Category: Antiquities

Sometimes you’ll find antique dealers in the most unlikely of places – and the most unlikely of people. Barry Huckeby is a Northwood University math instructor in Tittabawassee Township, Michigan. He’s also the assistance men’s basketball coach. He also loves antiques, and he has opened the Freeland Antique Mall.

As Huckeby said, “I’m a third generation antique collector and dealer. So, I’ve been around it all my life.”

He hasn’t just opened the mall for himself. As of September, 2015, he had 83 dealers at the mall from approximately eight different Michigan counties. The antique mall now includes vintage jewelry, home décor, collectibles, toys and so much more.

As Huckeby said, “Really anything that you can imagine. I’m even surprised sometimes. You never know what you’re gonna find.”

Now, to draw in even more business, a field adjacent to the space was the venue to the Fall Harvest Flea Market that took place this weekend on Saturday, October 10^th.

You can still pre-register for the third annual Southwest Kansas Antiques Appraisal Fair which will take place on March 14 at the Finney County 4-H Building. The event is scheduled to take place from 9-4. It is arranged like a live and local version of the Antiques Road Show and is supported by the Finney County Convention and Visitors Bureau and 19 additional sponsors.

Item appraisals cost $15 but entry is free for those who just want to come and watch. As Steve Quakenbush, historical society executive director, said “We have a great time putting on the appraisal fair, but we also count on the proceeds to help us provide the community with education and research, as well as maintain the museum and preserve the heritage of Finney County and southwest Kansas.”

Priority will be given to the pre-registered items and then inspections will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those who are interested can pre-register from 1-5 daily at the Finney County Museum, 403 S. Fourth St. in Finnup Park.

Last year during the event, the team appraised 135 items. The evaluators explain the history of each antique and unique aspects of the item, but there is no selling or buying during the fair.

The only items that the appraisers can’t evaluate is fine jewelry and firearms. All else is welcome. And come with an empty stomach as the Flat Broke Barbecue will be selling food and beverages throughout the show.

If you find yourself in the San Deigo area in the near future, you may want to get to the Mingei International Museum where a very interesting collection will be on display. Deborah J. Neff, a toy collector in suburban Connecticut, has hundreds of antique cloth dolls. They all depict African-Americans and were hand made between 1850 and 1930. Little information has survived about their backgrounds and original owners. About 125 of these dolls and photos of people playing with them, are on display.

Frank Maresca, editor of the Mingei show’s catalog, said that Neff dolls “were made with dignity and love.” Ms. Neff explains that her collection came from about a hundred sources from flea markets and high-end antique shows to other places. One of the dolls has “an inked inscription on her torso from a St. Louis mother to her son dated Christmas 1879.” Ms. Neff wants to keep the dolls together “permanently in a public collection.”

But for the moment, she is not ready to give them up. She misses them already since they’ve been shipping temporarily to San Diego.

Flea markets have become all the rage – and often with good reason. People can find real gems in these locations, and many of them have started having upscale home decor. Sweet Salvage, for instance, in Phoenix, Arizona, has recently doubled its retail space. They now have a 5000 square foot warehouse, bringing their retail space to 10,000. It’s only open four times a month. Now, in addition, it’s going to be open on the third Thursday of the month for four-day themed sales.

Opening three years ago, Sweet Salvage gets about 3000 shoppers a month. In addition to their unit wares, they have hosted a number of national authors for book signings and DIY events. These include Joanne Palmisano and Mary Emmerling.

For the upcoming and recent sales, the January sale was be called “Room for Improvement” and celebrated the expansion. Customers looked through bins, lockers, cabinets, furniture and home decor. The sale took place on January 15th through 18th. Next up is the February show themed “Rustic Luxe.” It will showcase mixing distressed woods with more luxurious and softer materials.

Some of the best companies are ones that realize that not everything has to be fast-paced and modern. Smock is one of these companies, based in Syracuse, New York. They are actually using letterpress techniques with the same technology that was created by Johannes Gutenberg in 1436 for their specialty stationary.

As Smock President Harold Kyle explains, “We’re part of a resurgence of letterpress that values the ink pushing into the paper; that is all a physical process.”

Most of the machines that they use are 50 years old and they produce paper that is “soft and luxurious..with the impression in them.”

As Kyle explained,  “There’s a lot of craftsmanship involved in letterpress printing. You really need to have a good eye, good with your hands. We don’t do anything fast here. We’re always trying to print slowly and print very well.” Smock’s products have been featured in design blogs, Martha Stewart Living, Woman’s Day and more.

And they have actually become the largest letterpress supplier in the US.

See more in an interview they recently did with NewsChannel 9.

Antique Books photo by Robert Benner
Creative Commons 2.0

Certainly, with Black Friday approaching and everyone getting ready for the holidays, it’s important to think about where you want to shop. If you’re like most of us reading this site, you don’t want something junky or temporary. You’re looking for a lovely antique or something that will decorate the house for years to come.

If you happen to be near Baraboo, Wisconsin, pop into the Backdoor Antiques store on 3^rd Street. Rikki McNabb of Backdoor Antiques explains that her collection includes vintage tree ornaments, vintage Christmas glassware and figurines, among other items.

As Oak Street Antiques, Troy Lenerz explains that, “We’ve got a good selection of man cave stuff, such as beer neons, beer tap handles, and sports related stuff as well.”

If it’s books you’re after, The Village Booksmith’s collection is the place to be. They have books about local history and about the circus. Owner Annie Randall says that, in addition to the 50,000 plus old rare books she has available, she also has Advent calendars, leather journals and unique 2015 calendars.

Anyone who loves antiques should get to the Morristown Armory Antiques Show today and tomorrow. This yearly event includes more than 100 exhibitors. Items

One antique dealer, Mimi Gunn of Morristown said,

“I’ve been in antiques for 44 years. I learned early on. I started doing this when I was a child following my mother. This is the best area in the country for antiques. I think New Jersey has some of the best and most unusual items in the country. There are things everywhere.”

There are all sorts of clinics in addition to the items for sale. Artist Louis A. Pirrello, “Restorations by Louis,” had a porcelain restoration clinic and Paul M. Nulton hald a glass repair clinic.

The show takes place today and tomorrow at 430 Western Avenue in Morristown (exit 35 off I-287). Admission is $10 and there is even a $2 off coupon to be had at http://jmkshows.com/20141101_antique_armory.html.