Category Archives: Antique Stores

Springing into the 2017 “Freakin’, Tiquen'” season.

With the warmer weather, Chris and I hit the road again making this our second road trip in 2017. It might be that we have jump started our 2017 “freakin’, tiquen'” season. Saturday, April 22nd our first stop was at the Golden Nugget Antique Market outside of Lambertville, New Jersey.

Golden Nugget Antique Market. NJ.

Golden Nugget Antique Market, Lambertville, NJ. Photo from Twitter.

The Golden Nugget is only 20 minutes away from where Chris lives. He goes there often and usually when Chris goes alone he ends up finding great things. Two weeks before he picked up a couple of Fortune magazines from the late 1930’s and two vases. One of the vases has a mark that is unfamiliar to us and is Arts and Crafts in style. The other vase is an Australian Regal Mashman fantastic Art Deco three handle vase with a wonderful colorful glaze.

 

On this trip, I joined Chris and true to routine, it was disappointing. Now the weather threatened rain so many dealers stayed away. It didn’t take long to do the entire flea market and we did not purchase anything. Since our main destination was a Salvage Goods in Easton, Pennsylvania, I was ok not finding anything. But I have to say that when full with dealers, Chris and I find many items at really good prices.

 

The trip to Easton from Lambertville, is a pleasant drive up along the Delaware River. Driving north on Route 29 takes one through the towns of Stockton and Frenchtown. At Frenchtown, we crossed the river into Pennsylvania. At the intersection of Routes 32 and 611 we spotted an arrow shaped sign that said antiques. Even though in the opposite direction we decided to take a chance. I’m glad we did. Less than five minutes south on Route 611 (Easton Road) we came across Gristie’s Bucks County Antiques and Oddities.

 

Gristie's Bucks County

Gristie’s Bucks County Antiques and Oddities, along Route 611 in Kintnersville, PA. Showing the Bunker in the lower left of the photo.

The old grist and saw mill.

Circa 1910, when it was still an operating mill.

Located in an 1888 grist and saw mill at 9730 Easton Road in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, Gristie’s has three floors to explore and one out building called the bunker. This antique mall has 23 dealers and they sell a wide variety of items, from books, to pottery, furniture, garden accessories, dishes and other collectibles. I came away from my first visit there with a bank from the Corning Glass Center at the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair. Made out of a glass block, it is not in perfect shape, but the price of only $10.00 was too good to pass by.

 

 

Leaving Gristie’s it was off to Salvage Goods in Easton. Except that no more than five minutes away from Gristie’s along Route 611 we passed Antique Haven and again we made another unscheduled stop.

 

Antique Haven. Antique store in Durham, PA.

Antique Haven in Durham, Pennsylvania.

Antique Haven is another multi dealer store with items from Jewelry to housewares to furniture. Well laid out that makes shopping easy, the store has a relaxing atmosphere. It is such a classy looking store Chris and I were surprised at the reasonable prices. I almost picked up a cobalt blue Fiestaware mixing bowl. Then I found a very Art Deco door knob set, that just had to come home with me. Now I need to find a door to attach it to.

 

Art Deco door knob set.

Brushed aluminum Art Deco door knob set, from Antique Haven in Durham, Pennsylvania.

 

By now it was past 1:00 and  Chris and I were hungry. Luckily almost directly across the street from Antique Haven we spotted the Someday Cafe & Roastery. We both had very large sandwiches and the staff was very friendly. I know we will go back to eat there again. Someday Cafe & Roastery is located in a wooded spot next to the old Delaware & Lehigh Canal and in the summer it must look beautiful.

 

 

After lunch it was back in the car for the half hour ride up to Easton, Pennsylvania and Salvage Goods. As its name implies they sell architectural antiques but there is so much more, items both large and small. It is a roomy store that makes browsing easy, whether looking at furniture, smalls on shelves or a box of old photos. They also sell a nice variety of lampshades at very reasonable prices. Since Chris is in need of a couple of shades I know we will be making another visit there before the autumn.

 

 

Immediately next door to Salvage Goods is the Easton Antiques Emporium. With 30 dealers, this mall will surprise you by its size, it is much larger than it appears from the street. The staff is attentive and friendly and they sell everything you would expect from an antique mall of this size. Although we did not find any Deco item to come home with that day, it is another store that we will go back to.

 

 

After leaving the Easton Antiques Emporium we got back into the car to return to New Jersey and two antique malls just on the other side of the Delaware River. As we drove through the center of Easton we passed the Easton Antique Co-op. So we had to stop. On our to the Co-op we came across an empty Art Deco building with the name Mayer on it. Apparently this used to be the Jacob Mayer mens clothing store, established in 1894. It appears the store expanded and received a modernized facelift around 1930. After the clothing store closed it became a bank. It would be nice to see this building repurposed again, without an alteration to its facade. I wonder if the clock seen in the postcard still exists under the ugly green entrance awning?

 

 

Postcard of the Mayer Clothing Store.

1930’s or 1940’s postcard of the Mayer Clothing Store. Image from Ebay.

 

The Easton Antique Co-op is also on the town center square and down the street from the old Mayer Store. The Co-op sells items both old and new and has a great selection of antique rugs. Some of the new items is furniture that is reminiscent of George Nakashima’s work. Although we didn’t pick up anything there it is a worthwhile store to check out.

 

 

A nice medium size antique mall Harvest Star Antiques, in Stewartsville, NJ is less than a half hour drive from Easton. I always try to get there a few times a year and more often than not come away with something. A circa 1940 two-tier Royal Chrome table designed by Wolfgang Hoffmann for $21.00 was my best purchase from the store.

 

Wolfgang Hoffmann Royal Chrome Table.

Two-tier 1940 Wolfgang Hoffmann table for Royal Chrome.

