

🇫🇷

22/06/2026

Coming soon.. a pair of re-imagined Louis XV Revival Fauteuil Armchairs, circa 1860 and full of grandeur and grace.

But we are punching it up a notch with a bit of big cat energy! Decadent velvet irregular spots emerging from metallic threaded jacquard is luxurious.

But do we want it to purr, or roar? Please tell us what you think!

14/06/2026

This September join us on an unforgettable Tuscan Antique & Lifestyle Journey from Florence to Arezzo and beyond.

Shop at Europe’s great antique markets, enjoy charming accommodation, memorable food and w**e, postcard perfect village life and the opportunity to discover Tuscany at a relaxed pace.

And should you find something you love along the way, we’ll help arrange its journey home to New Zealand.

3–13 September 2026 | Maximum 8 guests

To receive the Information Pack, visit the link in our bio or send us a message with the word TUSCANY.
Anne & Tamara

foundersofrome.co.nz/pages/tuscany-2026

smallgrouptravel

11/06/2026

Come with us to Tuscany!

Our 10-night Tuscany tour this September invites you to slow down, eat well, hunt for timeless antiques, and truly live the Italian way—immersed, indulgent, and unforgettable!

For years, we’ve travelled through Europe sourcing beautiful antiques for Founders of Rome, this time we want you to join us!

Our days are often spent wandering markets and meeting dealers, but we’ve always made time for something else too—long lunches, hidden villages, quiet piazzas, local w**es, and those unforgettable moments that make Italy so special.

Together we’ll explore Florence, Cortona and some of Tuscany’s most beautiful villages, enjoy exceptional food and w**e, discover (and shop treasures) at Italy’s most celebrated antiques fairs, and experience a little of la dolce vita along the way.

It’s about slowing down, immersing yourself in Tuscany, and experiencing the places, markets and traditions that keep drawing us back year after year.

Whether you’re a collector, an interiors enthusiast, or simply someone who loves Italy, we’d love to share this journey with you.

✨ Florence
✨ Cortona
✨ Beautiful Tuscan villages
✨ Exceptional food & w**e
✨ One of Italy’s most celebrated antiques fairs
✨ Limited to just 8 guests

Follow the link in our bio to find out more and register your interest or send us a message!

🇮🇹 September 2026

Anne & Tamara
Founders of Rome

30/05/2026

New Arrival from Italy

Italian Rococo Revival bedside tables with exceptional Rosso marble tops, elegant bombe shaping and finely carved detail.

A beautiful balance of refinement and character.

59cm W × 37cm D × 71cm H

14/05/2026

Sometimes something hidden in plain sight reveals a fascinating history.

What first appeared to be a beautiful pair of early 20th century French riding boots quickly became something far more interesting.

Inside the shaft was the stamp:

W. Bennett & Co
Bottiers Anglais
86 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris. W. Bennett & Co, “Bottiers Anglais”, located on Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris — a prestigious address associated with high-end bespoke craftsmanship.

Why this matters is that it places the boots firmly within the right period, location and level of quality associated with the expedition material we were shown alongside them.

While viewing the boots in France, we were also shown archival images and material relating to the Citroën expeditions of the 1920s and 30s, including photographs of Louis Audouin-Dubreuil and expedition members wearing remarkably similar boots.

We are now carefully researching and piecing together the provenance — verifying what we know, and what we suspect.

These will be heading to auction rather than appearing on our website. Direct message us with interest. The story will continue to unfold!

Address

Auckland

Website

http://www.foundersofrome.co.nz/, http://eepurl.com/dLDiUk, https://foundersofrome.co.nz/pages/tuscany-2026

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