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A Brief History of the Buffet (Sideboard)
The buffet, sometimes called a sideboard, is traditionally used in many family dining rooms
to serve foods and as storage. Normally, it is made of wood and features a top drawer or two and has one or more cupboard doors
at the bottom. Many of these pieces of fine furniture, which stand to waist level, are decorated with fancy inlay and have either
a veneered or marble top.
Dumb Mikey Goes to the Library
Mikey stormed up to the front desk of the library and said, "I have a complaint!"
Upcoming Antique Shows & Flea Markets
NOVA-Antiques.com provides the most comprehensive antiques show and flea market calendar
for the Mid Atlantic region.
Click here to view the most current antiques and collectibles shows calendar . . . > > >
Click here to view our flea
market directory and review pages . . . > > >
Auction House Premiums on the Rise
A few months ago, we ran a small article on buyer’s premiums that auction houses are charging as
more and more have raised the rate to 15%-20%. The Kovel’s, recently wrote a similar article in their email newsletter that
stated that this year, Sotheby’s and Bonham’s and Christie’s, three of the largest auction houses in the world are raising their buyer’s
premium to 20%. The auction houses are claiming that they must raise buyer’s premiums in order to stay competitive.
Auction houses
say that they are now charging the seller less to sell their products at auction and making up the difference in their profits through
the buyer’s premium. They say that this has to be done because more people are buying than selling antiques and collectibles. Closer to home, in Northern Virginia, we have seen at least two auction houses raise their buyer’s premium in the last year. So, when you choose to go to an auction, either choose one with no buyer’s premium or be careful how much you bid.
Buffets have been around for a long time, but became more prominent in the mid-1800’s as more and more families built houses that
included a separate dining area. Today, a buffet is a very sought after piece of furniture by not only designers but people
in general because of the stylish designs and the need for more storage space in many homes. The example to the right is George
III style sideboard.
"Yes, Sir?" asks the librarian behind the counter. "I borrowed a book last week and it was horrible!" says Mikey. “What
was wrong with it?" Exasperated, Mikey explains, "It had way too many characters and there was no plot whatsoever!" The
librarian nodded and said, "Ahh, so you must be the person who took our phone book."
Interesting Thrift Store Purchases
Michael Sparks recently went to a Nashville, Tennessee thrift shop and purchased what he thought
was a really nice copy of the Declaration of Independence. He paid a mere $2.48. As it turns out, what Mr. Sparks actually
purchased was a rare, 184 year old “official” copy of the Declaration of Independence worth 100,000 times what he paid for it. This document was one of 200 that commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1820. Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions
in Burlington, North Carolina will sell the Mr. Sparks find on March 22nd.
In McDonough, Georgia, Rhiannon Barnes, a fifteen month old fell in love with a book and insisted on having it. Her babysitter,
Sheila Laughridge, purchased the book for 25 cents and gave it to the toddler. While playing with the book outside the store,
Rhiannon found a brown paper bag stuck between the pages. Inside the bag was a tattered $1300. The pieces of money were
taken to the local bank and were exchanged for $300 and the rest was sent to the U.S. Treasury Department.
And . . . speaking of thrift shops . . . have you ever been into one and checked out the unusual art selection at any given time. Well, there are collectors for this type of “bad” art. www.thriftstoreart.com
Lucketts Antique Spring Antiques Show 2007
Lucketts has announced that the Lucketts Antique Spring Antiques Show will be held this year on May 19-20, 2007. If you have not been to this antique market over the years, put it on your calendar today. Many people from all over the U.S. come to this market because it attracts over "100 fun, awesome, reasonably priced antique dealers as well as "cool music and delicious food." The organizers of this fair do it up right and it is a very enjoyable event for all who attend.
Vintage Hurricane Lamps; Stylish & Practical
With all the flood, wind and weather disasters of recent years, one cannot overlook
the importance of having a few hurricane lamps around the house. When power fails, traditional candles can be dangerous. We have read or heard of many disasters when a candle has tipped over catching curtains and furniture on fire. The hurricane
lamp, with its glass chimney is a little bit safer. Many people have taken old hurricane lamps and converted them to electricity,
but that defeats the purpose during power outages.
Hurricane lamps are not only desirable for their practical use, but the right lamp
can add certain stylishness to a room. You can buy new hurricane lamps in any large department or specialty store, however
the most beautiful lamps are the vintage lamps found in antique shops or flea markets. One of the most popular and stylish type
of lamp is called the Gone With The Wind (GWTW) Lamp, named after the Academy Award winning movie of the same name. These beautiful
lamps feature hand painted designs on both the lamp and a chimney enclosure. Prices for beautiful hurricane lamps can range
from a mere $35 to hundreds of dollars.
