HADA asked several questions to the Spring 2009 exhibitors.

Here are some of their responses:

What is one of the best items you have found in a private home, auction, estate sale or any other place?

“Starting a collection is a funny thing.  The best ones start by chance rather than forethought. 

One of my favorite collections was started by a chance opportunity to purchase an oil painting that had really caught my imagination.  It was a lovely mid 1800's painting done by an unknown artist that showed excellent talent.  A step above the typical "charm school" painting, it was very well done and had an excellent composition of a hanging cluster of pansies.  At that time, I didn't own any florals, and wasn't particularly looking for them, but this single painting was beautiful, and I loved it at first sight. 

            It was easy to find a spot on my walls for this lovely painting, because I loved looking at it.  It hung in a spot where I could view it every day.  It wasn't long, that while out antiquing, another pansy painting caught my attention.  It was not as well done, but was pleasant to look at, and I decided that I would take it home as well.  Before I knew it, I was consciously looking for pansy art and soon had a calendar print by Paul de Longpre, and a seed catalog cover from 1904.  Friends began to notice, and were not only looking for me, but also purchased and gave me prints and paintings as gifts.  I even received a beautiful Weller Hudson vase decorated with pansies.

            The number of prints and paintings soon demanded their own spot, and with a small makeover, my guest room became the "Pansy Room", and became the favorite resting spot for visitors. 

             Over the years, I have had the opportunity to refine and preen my collection, for at one time, the pansy objects almost became ridiculous.  Now we have a very pleasant room, that displays a beautiful collection of a variety of pansy art work, that doubles as creating a welcoming space for family and friends alike.  It was never my overt decision to create a pansy room, but the beauty of this one single work of art, led me into a pansy fantasy collection.  This is a collection that we still love and cherish; not only for the items themselves, but also for the stories and friendships that many of them represent.    I especially find it quaint that the Victorian meaning of a pansy flower was "Loving Thoughts of Friendships". 

              For me, the wonder of this collection is the spontaneity of it all.  It has led me to change my way of thinking when I am out antiquing.  If there is something that I find that is incredibly wonderful, and so captures my attention, I need to buy it.  It doesn't matter if "I don’t have a place for it", or if "It isn't anything like everything else I have."  If I don't purchase it, I am not only going to miss out on a wonderful connection with something that may just lead me into a wonderful new adventure, I more than likely will find myself regretting not purchasing it later.  Good pieces haunt us when missed. 

            When a piece calls to me like that, I find that my future experience will change for the better, as I am led into a new realm of discovery;   unplanned, uncharted, and marvelous.”

                                                                                            David W. McIntosh

                                                                                    McIntosh-Weller Antiques

                                                                                    Colorado Springs, CO

What advice do you have for collectors, especially beginning collectors?

“If beginning collectors ask me for advice on which linens to collect, I tell them to collect the finest quality they can afford because the best is what always increases in value.  I also tell them to focus on hand-done embroidery and lace, since the quality of the old far exceeds the quality of the new.  I emphasize that availability of these items lessens each year.

When shopping for monogrammed linens, collectors need to be wary of newly-done machine monograms being done on old linens.  If collectors are seeking original, hand-done monograms, they need to examine the work carefully and ask the dealer offering the linens for sale if the monogram is original to the piece.  The collector also needs to be wary of new linen being offered alongside old linen.  If the collector is a purist who wants only old pieces, close examination is important.”

                                                                                                Connie Marks

                                                                                                Victoriana

                                                                                                Rocky Point, NC

What is one of the best items you have found in a private home, auction, estate sale or any other place?

