Why Purchase antiques vs. buying from Bernie & Phyl's?

If you're in a rush to furnish your home, then by all means, run out to Jordans or Bernies, throw down plastic and wait six weeks for a truck to pull up and off load furniture that instantly loses value. And if you pay the balance over time, likely you will have gotten rid of it before you pay the final installment. It's like buying a new car and driving it off the lot; as soon as your tires hit the road its lost much of it's financial value. 

"But" you exclaim, "I need an automobile and furniture." I understand, but there are better ways, more interesting avenues to pursue these items. 

Let me be clear though. (I know, this sounds like another insincere, self absorbed politician.) I'm not talking about all of your furniture, I'm talking about signature pieces, those that define your room, or for that matter you. The pieces that will stand out and make a statement. Jordan's is the place to purchase a box spring and mattress, a sleep sofa or everyday chairs, but for the pieces that make a statement you might consider an antique.

Research by a previous owner (Elna Howard, who lived in our home from 1902 until 1985) indicates that our home was built circa 1790, (1780 if you believe the town records) but this room was added in 2010 to connect the ell (early 1800's) off the cape to the garage. An essential room in northern New England when the snow is up to the bottom of the windows. 

See what I mean!
Front of the new addition.

Our goal when we designed and added this room, was to make it look as though it had always been here. I think that we succeeded and here's how we did. First, and most importantly, we contracted with Paul Flahive who enjoys an excellent reputation in the antique home restoration business. He was highly recommended by our neighbor Terry Mayo (who once owned our home) and had Paul restore his connected barn into living space.

Our new floor is constructed of wide pine, old growth boards, some as wide as 20 inches. The walls are plastered and we insured that the woodwork that defines the doors and windows was prominent and matched the woodwork in the cape. But what grabs your attention as you enter the room? Yes, the early 1800's New England secretary and drop leaf table. Even in a new room they do much to "antiquate" it. The wood is inviting and the colors are warm and rich.

To carry the look even further, when you open the doors and drawers old New England artifacts (maps, books, brochures, tin-types, etc..) will greet you and further grab your attention. Rather than displaying a static piece, it's staged with years worths of collected treasures. We purchased this piece from Jason Hackler at the New Hampshire Antique COOP some time ago. It's a great place to go, immerse yourself in the "antique culture" and learn. Even with free coffee and cookies, you'll never look at Jordan's Furniture quite the same way again.

Rather than looking at a highly polished, glistening piece of furniture with no personality, or blemishes, this secretary has lovely wood, pegged and paneled doors, beautiful dovetailing and a distinct patina. The drawers require a little effort to open, squeak just a bit, there are dings and scratches applied carefully by generations of families who have gone before and it has felt the touch of a thousand hands prior to mine. All of this only piques my curiosity concerning whose homes it has graced before. In 1800, John Adams, who lived only 60 miles south of here was our 2nd president when we think that this piece was built by a craftsman using hand tools in his barn. Just imagine, no assembly line and no power tools.

The bow back Windsor armchair is made of oak and came out Harvard's "Widener Library" some 60 years ago. Built as a memorial to her son who died aboard the Titanic, Widener is the nations oldest library and the worlds largest private library. Presidents, Senators or other Statesman may have relaxed in it during their undergraduate days at Harvard.

This circa 1810, birch and maple, New Hampshire Tall Clock defines the room. Everything else was collected to support it. The clock was purchased from Delaney's Antique Clocks in West Townsend, Massachusetts. Open the "coffin" door and you'll find rough, crude, iron weights that power the beat and strike. The "beat" is distinctive and the "strike" is a simple bell that pleasantly sounds throughout our home. The cabinet was likely constructed by a local Concord cabinet maker of a simple, functional design. New "grandfather" clocks are obtrusively large and ornate, have shiny, brass weights, prominently displayed through glass doors. Their beat is faint and the melodious strike sounds like Westminster Abby in London. You might expect to see the Queen waltzing through the door. They posses neither patina nor provenance but require no effort to seek out and purchase. Craigslist is full of them.

Spend time at Delaney's with brothers Sean and John (whom I'm sure you've seen on Antique Roadshow) and the thought of purchasing a "new grandfather clock" will fade very quickly. We visited Delaney's several times over a period of years, learning, before we committed to our first purchase. It was time well spent.

