Armed with little more than backpacks, canteens of water and energy bars, a group of specially trained people woke early Saturday May 26th to finally accomplish what they'd been working towards for months.
After months of research, special training and practice, those who can only be described as the elite in their field, strolled, hopped, skipped and jumped their way through the Christie Antique Show & Sale.
It was a licensed event so there was a little crooked meandering as well.
I am proud to say that I, my sister and my mother were all part of Team Antique at Christie's this year. We were joined by what is scientifically referred to as a "bunch" of other people. Scientifically speaking.
We were going to invite the fella but frankly, none of us thought he could handle it. Crossfit? Heh. Antiquers EAT Crossfitters for breakfast. On a Blue Willow plate.
If you want to get what you looking for you can't be passive or indecisive. I lost a beautiful pair of black iron candelabras that way. If you want to be a successful antique show shopper you need to possess a combination of stealth, weaponry, charm and decisiveness. Being a little shifty doesn't hurt either.
It was a quick run through this year that left one of our team members down for the count by hour 4. She received hydration and is expected to be out for the rest of the season.
The rest of us worked through the pain and pressed on.
Here's a little of what we saw.
A lot of people complain that Christie's is overpriced. And indeed ... some items are. You get that many people in a confined space, all frothing at the mouth for something unique, old and decrepit, there's bound to be a little price gouging.
But there's also a lot of opportunity to get some great buys. The smart dealers who go are set up at Christie's Antique Show are also there buying.
The 6th or 7th picture down from the top shows my sister holding a bust. A bust. Not her bust. It was one of a pair. As are most busts. I thought they were hideous. She loved them. And I have to admit they're very her and would look great in her house. After a bit of debating (she knew they were a bit odd looking but loved them anyway) she slapped down the $50 for the pair of them (a girl head and a boy) and continued to wander around. We bumped into a very knowledgeable antiques dealer we both know and showed him what she got.
Turns out ... she did quite well for herself. They're Victorian era (probably around 1890) bisque busts worth ... about $450. So there are deals to be had at Christie's. Another lesson here is to just buy what you love. Don't worry about it's value or sometimes even it's cost. If you love it ... buy it.
For those of you thinking of attending the fall show, I have 3 words of advice. Drink plenty of water, get lots of rest and eat well. If it doesn't prepare you for Christie's you'll at least be fully prepared should you ever become a celebrity and need an acceptable lie for how you stay looking so good.
The fall Christie Antique Show & Sale is being held on Saturday, September 8th.
I've already begun my new training regiment. This time I'm gonna do it Hunger Games style.
What state/town is this held? I would LOVE to go there, but until then will drool all over my computer screen :)
Well Jody ... it's actually in an entirely different country. Canada. :) I'm from Canada and the biggest antique show happens to take place twice a year just a few miles from my house. ~ karen!
Ahh Karen, well according to Google its a 7hr drive from my house in Northern Indiana, and only a 4 hr drive from my daughters home in Michigan...I could drive to her house, spend the night and be fresh and ready to leave early in the morning! IS there a time when the line in is less imposing? My passport is ready to go :)
Jody - LOL. Well since the event is only one day, I'd recommend just getting there whenever you can. The line is long, but it moves fairly quickly. Since it's so huge and only one day you really need every minute it's open to get through it all. ~ karen!
OMG. THOSE PINK & ORANGE STRIPED CHAIRS.
OMG.
They're some of the coolest chairs I've ever seen...can u send me a separate pic of them just so i can lust/drool over them, and maybe finding them as a worthy goal??? :)
(p.s. I'm with you on the busts...fugly!) LOL
My mother has the Singer Sew Handy! It was her first sewing machine, and she taught me to sew on it back in 1983. It rests on the top shelf of her bedroom closet, in the original box, pristine condition.
Yeah! I wanna know what you got!
So many things in these pics that I want.
We went to Farm Chicks this weekend and it is so fabulous that it make my head explode! Sensory overload for sure!
Oooh, the glass door knob canes, the silver, the greyhounds...guess I'll go pull out my Havaheart (wire) trap and start to admire it. Somehow. ;)
Love ya!
Oh there's just so much I would want to buy. I'm broke just looking at the pictures. The crazy chairs, the barstools, the first wire basket with the apples, the fiesta ware, the jade, the pillows and the red cart, those jars you didn't buy, the dress form, those metal looking pan thingies, the wooden boxes, the metal watering can, the white porcelain watering jug, the rolling pins. I could probably go on, but you see, I've already spent all my pretend money.
