Why-oh-why Ohio? Because it is still the best antique mall we’ve found! Ohio is the place to go for a great variety of items of every possible era and at reasonable prices. While we journey to Ohio at least once a year, this year’s trip included a very special guest antique collector and  friend, Nancy.

Day 1

Our Freakin’ ‘Tiquen 2018 adventures started after an early and hearty breakfast on August 26^th, the three of us headed out to our first stop in Ohio, Pottery City Antique Mall in East Liverpool, Ohio. For Chris, it seemed like the blink of an eye as he slept most of the way!

We met up with friends who live about an hour away from the mall and we spent a pleasant afternoon shopping and catching up. The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys started small, walking away with a Russel Wright vegetable bowl and a Revere handled basket. A stop for lunch at a local restaurant, Hot Dog Shoppe, and the three of us were on way to Cincinnati.

 

 

Day 2

After a restful night, we headed out to the Florence Antique Mall, Florence Kentucky.  Nancy found this one and it was a new experience for all of us. Large and well laid out, we purchased a ceramic deer statue, possibly by one of the California pottery companies. Nancy found the first of her treasures, a vintage beaded hand bag.  Also  purchased: an autobiography by Arlene Francis and When Democracy Builds by Frank Lloyd Wright (1945).  Generally,  the prices we found more than fair and the available stock diverse.

 

 

 

 

Our next stop for the day brought us to the Ohio Valley Antique Mall just north of Cincinnati.  Our successful day concluded with a pair of Kensington Stratford candle holders (1939) designed by S.C. Brickley, a Here’s How, cocktail recipe book (1941), and a painted wooden jewelry box attributed to Paul Frankl.  Nancy purchased a beautiful quilt, a vintage handbag and several books.

 

 

 

 

After a full day of shopping, we called it quits for the night. Near our hotel we dined at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Fairfield Ohio. We can recommend this eatery after having a delicious dinner and excellent service.

 

Day 3

Day three we headed to the West Chester Antique Center (10 minutes from where we were staying) in West Chester, Ohio.  We quickly picked up a pair of Ronson Athena Goddess bookends and a 1932 re-strike etching of E.T. Hurley’s 1921, Fountain Square.  Although we found some great buys, the stock leans more to up-cycled and garage sale items. 

 

A quick 45 minute drive and we arrived at the Antiques Village, Dayton.  Chris purchased a Roseville Moderne triple candle holder and a Wells Art Glaze casserole base while Nancy picked up a vintage cloche hat. As we finished relatively early, we headed back to the hotel for a bit of rest before dinner.  We dined at  The Chop House conveniently located next to hotel and within walking distance.  Although a bit pricey, the food was excellent but the service was a bit uneven.

 

 

Day 4

Wednesday brought us a change of pace.  Taking the morning off from antiquing, we went to the America’s Packard Museum in Downtown Dayton. Unfortunately, we arrived early and it wasn’t open yet. Nancy and Chris convinced Anthony to back-track almost to where we started our day to go to Fields of Treasures in West Carrollton, Ohio, a small privately owned shop with lots to look at.  Nancy picked up a bar caddy set for $15 and Chris found 4 Homer Laughlin egg cups in the hard-to-find Clematis Pattern.  Originally $15.00 for the set, the owner had them on sale for $10.00.

 

 

Heading back to our previous destination, our timing couldn’t have been more perfect and the America’s Packard Museum opened just as we arrived. There is a nominal fee to enter and the museum is self guided.  Examples represent the various cars from 1914 to the line’s demise in 1956. Placards clearly describe each car and the innovation each brought to the line.  We spent a good part of the afternoon there before heading off to Springfield, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived a bit late to the Springfield Antique Center. Comprising of two complex’, we  got through the first building and picked up  5 Universal plates in the Seminole pattern. There was just enough time for a quick walk through of some of the second building with the intent to come back the next day.

 

After finding a hotel and settling in, we entertained ourselves by going to Half Price Books, Records and Magazines.  If you have never been, and there is one in the vicinity, you are sure to walk away with one or two (or fifty) items.

 

 

Day 5

Thursday, August 30th, 9:30 a.m. and we arrived at Mecca! The Heart of Ohio Antique Center is 122,000 sq. ft, 1425 booths and showcases with an additional 30,000 sq. ft. outdoor garden area. This place never disappoints and we took home our most expensive haul from here. The prices throughout are generally fair but with an occasional bargain thrown in for good measure.

 

 

 

Anthony picked up a 1934 Century of Progress cocktail shaker (the most expensive purchase on the trip) and a 1930’s moderné bridge lamp by the Rembrandt Lamp Company that the vendor described as mid-century. Chris picked up a pair of glass deco candle holders and a Chase chrome bubble candle holder.  Nancy purchased a couple of vintage handbags and a few other items.  We finished up sometime around 3:30 ( we lunched at their café midway through the day) and headed back to building 2 at the Springfield Antique Center.

 

 

 

Two great vintage beaded handbag Nancy picked up at the Heart of Ohio.

Anthony finally found a Manning-Bowman “Carafon” insulated carafe in walnut finish.  Nancy picked up few items but Chris left empty-handed.

 

 

Day 6

The next morning, we headed toward the AAA 1-76 Antique Mall in Ravenna.  Another large mall, we saw and discussed many great items. We passed on a deco copper sconce but Anthony did pick up a Chase chrome butter dish with matching butter-fork. (Anthony searched many years for the elusive butter-fork.)

He ultimately passed on 1939-40 World’s Fair enamel kitchen table but Chris purchased a small white deco vase. Nancy walked away with no purchase but with some great memories. With our day wrapped up, we headed to our final destination in Cleveland.

 

Day 7

 

We dedicated our final day to visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Large, with a mix of traditional and modern it is well laid out and free to the public. Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, and more are well represented as well as American artists such as Reginald Marsh, Grant Wood, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, to name but a few, are also well represented, The museum  it is a must see when in town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a wonderful day at the museum, we headed home to admire our treasures and sleep in our own beds. Another successful driving for deco vacation and shared with our good friend Nancy.

 

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

If you enjoyed this post you might also like these earlier posts –

Driving for Deco, “Freakin’ ‘Tiquen” Summer 2017

Driving for Deco, Freakin’ ‘tiquen 2017 Part 2, Heading Home