Some of the oldest and rarest vintage treasures can be found overseas. An adventurous cohort of designers and experts reveal the best ways to source items abroad—and how to bring them back home.

When Chad James embarked on his first trip abroad to source antiques, he didn’t quite know what he was getting into. After spending years buying stunning pieces from vendors in Atlanta and New York, who themselves had traveled to other countries and continents to find their wares, the Nashville-based designer began to wonder why he couldn’t just make the trip himself, rather than wait for items to pass through multiple sets of hands before making their way to the United States.

About a decade ago, he decided to take the plunge by traveling on a guided group antiquing trip through Europe—which, at the time, he saw as more of an exploratory vacation than a productive sourcing trip. “I budgeted some money and thought I might buy a few things,” recalls James. What he didn’t expect was to return from that first trip with a half container full of antiques—some dating as far back as the 17th century—and a newfound passion for sourcing abroad. Becoming well-versed in that ability, however, has been a years-long journey of trial and error.