SPRING HOME & GARDEN - April 2005

Antiques and collectibles

A Victorian marble-topped nightstand nestles between a pair of Rosewood chairs from the 1840s. Although the fabric is a reproduction, the upholstery is beautiful. The legs are, of course, handcarved. This display is at Durango Antique Market.

Kelly Becker
Section Editor

Photos by Yodit Gidey

Shopping for antiques and collectibles is a special experience. It is almost like a form of entertainment or for some people a game – one in which they are the hunter – searching for that very hard-to-find piece or an addition to their strange collection. There are also the pleasant exchanges with other customers of the same spirit and the store owner/staff. Let’s face it. It’s just plain fun for even the most inexperienced shopper who loves old things.

An antique is something that is 100 or more years old. "Younger" pieces are considered collectibles. Nikki Morrissey owner of the Durango Antique Market says that collectibles are often confused with antiques. Items from the 1930s and 1940s may seem wonderfully old, but don’t qualify as an antique, but they are fun to own anyway. Morrissey also says that many people are attracted to antiques and collectibles for several reasons, among which include nostalgia regarding their childhood, the fun of the hunt, furnishing or decorating a house to make it a home and finally, perhaps it is the "aura" that surrounds the piece.

This French Art Deco buffet is made of Bur Amboina and is topped with black Italian portoro marble. On the other side (not shown) there is a matching bar. The hinges are "very French" in that they are split hinges with no pins and the doors can easily be removed. This handsome set is on display at Wildflower Antiques in Durango.

Jane Gould owner of Antiquities (Durango) also thinks that nostalgia is a key reason, but she also cited media involvement in the last five or six years as stirring the interest of the public. Owners Stephanie Chambers and Jackie Skjold of Wildflower Antiques (Durango) had similar thoughts about what attracts many people to antiques and collectibles but also pointed out that with some pieces, there will never be another moment in history to match the time from which the article came. The craftsmanship that was invested by the crafter can never be exactly duplicated. Nothing today can even come close to the value of special antiques. Chambers says, "We’ll never see these things again. These times won’t happen again."

When it comes to there being "classics" in collecting, versus collecting based in individual tastes, Morrissey says most of her customers buy because of individual tastes, but certainly there are some items that always seem to catch the public’s attention such as Depression glass. Morrissey added with enthusiasm, "It’s amazing what some people collect!"

Chambers and Skjold say it has been their experience that both scenarios for buying will hold true. Gould says her customers pretty much "across the board" buy to suit their own tastes and that can be anything from marbles, dolls or jewelry to linens.

Do people buy antiques and collectibles as investments? Skjold and Chambers say that yes that can often be the case. Gould points out that it can be a fickle market and it is not usually the number one reason, although some people might hold that as a consideration. Gould recommends buying something that you like and will enjoy. Morrissey says that customers do buy for investments but it’s more an investment in something of good quality that more than likely will at least hold its value, rather than depreciate.

Buying trends can vary from market to market. Collectibles from the mid-twentieth century (1950s) is very big in some markets, while Victorian or Arts and Crafts styles might do better in others. Morrissey says that if she could get more Haywood Wakefield furniture, she feels it would sell. Western and Mission styles continue to sell well at her store.

Shown here is a Victorian marble "turtle top" parlor table with carved hardwood legs. Atop the table is a French red marble and bronze clock. These pieces are from Durango Antique Market.

Sometimes when you enter an antique store here, you may hear some vintage music playing. Chambers and Skjold say they are likely to play anything, vintage or not, and Morrissey plays what she likes from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Morrissey says that yes, lots of stores do play vintage songs. Gould admits that she likes old music and old movies and lots of old things, so yes, she does play old music in her store. (And it’s fun and unusual!) It seems to work well from a perspective of marketing the kind of merchandise that is being sold.

Can lay people know what to look for to identify reproductions? All three stores give an emphatic, "no!" Bottom line here is to get an expert’s advice and/or have the piece appraised. Some pieces are so cleverly done that making the distinction requires extensive knowledge of the antique style’s history and so on.

Fortunately, local antique and collectible store owners in southwest Colorado are all "close" and friendly. They hold a trust with the other stores and share news about the antique and collectible business. With local stores keeping these kinds of honest and forthright reputations it certainly makes it easier for potential customers to shop with confidence. If something is a reproduction, the customer will be told on the onset.

Here’s one more treat for those of you who want to start looking around antique and collectible shops: you can share stories, learn about history and enjoy everything from the magnificent to fun. And here’s what shopping in person has all over the Internet – you not only can see the articles, you can touch them and delight in the scents of things that have survived the "test of time." •

Shown here are handcrafted Transitional Art Nouveau and Art Deco chairs – most likely European. Their style is somewhat unusual in that the backs are solid. They sit in front of a decorative screen that is a reproduction of an earlier piece. The screen is a handpainting of an English hunting scene. These pieces are at Antiquities in Durango.		This display case at Wildflower Antiques in Durango is filled with magnificent pieces. These are among items that people would be drawn to own just for their individuality and beauty.