It seemed strange to us as we pulled up that there were no cars in the parking lot. Then we realized that Harvest Star Antiques had gone out of business. It is another antique store that Chris and I will miss.

 

The former Harvest Star Antiques Mall.

The late Harvest Star Antiques mall in Stewartsville, NJ. Photo from Facebook.

 

After the disappointment of the closed Harvest Star Antiques, we headed for the biggest antique mall in the area, The Black Rose Antique Mall in Phillipsburg, NJ. Up until last year the Black Rose was in Allentown, PA. We loved this mall and we always found something to bring home. After many delays, the relocated Black Rose opened in this new location just after New Year. Unfortunately when we made our first visit in January it was still half empty. And worse the layout of the store is very confusing. It is in an old J. C. Penney department store and they have utilized the existing floor layout. This layout is circular rows with the walls of the booths going up close to the ceiling, this makes it difficult to tell where you are and where you have been.

 

 

I am happy to say that on our last visit there were more dealers and hopefully it will be full to capacity with dealers soon. The layout is still confusing, but they do have maps by the entrance, which you will need. I only bought one item, a circa 1915 78 rpm Victor phonograph record of Nights of Gladness played by the Victor Military Band. I like the song and it was only $2.00. By the time we finished at The Black Rose it was getting close to dinner time, so we ended our full day of antiquing.

 

The next day, Sunday the 23rd, turned out to be sunny and warmer than the day before. Tempting fate, we tried our luck at The Golden Nugget again. On this morning there were many more dealers there. And we did see a few interesting items, but a patinated bronze vase by Carl Sorensen was the only purchase. This makes the fifth piece in the collection. Sorensen worked in Philadelphia in the 1910’s and 1920’s and his pieces have a hybrid Arts and Crafts / Art Deco look. Identifying a genuine Sorensen is pretty easy, look on the bottom for the engraving of his name in longhand and an “S” in a “C” with the word bronze above. Plus the verdigris finish usually with gold trim is another identifying characteristic of his work.

 

The hallmark on a Carl Sorensen piece.

Engraved Carl Sorensen mark.

 

Verdigris Sorensen vase from the Golden Nugget.

Carl Sorensen vase picked up at the Golden Nugget on April 23rd.

 

With our 2017 “freakin’, tiquen'” season kicking off, I can’t wait to see what else will come into our collection later this spring and summer.

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys).

If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy these earlier posts:

The Start of the 2016 “Freakin’, Tiquen'” Season and a trip to two flea markets.

Freakin’ Tiquen Memorial Day Weekend 2015 – The Haul!

Antique stores, Barnegat through Smithville, NJ

With the beautifully temperate February weather (69 degrees, to be exact) Anthony and I spent the day exploring antiques stores, Barnegat through Smithville, NJ.  We’re hitting the road again and getting back to our roots – Driving for deco!

Bay Avenue Antiques and Antiques, Barnegat, NJ

Bay Avenue Antiques, Barnegat, NJ. Antiques is just visible. It is the white house on the right edge of the picture.

Heading south toward Barnegat, NJ, our first stop was Bay Avenue Antiques. A mix of old and new items of good variety greeted us. Prices were fair and the owner was willing to bargain with her patrons. We did contemplate purchasing a vintage Fiesta comport but decided against it. If you’re in the area, it is well worth the stop.

Across the street within viewing and walking distance was another shop. I don’t remember the name although we both believe it called Antiques. Full of curiosities, it seemed to specialize in “smalls”. The nicest thing Anthony saw was a 1948 RCA Victor TV, possibly designed by John Vassos. While the store didn’t have what we generally collect, for those of you on the hunt, it might be a place to check out.

We lunched at Doyle’s Pour House right next door to Bay Ave Antiques. Part pool hall, part restaurant, we devoured the delicious signature Pour House hamburger and enjoyed it with the beer of our choice. We will definitely go back when in the area.

Our next stop was completely unexpected and the gem of the day. Unshredded Nostalgia was not on our plan but was a real find. Just south of Bay Avenue Antiques, it is jam packed full of military, household, photographic memorabilia both still and movie related and ephemera. Greeted by piles of film canisters, the proprietor and Anthony found they had a mutual acquaintance in the film world. Although packed with narrow aisles, the store is well organized. Collectors of postcards will love the back room; magazines in another room, household in yet another. Venture upstairs and a world of film, movie and music occupies the entire space. Vintage posters, sheet music, books about stage and screen as well as star related novelties abound.

Anthony was tempted to buy several 1930 Fortune magazines but at $40 each, they were a bit out of reach, He did find set of vintage movie stars pictures – part a collection he already has – at very reasonable prices. Originals from 1934, they were sold at newsstands as an inexpensive way for people to own an 8×10 of their favorite stars. Though not easy to find, they are not an expensive collectible and are always exciting to see. As usual, I bargained the price down.

Heading further south, we stopped at the Tuckerton Emporium. Mostly candles, jewelry and modern fireplaces, you won’t get bogged down at Cedar Bog Antiques. This small corner did have antiques of the household variety.

Days of Olde Antiques, Smithville , NJ

Days Of Olde Antiques, Smithville, NJ (Photo from their website)

Our final stop of the day was Days of Olde Antiques in Smithville, NJ. A large variety of goods of varying quality and prices await within. Though there were many items of interest we didn’t make any buys. A pair of very stylish deco horse statues called to me but I resisted. I received some bad news while shopping that a vintage panther statue I inherited from my father broke while being packed. Undaunted and working through my tears, I found a replacement – charged to the estate of course!

 

It was good to get back on the road again and better to locate a gem of a store previously unknown to us. If the weather holds, we’ll be doing some more Driving for deco!

 

Hope we inspired you to get out and explore.

Chris & Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys)