It's a bittersweet week here at Antiques on Cannon. To quote George Harrison - "All Things Must Pass", and this week we close the doors at our sister shop Chestertown Antique Mall.
It is, I think, a sign of the times. We have read in the antiques trade publications and heard dealer lamentations for some time now about the absence of young people at shops and shows, and the graying of the customer for traditional antiques categories. It's certainly something we've seen evidence of in our own shops and travels.
One of our goals in opening Antiques on Cannon was to provide the kind of merchandise the younger collector is looking for - a hipper, more modern look that is functional and affordable. It's an interesting parallel to the rise of 20th century modern design - a move to make quality, unembellished furnishings that were affordable to the average person. Judging by the response of customers, we believe we have hit our mark in doing so as well.
Now we will incorporate "the best of the best" of our antiques dealers from Chestertown Antique Mall, bringing a diverse selection that ranges from classic to modern all in one shop.
We're celebrating this happy union during downtown Chestertown's First Friday event on January 4, complete with champagne and wedding cake! We hope you'll join us - we can already feel the love!
Cheers!
marilyn
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
On the road to find the next treasure!
I consider myself to be one of the very lucky people whose work is their hobby and vice versa. Really. I love what I do. I get to go shopping all the time, buy great things and put them together to create wonderful room settings, see them being enjoyed and on their way to new homes. Who couldn't love doing this?
The "finding" is both the most challenging and the most fun. I NEVER know what I will find. A place will yield lots of things one time and nothing the next. A day can end with a van full or just one small item. There is no rhyme or reason which, of course, is one of the things that makes it so much fun - a "find" is that much sweeter for having appeared.
So this weekend, when I found a crushed velvet orange striped club chair AND (in another place altogether) a fantastic striped loveseat with chrome legs, it felt like hitting the jackpot. Top it off with some great vintage posters and accessories and I will ride the high for days!
Best part is I discovered some new places to go and that's always a plus - the more resources we have available, the more we are able to provide a diverse selection and keep prices in line.
I can't wait to get these treasures in the shop! Better get some sleep so I can tackle it tomorrow!
Sweet retro dreams to you -
marilyn
The "finding" is both the most challenging and the most fun. I NEVER know what I will find. A place will yield lots of things one time and nothing the next. A day can end with a van full or just one small item. There is no rhyme or reason which, of course, is one of the things that makes it so much fun - a "find" is that much sweeter for having appeared.
So this weekend, when I found a crushed velvet orange striped club chair AND (in another place altogether) a fantastic striped loveseat with chrome legs, it felt like hitting the jackpot. Top it off with some great vintage posters and accessories and I will ride the high for days!
Best part is I discovered some new places to go and that's always a plus - the more resources we have available, the more we are able to provide a diverse selection and keep prices in line.
I can't wait to get these treasures in the shop! Better get some sleep so I can tackle it tomorrow!
Sweet retro dreams to you -
marilyn
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Hollywood Glam is Back!!!
I know I just posted yesterday but honestly, I just couldn't contain myself!
Many of you know I'm a fan of vintage mirrored furniture and accessories. I grew up with a set of 1960s Italian provincial mirror-top tables in my parents living room, and the nested tables from that set reside in my living room today. I am contstantly on the lookout for vintage mirrored items - dresser and tissue boxes, lamps, little wastebaskets, hampers - and furniture. I sometimes find the accessory items, and usually buy them when I see them. But the furniture is out of the reach of most of us - there's a cabinet I've been lusting after in Lambertville, New Jersey, but it's priced over $3000.
There's a reason for that. In the 50+ years since Hollywood Glam (think 1940s Rita Hayworth) was been in fashion, many mirrored pieces have suffered breakage that's significant enough to devalue or discard them. Pieces in pristine condition command top dollar. Wish I looked as good after 50+ years as these pieces do. I am happy to content myself with accessories.
Bombay Company (which is going out of business, if you didn't already know) has had a piece called a Glamour Chest for several years, a little mirrored cabinet that's quite marvelous. It has been the lone example of glam mirrored furniture in mainstream stores. But yesterday I walked into Pier 1 and almost fell over - they have introduced a complete line of mirrored furniture - dresser, vanity, tall cabinet, low stool. It's really quite fantastic.
So now Hollywood glam is mainstream. Wonderful! It represents a great opportunity to "marry" vintage and contemporary. I'm not normally an advocate of this philosophy - particularly if the contemporary equivalent of a vintage piece is made in Southeast Asia of particle board and priced more than the vintage piece. But when vintage isn't accessible to most of us - in this case because of both price and availability - mixing old and new, IMHO, is a perfectly acceptable approach. Buy a currently made piece (and no, it probably won't last 50+ years, but you can enjoy it now), and accessorize with authentic vintage.
