Age: 30
Owner, Harp Gallery Furniture & Antiques
Growing up in the Fox Cities, John Melchert says he was “surrounded by both creativity and discipline from an early age.” Now he has taken over ownership of Harp Gallery, the antique furniture business started by his parents four decades ago.
Melchert earned both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in environmental science. He didn’t necessarily know he would one day pivot his career back toward the family business, but he says its mission to save thousands of pieces of furniture from the landfill resonates.
“Every piece represents skilled artisanship and natural resources that deserve another life,” he says. “Knowing that our efforts have kept so many irreplaceable objects in circulation feels like meaningful service to the environment, cultural heritage, and the legacy of the makers who created them.”
Hidden talent: I can pack a suitcase in three minutes. It’s amazing how fast you can pack when you don’t think too hard about what you actually need.
Current reading material: “The Travels of Ibn Battutah.” I’ve always enjoyed history and exploration, and his travels across the 14th-century world make modern travel feel pretty easy by comparison.
Best advice received: Take care of things, and they’ll take care of you. It’s simple advice, but it applies to antiques, businesses and relationships alike.
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