The Archive accepts a limited number of sourcing commissions each hunting season. A Bespoke Hunt is a private arrangement between the patron and The Hunter: a specific brief, a dedicated field presence, and the exclusive right to see what emerges before it enters the public Archive.
This is not a search function. It is an agreement.
What the Retainer Covers
A non-refundable $150 sourcing retainer secures a place on The Hunter's active ledger. It compensates for the fieldwork that begins the moment the brief is received — the early mornings, the closed estate sales, the architectural salvage yards across the full breadth of the Great Lakes region: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and lower New York state. Upon a successful acquisition, the retainer is applied in full to the purchase price.
What Happens After Purchase
A Commission Brief arrives by email within 24 hours of purchase. The brief captures the object, its era, preferred materials, dimensions, and any provenance requirements. The Hunter reviews every brief personally before the commission enters the field.
The First Right of Refusal
When a piece matching the brief is pulled from the field, the commissioning patron receives private notice before the piece is cataloged, photographed, or offered to the Archive at large. The right to acquire is theirs alone, for a defined window. After that window closes, the piece moves to the Archive.
What the Hunt Does Not Pursue
The Archive does not accept commissions for plastic, resin, machine-distressed replicas, or modern flat-pack pieces presented as antiques. A Bespoke Hunt is a commission for objects with a Verifiable Soul — heavy iron, solid wood, handmade clay, tarnished silver. Things built to outlast the people who made them.
Commission Terms
The retainer is non-refundable at the time of booking. Active searches typically run four to six weeks, depending on the specificity of the brief. There is no guaranteed timeline. There is a commitment of priority. For full refund and cancellation terms, review the Return & Refund Policy before submitting a commission.