I'll be on the prowl for those accessory pieces.
Come in and "mix it up" with us!
marilyn
Many of you know I'm a fan of vintage mirrored furniture and accessories. I grew up with a set of 1960s Italian provincial mirror-top tables in my parents living room, and the nested tables from that set reside in my living room today. I am contstantly on the lookout for vintage mirrored items - dresser and tissue boxes, lamps, little wastebaskets, hampers - and furniture. I sometimes find the accessory items, and usually buy them when I see them. But the furniture is out of the reach of most of us - there's a cabinet I've been lusting after in Lambertville, New Jersey, but it's priced over $3000.
There's a reason for that. In the 50+ years since Hollywood Glam (think 1940s Rita Hayworth) was been in fashion, many mirrored pieces have suffered breakage that's significant enough to devalue or discard them. Pieces in pristine condition command top dollar. Wish I looked as good after 50+ years as these pieces do. I am happy to content myself with accessories.
Bombay Company (which is going out of business, if you didn't already know) has had a piece called a Glamour Chest for several years, a little mirrored cabinet that's quite marvelous. It has been the lone example of glam mirrored furniture in mainstream stores. But yesterday I walked into Pier 1 and almost fell over - they have introduced a complete line of mirrored furniture - dresser, vanity, tall cabinet, low stool. It's really quite fantastic.
So now Hollywood glam is mainstream. Wonderful! It represents a great opportunity to "marry" vintage and contemporary. I'm not normally an advocate of this philosophy - particularly if the contemporary equivalent of a vintage piece is made in Southeast Asia of particle board and priced more than the vintage piece. But when vintage isn't accessible to most of us - in this case because of both price and availability - mixing old and new, IMHO, is a perfectly acceptable approach. Buy a currently made piece (and no, it probably won't last 50+ years, but you can enjoy it now), and accessorize with authentic vintage.
I'll be on the prowl for those accessory pieces.
Come in and "mix it up" with us!
marilyn
Monday, December 3, 2007
Shop retro - it's retro priced!
We love the holidays! Ok, we LOVE shopping, and the holidays give us that many more reasons to do it. But, even better, we love shopping for YOU. We've been stocking up with great finds - lots of dining tables and chairs, daybeds, a pair of incredible powder blue side chairs, and lots of little treasures in every price range.
There's the authentic 1960s "Best Friends" key ring - yin yang and other symbols - keep one half for yourself and give one half to your best friend - a great $5 stocking stuffer! And grab a vintage ornament - just $2.
My favorite little tidbit dishes in Picasso-esque patterns - $12 each or $40 for a set of 4. Wow! Candy dishes & platters in the $20 to $40 range. Cocktail shakers, martini sets and barware - lots of choices in the $30 to $50 range. There's even a set of dishes for 4 - an authentic 1970s pattern called Circle in a Square - priced at just about $100.
At Antiques on Cannon, it's not only retro merchandise, it's retro priced too! When we're out and about shopping we see many of the things we offer, priced at two to three times as much or more! Remember that great set of Italian chairs we had for $295? We saw their twins at the Piers in New York for $1,425. No kidding.
And do I need to mention, giving antiques is a gift to mother earth as well - 100% recycled, totally green.
I'd love to stay and "talk antiques" some more, but I'm off to do some more holiday shopping for you. Send us an email to let us know what's on your list: antiquesoncannon@comcast.net!
Happy Holidays -
marilyn
There's the authentic 1960s "Best Friends" key ring - yin yang and other symbols - keep one half for yourself and give one half to your best friend - a great $5 stocking stuffer! And grab a vintage ornament - just $2.
My favorite little tidbit dishes in Picasso-esque patterns - $12 each or $40 for a set of 4. Wow! Candy dishes & platters in the $20 to $40 range. Cocktail shakers, martini sets and barware - lots of choices in the $30 to $50 range. There's even a set of dishes for 4 - an authentic 1970s pattern called Circle in a Square - priced at just about $100.
At Antiques on Cannon, it's not only retro merchandise, it's retro priced too! When we're out and about shopping we see many of the things we offer, priced at two to three times as much or more! Remember that great set of Italian chairs we had for $295? We saw their twins at the Piers in New York for $1,425. No kidding.
And do I need to mention, giving antiques is a gift to mother earth as well - 100% recycled, totally green.
I'd love to stay and "talk antiques" some more, but I'm off to do some more holiday shopping for you. Send us an email to let us know what's on your list: antiquesoncannon@comcast.net!
Happy Holidays -
marilyn
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