Adam Brown

Philadelphia born, BA from Temple University in Northeast Asian studies and the Japanese language. Apprenticed and worked as a young carpenter in Dallas during the tail end of the Texas oil boom. An investor and general contractor in the 80's, bought, sold and rehabbed residential real estate in central Philadelphia. As entrepreneur and adventurer, in the mid 90's made the first of a series of exploratory trips to the new post communist Czech Republic which culminated in a broad range of strategic alliances in the art and antiques field. Initially becoming a private dealer with a small retail presence as I. Brewster & Brown in Philadelphia, in 1999, merged with affiliates in the Prague/ Washington based Metternich Ltd., and along with his partner and spouse Andrea Zemel, spear headed Iliad Antik New York, combining in a single enterprise, the largest collection of first period Austro-Hungarian Biedermeier furniture, and the finest restoration atelier in the world.

An ardent antiquarian and student of classical and Near Eastern culture with a passion for Biedermeier's fresh inherent Modernism, Iliad Antik is a realization of Adam Brown's self proclaimed "Odyssey" and continues to serve as a platform for the pursuit of personal ideals; art, culture, excellence, and adventure.

Washington DC born, MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. Trained as both printmaker and sculptor. As a studio artist exhibiting in shows and East coast galleries, Zemel's edgy imagery and psychological narratives push at the boundaries between contemporary and historical myth-making. Teaching at Penn's fine arts department in the mid 90's, Zemel founded the university's site specific community art program which documented the oral histories of displaced local communities though the creation cooperative public installations and monuments.

After joining forces with new partner Adam Brown in 1996, Zemel left academia to explore fine art and antiques in Eastern Europe. There she was captivated not only with the Biedermeier style, but by her first encounters with the Soviet eclipsed Czech and Hungarian Modernist art traditions. Informed and inspired by these new lexicons, Brown and Zemel would share their zeal as collectors and purveyors of Czech and Hungarian impressionist and pre war Modern art while in Philadelphia.

Together in 1999, Zemel and Brown set their sights on New York by launching Iliad Antik in Manhattan's uptown design district. In response to industry demand, Zemel would draw upon her experience as sculptor and draftsman to found Iliad Design in 2001, creating period inspired custom made furniture in the Biedermeier, Neo classical, and Art Deco styles. Connecting her studio background with their talented atelier staff to execute client specific designs, Iliad Design today boasts a stunning portfolio of world class, exquisitely executed hand crafted furniture.

Karl A. Greengrove

Native of New Jersey, BFA from Kean University with Degrees in Architecture & Art History. After four years in gallery sales at Karl Kemp & Assoc. Ltd, Karl joined Iliad in February 2001 bringing his experience and expertise in Biedermeier, Neoclassical, and Art Deco furniture uptown to 58th street.

After receiving his degrees, Karl worked for Steve Lyons Designs New York as draftsman executing designs for residential reconstruction and restoration. Later, in the early 1990's he assumed the mantle as general manager of his family owned Lumber and Hardware business where he first discovered an appreciation for fine hardwoods. After the sale of his family business. Karl chose a career closer to academic interests, and began working in the antiques field for Kemp, where he had his first encounter with the Biedermeier style. In his years there, Karl developed a true love and passion for the period, expanding his knowledge of veneers, methods of construction, and antique furniture finishes. Today, Karl brings to Iliad his extensive knowledge of Austro-Hungarian period furniture and an intimate familiarity with the Interior Design and Architecture industry nationwide. A valued member of the Manhattan team, his warm, comfortable style contributes to the breadth and hospitality of Iliad's professional staff in New York.

Oldrich Hejtmanek

Oldrich Hejtmanek is executive manager of Iliad Antik's Europe team. Czech born, a native of Prague born into a family of artists and restorers, his father began his career as a sculptor, later moved on to the field of sculpture restoration, and is now a conservative specialist working with Historical architecture on many of Prague's national buildings and cultural landmarks. Oldrich's mother is a trained gilder and specialist in polychrome. An exhibiting Czech painter, her solo exhibitions are known both in Prague and Brno. Oldrich's brother Tomas is an avid and knowledgeable collector of 19th and 20th century Czech art and objects, and is widely recognized as one of the best art conservators in the country.

Destined for a life in the arts, Oldrich studied art history and art restoration in Prague and Venice, and spent a year in the object conservation laboratory of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC as a Getty intern. Upon his return to the former Czechoslovakia in 1991, he worked for the Alfons Mucha Foundation and helped prepare a major exhibition of Mucha's work in the United States. Throughout much of the mid '90s Oldrich gained experience as a private dealer and art consultant to prominent Czech collectors. In 1999, he would move with his wife back to Washington DC, this time as general partner to co-found "Metternich Ltd., an exclusive Georgetown gallery specializing in Austro-Hungarian Biedermeier furniture. In late 2000, with friends and associates Zemel and Brown, joined forces to help launch Iliad Antik in Manhattan's uptown gallery and design district at the heart of the world's marketplace.

Today, as manager of Iliad Antik Prague, Oldrich brings "into the fold" his formidable family team of renown experts and cultural icons. As Iliad's acquisition supervisor and onsite authenticator of European acquisitions, he provides invaluable oversight assuring the integrity of Iliad's period furniture. Acting as liaison to Iliad Antik's restoration atelier, Oldrich works closely with shop chief and master craftsman Jiri Popelka in his role as consultant and quality control supervisor. Further, as logistical coordinator, he is also in charge of securing export permits from the Czech National Museum and facilitating the intelligent packaging and air transport of restored pieces to the United States. An ardent computer aficionado and an owner/publisher of a computer tech journal, Oldrich is responsible for the continuity of Iliad's IT systems and industry lauded web site. He is also creatively responsible for much of the photographic content and composition of individual items represented in our furniture catalogue.

Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Studied at the Prague Academy of Building and Technical arts. While attending the academy as a young man, Jiri apprenticed in a restoration atelier where woodworking became an obsession. He later decided to continue his master studies at the Technical College in Prague in the special field of artistic woodworking. While at the Technical College Jiri started his first restoration workshop where his full concentration was on furniture from the Biedermeier period. Employing precision and traditional techniques and technologies, his workshop became recognized for its high standards of craftsmanship and it's aesthetic vision for period furniture restoration. Jiri was later approached by the Czech/American company Metternich Ltd., which was then exporting Biedermeier furniture for their Washington DC showroom. When Metternich joined Iliad in 2000, that union would forge the basis for the long-term cooperation with Iliad Antik NY. As artist and master craftsman, Jiri Popelka became chief of the exclusive atelier for the new organization. Under his guidance, twelve journeyman, apprentices, and polishers restore Iliad's Biedermeier furniture to an ideal seldom reached in commercial enterprise. Inspired in spirit by the great woodcraft guilds and ateliers like the Wiener Werkstätte or the Danhauser workshop, Iliad's creed is that Biedermeier furniture reach it's full aesthetic potential, to make evident the truth and aspiration of the makers original vision, plainly revealing the inherent Modernist yearning at the core of the style.

Today, Jiri combines years experience with Central European antique furniture with his informed and nuanced artistry. With his poet's sense for veneers, he interprets, and then crafts rendered designs for the new branch of Iliad Antik, Iliad Design. Jiri works closely with Iliad's cofounder and sculptor/designer Andrea Zemel to achieve unique and exceptional period inspired creations, both functional and beautiful.