The tall clock, candle stand, child's rocker, small upholstered sofa and four drawer pine chest with accoutrements are all antiques in a new room that help age it significantly. On the other hand, the two wooden and upholstered arm chairs are from Jordans Furniture. They are of very nice quality and mix well with the antiques and withstand everyday use.

In the cape.

Another Delaney Clock on the wall. This time a stunning Chelsea Clock Company, Model #1, eight-day, oak Regulator that's not only beautiful, but at nearly 125 years old is never more than one minute off every seven days. This is a "regulator" clock, or to be even more specific it's a "timepiece" so it has no strike. Why no strike you may be wondering? Ask Sean or John, they'll explain this to you as they did to me.

The circa 1790 highboy (George Washington was president) is a piece we waited years to acquire. We needed one on the diminutive side due to the size of the room and would be close in color to the Chelsea Clock. Sam Hackler at New Hampshire Antique CO-OP found this piece for us. A red wall is not easy to decorate around. Patience paid off as we think it's a wonderful combination. An 80 year-old Persian rug with a certain level of wear always lends itself to setting off a room. Think of it as a fabric painting on your floor that's comfortable to walk on.

The tilt top tea table is another antique with a few small repairs, but the two wing backs (brand new) came from the Pottery Barn. Smaller than most chairs of that style, they enhance the room, blend in nicely with the vintage pieces and withstand daily use. 

All of this is fine, but a good deal of enjoyment derives from the hunt and following leads to uncover the exact piece that you're looking for. Weekends in coastal Maine towns, or time spent in northern New Hampshire villages in the White Mountains or Vermont's Green Mountains, poking through dusty, dimly lit (bring a small flashlight) antique shops during foliage season with the scent of woodsmoke in the air is delightful. Talking with shop owners, learning more about their pieces and following their leads down the road and around the bend past where "Smith's barn used to stand," is great fun. Hours spent at a big box store full of humanity simply can't compare to the education and conversation enjoyed at an old antique shop.

Now, which appears more inviting? It's a personal choice.

Marblehead, MA

And don't be afraid to make a mistake and purchase the wrong piece. If it's wrong and no longer fits, take it to your local antique shop and sell it on consignment. Or call us! You'll likely be made whole and re-armed to venture out and replace it. But that imitation, pressed wood bureau or flimsy chair that you purchased just a few years ago at a commercial furniture store and now hate... what do you do with those? They certainly haven't appreciated and will probably end up in the dump because your kids didn't want it, nobody took it off the end of your driveway with the FREE sign taped to it and not a single call from Craigslist. I finally learned the difficult lesson that junk (although it may look nice) doesn't appreciate but quality does. 

Furnishing  your home with antiques is fun, very satisfying and something that I wished I'd started a lot earlier than we did. It's never too late, but be careful... it's addictive. And our antiques you ask? Not to worry, our kids have already earmarked their choices and divided up the cache. We're delighted to know that these cherished items will remain in our family for generations to come.

Fourth of July parade, Amherst, New Hampshire

Each and every piece of early American furniture has a great story to tell. Once you learn the language you're going to love the story, so jump in and enjoy the education.

Our local militia on the march, possibly headed to Lexington and Concord or to Breeds Hill in Charlestown, Ma.

Rand Peck Antiques at the NH Antique CO-OP.

Thanks very much for taking the time to read my thoughts. I look forward to your comments. Also, if you find yourself in the vicinity of Milford, NH stop by the NH ANTIQUE CO-OP and browse through our display. If you're looking for a specific piece let us know, we're always out scouring New England for new and interesting antiques.

Rand

- Out on the Auction Trail Once Again -

12 - 14 August 2013

More interesting finds!

This Monday morning dawned clear and cool so Linda and I packed up our truck and headed to the McInnis Auction in Amesbury on the historic Massachusetts North Shore. It was our first visit to McInnis and we came away with three new pieces and a very positive impression of John McInnis and family. Many smalls were auctioned as well as early American furniture and art work that saw bidding rise as high as $40,000. 

A Jelly Cabinet, Tilt Top Tea Table and a Sack back Windsor Arm Chair fit comfortably into the bed of our pickup truck.

Leaving the McInnis parking lot in Amesbury, Mass. John McInnis's entire family is involved with his and their own auctioning businesses. I met one of his sons, a young fellow who starts his freshman year at Maine Maritime Academy this September. Not only was he working the auction, but he bid on and won a four drawer, antique, Hepplewhite bureau that he said he needs when he starts school. Now how many kids purchase an antique bureau when they leave for college. He's way ahead of the next generation of collectors and was a very nice kid to boot. 

