Barnstorming

Barns are an enduring symbol of America’s earliest settlement history. Built to protect animals and crops, in the first half of the 20th century, barns went from a structure of necessity to the family storage facility for the used, broken or obsolete. Today, these barns can be found in various stages of use and neglect and are more valuable for the nostalgia they evoke and their Americana imagery than the storage items they now house.

This issue of the Journal of Antiques discusses “Barnstorming”, the fun, new way to unearth collectible finds and bring fresh pickings to an antiques-turned-Americana marketplace made popular by shows like American Pickers . Interest in barns grew as we entered the 21st century with a renewed appreciation for things associated with the culture and history of America. This issue explores some of these ‘barn finds’, and the stories behind them. We also take a look at the history of barn auctions, get a tutorial on barn quilts, and learn more about Colonial Era barns and the Round Barn at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA.

Want more? Read through previous issues of the Journal of Antiques Magazine here!

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