I agree with Michelle. I want those greyhound statues to go with the 2 live ones I have. They wouldn't look ostentatious outside my modest bungalow, would they?
My plantar fasciitis prevented me from attending. Otherwise, I would have had a hard time leaving without those greyhound statues.
Oh, those chairs... totally not my style, but I'm now totally willing to change styles. They are gorgeous!!
I an a book collector.anyone know about a good book on organizing home libraries? Karen, do you have tips for this? Ironically, I know of no book about it.
Relevant to nothing in today's blog post, I made your guacamole for the mother of a newborn, her first and possibly only child ( he isn't sleeping) and she nearly wept in gratitude.
I have jade plates, etc. Has jade gone up in value? I took a basket weaving class once and have the scars to prove it. The teacher said all baskets are handmade. Is that untrue? Will have to research that.
What I forgot to take into account as a book collector, not that it stops me: the small print in some books becomes an issue with SOME people with age ( raising hand). Reading glasses don't help so I forge on.
I could write a book about caring for books properly.
Save the dust jackets!
Always, at least to preserve value. check them regularly for bugs, keep them out of the sun and bright light ( still surprised by how many book collectors forget this) , dust them, etc.
Unless you are famous- or strongly believe you will be famous- don't stick bookplates in them, no matter how pretty.
And then someday you may be able to look at the Bauman Rare Book site and say, "Hey, I have that book!" and gasp :
http://www.baumanrarebooks.com/
Another great site for vetting books : addall.com
but be sure to hit the box for Used books.
So what did you get? I'll show you mine (my one, little, mini purchase): http://homeon129acres.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/christie-antique-show/
I am not allowed to attend anything like that Antique Show -- ha ha ha We have so much "stuff" that I am banned from bringing anything else in the house. And based on my reaction to your pictures - my hubby would throw me out for spending every cent I could get my hands on!!!! I almost fell out when I saw those rolling pins, and almost got my magnifying glass out when I saw the silver - and without any thought to size or what I'd do with them, I would have bought ALL of those glass jars and of course enough baskets to haul them all home with!!! Honestly - I just need a bigger house - or a new one to start a new collection in - that's it, a place to start over!!!! Ha ha ha see - it's an addiction!!! Thanks for sharing your adventure = now I want to go to our nearest facsimile to that --- First Monday in Canton, TX. Acres of everything you could think of.... wonder if I could sneak out at the end of the money I mean month!!!! Well maybe I should have a chaperone - any volunteers??? ;-)
Love the jadite table. Also wish I had one of those door knob walking sticks. I'm having knee surgery next week. I would really be stylin' if I had one of those.
I'd go broke, spending the mortgage money for the next 3 months. Would it be possible to camp out along side the road the night before? That line of traffic was amazing.
Why don't I live in Canada? My mother is Canadian, yet I am stuck in Ohio and she's moved onto North Carolina..... Not fair on a number of levels.
I want to go to the show. I think a road trip is in order this fall. A road trip with a UHAL trailer.... Yes.
Okay, that ended up sounding way creepier than I intended.
The picture I came up with is of the two of us (fully clothed) each seated on a side of your sister's (also fully clothed) chest with our knees up at our chests holding onto reins like we were first timers riding a camel.
I only hope this image is not worse than the one I conjured up with my previous comment.
Well, Karen...with all of us dying to see what you fought over and purchased, I'd say the pressure is on....but, go ahead, keep us in suspense until text week...Wow! This is like a book. I love a good suspenseful book....Blog suspense? I think I like that too. Sure wish Ontario wasn't so far away. Thanks for sharing!
I'm with you on your sister's bust.
Wait. That could be taken wrong in more ways that I can count without having had my normal full pot of coffee yet today. ; )
But seriously, can you picture the two of us there on your sister? Of course you can't! You have no idea what I look like. : D
The chairs! The rolling pins!
The bust(s)? No.ma'am.I.just.can't. *smh*
I wish we had something like this here. I had really wanted to see your 'haul' though. :)
I know you're a forward thinking woman of action so can I assume that you're going to show us tomorrow what you brought home from Christie's? The answer I'm looking for is a resounding YES!
LOL. Um. O.K. The truth is I totally forgot in this post to do that! So next week ... I'll show you what I got. ~ karen