Region
Decades before Ambleside became a destination for weekend wanderers, Martine Boré was already building something quietly serious on Marine Drive. Her shop has traded since the mid-1980s, and the stock reflects that long accumulation: European paintings and sculpture, period furniture, Art Deco objects, crystal chandeliers, fine glass, porcelain, clocks and oil paintings sourced from Europe, America and Asia. It is the kind of range that takes years to develop and a genuine eye to maintain.
Walking in, the first impression is of density without clutter. Paintings cover the walls; larger furniture and castings anchor the floor. Decorative objects — fine crystal, quality porcelain, unique lamps — fill the spaces between. The sourcing spans continents, but the curation holds a consistent register. Nothing here feels accidental. Browsers who slow down tend to find more than they expected.
A private gallery operates separately from the main floor. It houses larger works and more significant pieces, and viewings are by appointment only. For serious collectors, this is worth arranging before visiting. The quieter, more focused setting gives major works the attention they deserve, away from the general retail floor.
Martine Boré runs the business herself, and that direct ownership shows in the depth of knowledge she brings to the stock. She can speak to provenance, period and context with real authority. Buyers looking for a specific style, medium or region will find that kind of conversation genuinely useful. That level of specialist engagement is increasingly hard to find in antique retail at any price point.
The shop suits collectors across a range of budgets and ambitions. Someone hunting a statement European oil painting or a period chandelier will find serious options. Someone after quality porcelain or a well-priced Art Deco piece will also leave with something to think about. The shop is one of the more established specialist dealers on the North Shore, and it draws buyers from across the Pacific Northwest as well as local West Vancouver clients.
The regular trading hours run Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:30. Monday and Sunday visits, including private gallery viewings, are by appointment only. The Ambleside location sits within a walkable commercial stretch of West Vancouver, and the surrounding neighbourhood makes a practical half-day destination on its own terms.
Transit access is straightforward. The Marine Drive (eastbound) stop at 15th Street is less than 50 metres from the shop and served by bus routes 250, 251, 252, 253, 255 and 256. The westbound stop at 14th Street, roughly 80 metres away, adds routes 250A and 257. Visitors crossing from Vancouver can follow the Marine Drive corridor from the Lions Gate Bridge directly to Ambleside.
Martine Boré Antiques rewards collectors who value focused curation over floor space and who prefer dealing directly with an owner who knows every piece. It is not a casual browse destination — it is a working specialist dealer with four decades of relationships and stock to show for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Martine Boré Antiques carry only high-end pieces, or is there something for buyers at different budget levels?
A: The stock spans a wide range. Serious collectors will find statement European oil paintings, period chandeliers and significant sculpture, while buyers after quality Art Deco objects, fine porcelain or decorative crystal also have plenty to consider. The selection rewards browsing at multiple price points rather than catering to a single tier.
Q: What is the private gallery, and how do you arrange access?
A: A separate private gallery holds larger works and more significant pieces away from the main retail floor. Viewings are by appointment only. If you are searching for something specific or want a quieter look at major works, it is worth contacting the shop to arrange access before you visit.
Q: When is the shop open, and do you need an appointment to visit?
A: Regular trading hours run Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:30. Monday and Sunday visits, including private gallery viewings, are by appointment only. Check directly with the shop before planning a weekday or weekend trip outside those hours.
Q: How easy is it to reach Martine Boré Antiques by public transit from Vancouver?
A: Transit access is straightforward. The Marine Drive eastbound stop at 15th Street is less than 50 metres from the shop and served by multiple bus routes including 250, 251, 252, 253, 255 and 256. Visitors travelling from Vancouver can follow the Marine Drive corridor from the Lions Gate Bridge directly into Ambleside.
Q: Can the owner help if I am searching for a specific period, style or region?
A: Martine Boré has run the business herself since the mid-1980s and curates the stock personally. She can speak to provenance, period and context with real authority, making a direct conversation genuinely useful if you are hunting something specific rather than browsing generally.
Add a review