Discerning individuals who stroll down Middleburg's main street often stop to enjoy the windows Louis Shields creates with beautiful antiques and artifacts for Hastening Antiques.

A peripatetic traveler to stylish places, Shields began his career as a fashion designer in New York before he fell in love with antiques in London and never looked back.

For twenty-eight years he has offered clients spectacular European antiques and full restoration services from a Middleburg address. Today, his delightful shop, located at 7 East Washington Street, is a paradise of treasures for visitors and local customers.

In addition to Shields' English education about antiques, he also studied polishing with the result being that his restoration services are among the finest anywhere.

"During my eleven years in England I combed estate sales, attended auctions and read volumes about each furniture period until I could determine provenance of any piece I found," he remembered.

"You have to know history and how people lived during the period. You have to know wood and how it was used during the period."

Shields also created his own English formula furniture polish, "Genuine Beeswax Polish" made of organically produced beeswax and 100% pure turpentine. He says he often "visits" pieces he's sold to give them a good polish with this 17th century formula.

"I love staying in contact with the antiques I've placed. They're like old friends."

To discuss antiques with Louis Shields, please telephone 540 687 5664 or visit the shop.