I purchased this very late 18th century, probably 1790, sack-back Windsor arm chair, that came out of a home in Amesbury. The term bow-back is also used with this Windsor chair style which gets its name from the town in England from where they originated. By the mid 1700's American artisans, particularly from Philadelphia, had tweaked this design into a finer, more refined, less bulky look and they were often called Philadelphia Chairs.

Handsomely proportioned with great strength, it will easily withstand everyday use. (Although I wouldn't use it that way.) It displays beautifully here next to our 18th century, maple and birch secretary. 

This design was very popular in the colonies by 1750. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned many and the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, used them in their chamber. Others from this era fond of their Windsor chairs were James Monroe, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold. 

Closer inspection reveals its wonderful patina and detail. Quality, "new," sack-back Windsors sell upwards of $500. They're beautiful... but they're "new" with no patina or mystery about them. Thomas Jefferson is known to have written the Declaration of Independence while sitting in a Sack-Back Windsor Chair... it may very well have been this one! If you're interested, call or email as we plan to market this sea port "original" for $575.

Just in case you think I'm exaggerating (because occasionally I get carried away) here's a picture of an engraving by Edward Savage that shows Congress debating independence with Franklin and Charles Carroll sitting in Windsor chairs. Four Windsors are easily  discernible in this engraving. Carroll, from Maryland, was the longest lived and last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, dying in 1832 at age 95.

This is a tiger maple tea table with a turned base, cabriolet legs and snake feet. It is in very good condition with excellent cleats and its original metal locking mechanism.

This is a mid 1800's piece from a home in Amesbury, Mass and will add elegance to yours. But why would a furniture maker from the 18th or 19th century design this so it would tilt? Answer: So they could save space when it wasn't in use. Look at the picture above to see how much space this table takes. Now look at the picture below. It tilts up so it can fit flush against a wall and you can now hold a dance in your parlor. Ingenious!

Here's a nice view of the top surface. Depending upon which books you study, this could be refereed to as a curly maple tea table as well. For Sale for $675

What a great find. A single door, pine cupboard or jelly cabinet with exceptionally beautifully patina that could be the signature piece for any kitchen or a means to showcase many of your collections. Linda looked at this picture and said, "where did you buy the outhouse?" I told her that if it were an outhouse, it would have a half moon cutout on the door. Come on!

It has four shelves, stands 57" tall, 30.5" wide, 16" deep and came out of a home in Newburyport, Mass.

The back of this mid to late 1800's cabinet and I guarantee that it's never seen duty as an outhouse. For sale at $725.

After finishing our business in Amesbury we headed for Hampton, NH where we found these architectural pieces languishing in a pile of granite. They're granite balustrades and we learned that they came from the Museum of Fine Arts on Huntington Avenue in Boston. They were part of a fencing complex that enclosed a garden behind the museum in the Fens section of the city. We've kept one and placed it in our garden with a pot of flowers prominently displayed. They're certainly unique, have a fabulous provenance and are for sale for $195 a piece. 

Or get really creative and try one next to your dining room fireplace supporting a plant or some other fine antique that you've collected. Get used to hearing, "where did you find these," as you explain that they came from the MFA. 

Here's the balustrade that we've kept and have placed in one of our gardens at home.

I did a google search of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and found a picture of the fence that I referred to above. It appears that these granite pieces were mined from the Quincy Granite Quarry. This quarry came to be in 1825 when a committee was formed to find appropriate granite to construct the battle monument at Bunker Hill, which was dedicated in 1843.

And our last little treasure. Skinner recently held an on line, computer bidding only auction. It was different but may be the way of the future. No floor bidders, no auctioneer, no phone participants and no banter. Simply enter your bid on line and see what happens when the time runs out. All lots and I think that there were 700, end at the same time, which makes it difficult to budget your resources. If I win lot 100 for instance, but have to extend myself to do it, I may not have enough left to purchase lot 110, but I won't know this until the auction terminates and it's too late. You can however, enter a max bid that will incrementally increase as the bid moves forward solving part of this problem.  

I did win this late 1700's, Bannister-back armchair that was the object of my attention though. 

It's in extraordinarily good shape with an excellent seat, great finials and downward sloping arms ending in scrolled handholds. 


