Bob James of Washington, D.C., president of Armacost Antiques, advises consumers that the soft economy makes this an ideal time to begin collecting antiques for their home.
“Prices of antiques are lower than they have been for years,” said James, show manager for this weekend’s Chattanooga Antiques and Garden Show. “It’s a good time for people who want to put their toe in the water to begin collecting pieces to decorate their homes, and it’s a great time for collectors to augment their collections.”
The 34th annual Chattanooga Antiques and Garden Show, sponsored by the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, opens today in the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. James said he has contracted 18 dealers from around the country for this show, many exhibiting here for the first time.
“We have fine furniture, decorative accessories, glass, ceramics, Oriental carpeting and a variety of collectibles such as snuff boxes, silver, corkscrews and artwork,” James said.
Among new exhibitors, he said, is Tad Runge’s Oriental carpets, and Zane Moss Antiques, which specializes in English furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.
“Edward Steckler and Patricia Cobb carry fine silver and glass and a very interesting array of corkscrews and snuff boxes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Perry-Joyce Fine Arts carries the best examples of schoolgirl needlework you’ll find from the Victorian period,” the manager said.
In addition to new exhibitors, customer favorite Lynda Weaver of Collectanea estate and vintage jewelry will be returning for her 15th year. She has developed such a rapport with Chattanoogans that she knows what her clientele will want and has pieces ready for specific customers to view when she arrives.
The Memphis dealer said the escalating price of gold has not deterred consumers from investing in jewelry.
“People think if the price is going higher, then they need to buy it now,” Weaver said.
“The white gold/platinum trend is still big among younger people, but older adults look for the allround beauty of a piece. It’s whether it’s gorgeous that matters, not whether it’s white or yellow gold.”
She said popular cuts of stones are oval and emerald cuts in colored gemstones, “but in diamonds they only want round.”
The dealer said she will be displaying some Egyptian bead pieces that date from 3,500 B.C.
Amy Frierson, Houston director, said this year’s show has been planned to appeal to first-time antiques buyers.
All proceeds from the show benefit the Houston Museum, which houses the large glass and ceramic collection left to the city of Chattanooga by the late Anna Safley Houston.
E-mail Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com
IF YOU GO
What: Houston Museum of Decorative Arts’ 34th Chattanooga Antiques and Garden Show.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Grand Central Station, 1400 Market St.
Admission: $15 (ticket good all three days).
Web site: www.thehouston museum.com.
WHAT’S HOT?
Baby boomers who’ve held onto furnishings from the homes in which they grew up are in luck.
According to show manager Bob James, those furnishings made from 1930s to 1960s are known as “midcentury” and are the hot antiques at the moment.
“Midcentury is a very hot category, particulary sought by people in their 30s and 40s. Collectors are looking for furniture and decorative accessories from those years.”
Susan Palmer Pierce is a reporter and columnist in the Life department. She began her journalism career as a summer employee 1972 for the News Free Press, typing bridal announcements and photo captions. She became a full-time employee in 1980, working her way up to feature writer, then special sections editor, then Lifestyle editor in 1995 until the merge of the NFP and Times in 1999. She was honored with the 2007 Chattanooga Woman of ...