     “unusual purchase--------  My specialty is the sale of David Roberts lithographs of Views of Egypt, Nubia, and the Holy Land.  I usually find sets of these in Europe and occasionally bits and pieces of sets in the U.S.  Several years ago I got a call from a picker in Iowa who stumbled across a partial set of Roberts which I negotiated for and purchased at a fair price.  I then asked the former owner if they had any idea where the remainder of the set might be.  They tracked down the last 40 prints their father had sold to a friend and I was able to complete the set with that owner.  I never expected to find "the greatest lithographic work of the 19th century" in Iowa.
     How I got started----In 1981 I was developing hotels in the U.S. and needed to place fine furniture and art in the public spaces and rooms.  I had dinner with a friend and one of the guests, sitting to my side, told me her story of her social life including upcoming Wimbledon, Ascot racing, the debutante season, and the three weddings she was participating in June. She had no time for her print shop on Kings Road and was going to close it down.  I met her on the following Monday morning and purchased her shop that included 10,000 individual prints for 10,000 British pounds which reached its all time low that day at $1.03 to the pound.  I gave up developing hotels and became an art dealer.  Fate is just wonderful sometimes!!!
     New collectors – collect what you really like!  Don't think about future value but about today’s pleasure you get from living with your new collection.  Do improve your collection as you expand it and try to get the best examples in the best condition that you can find.  You will soon have a great collection that you love and most probably will have one of superior value should you wish to dispose of it at some future time.  When you purchase a little at a time it doesn't hurt your pocket book and becomes a fun activity searching out the next and better item for your collection.  Search for quality not quantity.”

                                                                                                Howard Price

                                                                                                Howard I. Price II Fine Art, Inc.

                                                                                                Lake Worth, FL

If a customer came to you at the Show and indicated that they wanted to start collecting antiques or art and asked for your advice as how to start or what to collect, what advice would you give them?

“I have been approached at many shows by people who love antiques and want to collect something but are not sure what.  I always tell them that they should collect something that intrigues them and is plentiful enough for them to form a collection.  Many people are restricted by space or finances....so I suggest small things that there is lots of literature available for ....like snuff boxes, small silver or porcelain boxes, lead soldiers, etc......Reading the available literature on the subject helps build your knowledge base and your self -esteem so that you feel comfortable approaching dealers and asking questions.  Good dealers will be happy to answer questions, point you towards good books on your subject and direct you to people and museums who have collections to share with you. The most important thing I tell new collectors is to buy things that YOU like...don't be influenced by trends or pushy dealers. A good collection is one that you enjoy, enjoyed putting together and enjoy enlarging.

My best advice on knowing "your stuff" is to handle as many objects as you can that are of interest to you, asking all the questions you need to satisfy yourself that you know what you are looking at and what it is worth.

Collections are about the thrill of the hunt and the enjoyment of the find.  As the collector becomes more knowledgeable he tends to upgrade his collection by trading, selling off the "mistakes" and pursuing that one object he just has to have.

If you are not patient enough to form a collection find someone who already has what you want and propose marriage!”

                                                                                                Donald S. Bethune

                                                                                                Donald S. Bethune Antiques

                                                                                                Macon, GA

When and where you least expected it, what is one of the best items you found in a private home, auction, estate sale or any other place?

“In 1979 I owned a shop in Alexandria, Virginia. I sold Americana; furniture, colonial portraits, brass andirons, candlesticks and the like. I found a good source of items at the Sablon Market in downtown Brussels, Belgium....but the prices were high. Unphased, I courted and married the Belgian dealer who usually sold them to me. It didn't improve the price but at least now share the profits with Claire.”

                                                                                                Michael Higgins

                                                                                                Claire and Michael Higgins Antiques

                                                                                                Chattanooga, TN

Do you have an “Antique Buying Tip” that we can share?  What should new buyers and collectors be wary of or watch for?

“Be aware of REMANUFACTURED, those that are original however have been cut up and married together with new, blades. Examples are spaghetti servers, pizza cutters, cake servers............. on and on. They use the original hollow handle in these items and put the new blades on them. Another example would be salt spoons. These are stamped out by the thousands in Mexico. The original salt spoon is purchased and sent to Mexico where the make a die, then they stamp them out. These sell for $5, $10 each (Some dealers sell the as ORIGINAL at very high prices, to the consumer.) If you see a bowl or basket with lots of these in it, your can bet they are reproduction. Ice cream spoons are another item that is altered in many patters. These are all Sterling or even Silver Plate. The list goes on and on.

If the dealer will not give you a written guarantee and a receipt with the dealers company name, address, and phone number, think twice unless you just do not care.”

                                                                                                            Mark & Lee Gillespie

                                                                                                            Gillespie Brothers Ltd.

                                                                                                            Cross Junction, VA