If you're interested in these or any of the previous pieces that I've posted, call me at 603.930.2866 or email me at randpeckantiques@gmail.com. Thanks for looking and as soon as I have space, I'll move these down to the NH Antique CO-OP in Milford, NH.

Antiques Week in New Hampshire

August 2 through August 10 was the 56th annual antique show in the Granite State sponsored by the NH Antique Dealers Association. I plan to write about it later in detail but for the moment this is one of the nations largest and most important shows. Dealers and private collectors from throughout the country, descend on the state with trucks to enjoy a huge quantity and variety of quality pieces in one general area. The event also coincides with the Brimfield Antique Show in nearby Brimfield, Mass. As one dealer mentioned to me, "I need a larger truck to bring my treasures back to Indiana."

Anyway, more about all of this later so you can plan for next season, but I picked up several pieces myself. My floor space at the New Hampshire Antique CO-OP is full so I'll display two pieces here for sale that will eventually move to the shop when space is available.

This beautiful piece is a cherry, Hepplewhite, Vermont slant lid desk that we date to between 1790 to 1820. George Washington was the President of the United States when this piece was built. It came from a home in southern Vermont in the Connecticut River Valley. Some refer to this style as a Fall Front desk as well.

The lid is a single board with a very unusual framing design that incorporates the lid in the frame. You really need to see it. The top is a single board with exquisite dovetailing. The ends are two boards that terminate in a bootjack design at the floor. The four chamfered and dovetailed  graduated drawers are in excellent condition as are the french feet.

Seven interior drawers, eight compartments and one door opening that are in perfect condition enhance our maple desk.The desk measures 42.5" tall, 42.5" wide and 19" deep. 

The back boards appear to be pine. Over all this is an excellent example of a New England, slant lid desk from the late 18th century to the very early 19th century with a consistent, pleasing patina throughout.  This is for sale for $3250. If interested, please call me at 603.930.2866 or email me at randpeckantiques at gmail.com.

I also purchased this mahogany, tilt top tea table recently with a turned shaft, cabriolet legs, snake feet and its original metal locking device. The cleats, as seen here are in excellent condition too. The term "snake foot" is a more modern term. Wallace Nutting in his book FURNITURE TREASURY, VOL I (1928) refers to them as a Dutch Foot.

It's a three board plain top that has a 36" diameter. The table stands 26" high.

A simple piece that is both decorative and functional that dates to the mid 1800's.

I purchased this this tilt top tea table right and it's for sale for only $575. If you're interested, please call me at 603.930.2866 or email me at randpeckantiques at gmail.com.

Thanks very much for looking.  Rand 

If you're a seasoned collector/historian/investor you probably won't need the information in my next posting, but if you're new to this, you may enjoy my viewpoints expressed in that posting.

PURCHASING ANTIQUES Vs. FURNISHING YOUR HOME FROM BERNIE AND PHYL'S.

I just came home from the last day of the Manchester, NH antique show, purchased a new secretary and wanted to post it for sale before it goes over to the NH Antique CO-OP.

It will be out of my truck in a moment and in the house.

This is an 1810 to 1825 birch and maple, Hepplewhite Secretary with glass doors and poplar as the secondary wood. Most of the glass is original, we think only two panes have been replaced. It's in wonderful shape and has beautiful patina as you can see.

It opens to a very attractive working desk area with seven drawers and seven storage holes. I suspect that both the brass pulls and finials have been replaced, but the wood is in excellent condition with only one ding on the molding above the center drawer below the glass doors. We also think that it is not a married piece but built as matching set probably in the Concord, NH area. A very beautiful, useful piece that will enhance any room.  For sale for $3750.

Thanks for looking at a small portion of our inventory and please visit us at the New Hampshire Antique CO-OP if you're out and about. But until I make space down there and if you're interested in the pieces above, email me at  randpeckantiques@gmail.com.

I've retired !!

Now what ??

Approaching the International Dateline (is it Tuesday of Wednesday?) over the Bering Straits in Russian airspace. We're just northwest of Anchorage, Alaska at 67 degrees north latitude flying the Great Circle Route.

After flying my final flight I retired from a rewarding, 38-year airline career. That last flight was a 13 hour jaunt from Nagoya, Japan to Detroit, Michigan in a Boeing 747-400. It was a grand lifestyle that afforded my family and me a great life, but on 1 October 2012 it was time to close up my flightbag, stow it and walk away. But after 40 years of flying airplanes, 38 of which drew an airline paycheck, just exactly what was I going to do with myself?

