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Michael Markley got his start
in the antiques business by accident, when he accompanied Meril on a two-year
assignment in Paris. When his
promised work permit never materialized, he found himself in the position of
putting his lifelong love of learning to good use – not only to find furniture for
their unfurnished apartment but to satisfy his curiosity about the styles and
techniques that make French antique furniture both beautiful and durable.
What
started out badly turned into the experience of a lifetime. Drawing on skills learned in his earlier
careers as a lawyer, a homebuilder, a retailer and a lighting designer, Michael
needed only to learn French to make his dream into reality and his passion into
a thriving business. Thanks to the
kindness and enthusiasm of many French dealers, Michael picked up the
"antique French" necessary to learn the business
from the inside out and to negotiate and buy his inventory.
After
returning to the U.S., Michael established M. Markley Antiques as a division of
The Markley Group, Inc. in order to offer the Château des Bois CollectionTM to
those in the U.S. who treasure beauty and fine craftsmanship.
Michael
works with designers for large projects such as hotels, but especially enjoys
working with individuals who contact M. Markley Antiques when starting or
adding to a collection of Gothic or Renaissance style furniture.
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Meril
Markley is an attorney and International Tax Principal at UHY Advisors TX, LLC
and was formerly on the staff of Congressman
Kevin Brady. She also helps Michael with the antiques
business they both love. Like Michael,
she has had several careers and adores the antiques business because it
combines creativity and passion while ensuring the preservation of the work of
gifted craftsmen of centuries past.
Meril
is responsible for research and preparation of the description of each
piece. She brings to that task a
background in the fine arts. Her four
years spent as a Music Major in Vassar College's Skinner Hall cemented her
devotion to French Gothic architecture and Gothic Revival furnishings. She spent years studying at the Music Academy
in Vienna, Austria, where she was a student of Fks. Hilde Rössel-Majdan. Singing
around Europe, Meril took the opportunity to study the
art and architecture of the great cities where she lived and
performed. As a result of her overseas
experiences, she speaks three foreign languages (Spanish, French and German)
and can order a beer in several more.
She enjoys writing about travel, and the food and beverages that go
along with it, in her column for the Newsletter of the Wine Society of Texas
(Houston Chapter).
As an outlet for her passion to preserve and promote interest
in classical music, Meril serves on the Board of
Directors of Mercury
Baroque, Houston's world-renowned
period instrument ensemble, and served in
the past on the Board of Trustees of the Houston Grand
Opera. She continues singing, mainly in
Europe, but experienced the thrill of a lifetime when she sang the National
Anthem at an Astros baseball game.
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