Influenced by our friends, Dave and Sue Clark, Linda and I resumed our fascination with early American antiques. We'd enjoyed this activity for many years, but when our kids entered college and later graduate school, our priorities changed and funds redirected. Now graduated with all sorts of degrees, it was time to hit the road and reacquaint ourselves with early American furniture. We're in Concord, MA with the Clarks visiting the first of many antique shops. Just a few months later we returned to Concord to attend the Annual Concord Antique Show.

While in Concord, we carved out a few minutes to visit the Minute Man National Park and cross the Old North Bridge that witnessed the first battle of our Revolutionary War on 19 April 1775. The first skirmish took place a few hours earlier, just south of here in Lexington where eight Americans died and ten were wounded. On the far side of the bridge is Daniel Chester French's famous "Minute Man" Statue, dedicated in 1875. If this place doesn't pique your interest in antiques and early American history, well... then you'll probably never be interested.

Before heading out of town we made a quick stop at the Colonial Inn for lunch. If you enjoy antiques in a perfect setting this is a worthwhile detour. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, parts of the building date to 1716 and was utilized to store arms and provisions in 1775. 

In fact, that was why 700 British Regulars were dispatched from Boston. They were on a search and destroy mission of "rebel" supplies as well as hunting down dissidents John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They limped back to Boston later that evening empty handed, with nearly 50% casualties as militiamen effectively sniped at them from behind stone fences, trees and barns.

Skinner preview room at Marlborough, Ma

A month of so later we visited the Skinner Auction facilities in Marlborough, MA to attend a "Discovery" Auction. as it turned out, this was just the first of several trips here after we made the decision to venture into the antique business. Bidding against seasoned and knowledgeable competitors was interesting, but fun as well. It made me wonder though; why was I still bidding after the pros had dropped out? I no doubt have much to learn.

This is how my truck appeared after my third auction experience as I'd packed up and returned to New Hampshire. I'd not created our LLC yet so was resigned to pay Mass sales tax.  That killed me. But I'm now armed with New Hampshire LLC paperwork and business number and will save this expense in the future. Which is good because I can pass those savings along to customers.

Linda and I teamed with the Clarks once again and journeyed south to Fitzwilliam, NH to attend another antique show. Just a week or so ago we traveled north to New London, NH, near beautiful Lake and Mount Sunapee. Both of these annual events had a wonderful variety of antiques, knowledgeable and friendly dealers, situated in stunningly beautiful parts of the Granite State. And for those of you from away, you don't need a business to avoid paying a sales tax because NH doesn't have one.

As I'd mentioned, Linda and I had made the decision to get into business. We'd been purchasing antiques for our homes over the last 30 years and were armed with a "little" knowledge. This is the first of two trips that we made from our home in Amherst, Village to the New Hampshire Antique COOP in Milford, NH, just four miles away. This commute to work is far easier then my 660 mile commute to Detroit when I was still flying. My new uniform is far more comfortable too, but I do miss airline coffee though!

NEW HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUE COOP is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1983 by Sam & Eileen Hackler, they were joined several years ago by their son Jason and Daughter-In-Law Rebecca where the family operates one the finest group shops in New England. Spacious, clean, accessible and run like a business, they enjoy a sterling reputation with dealers and collectors alike.

They're located at 323 Elm Street in Milford, NH. Click here for MapQuest to find us easily. Want to learn more about NHAC? Click here and here

Near the back of the store they have a booth that sells ANTIQUE MAGAZINES, dating to the early 1930's and hundreds of SOTHEBYS and CHRISTIES auction catalogs. These are great reference material and make for wonderful reading. I particularly enjoy the advertisements from the 1930's or 1940's editions that describe an 18th century highboy for $250.  

Jason told me a funny story once. He'd mentioned that most eight year olds went to bed with a flashlight to read a comic book under their covers. But not him. He was armed with his flashlight but poured over Christie's auction catalogs instead. And it shows in his depth of knowledge.

We've just set up in this 10' X 12' room and really do hope that you'll visit.

After all, we're in business to sell.

We're focusing on early American furniture, but do you see my RAND PECK ANTIQUES sign in the background? The sign business is another sideline. If you need a sign that will capture customers attention, looks old without that "shabby chic" look, give me a call. I'm busy, but can always find time to design and build another.

Thanks very much for following along as I write about our New England antiquing adventures.