Page 38 - May 2020

Antiquing in the Time of Covid-19 by Judy Gonyeau

ovid-19 has certainly changed the landscape for how the business of event, you will be connected with past and current Barn Star
buying and selling antiques and collectibles gets done today. After attendees along with the plethora of online buyers across the
Cseeing how things are changing, we reached out to several different country. In a way, closing this locational gap and connecting with
business owners, read emails and press releases, and chatted on the phone buyers near and far, virtually, will strengthen the industry as a whole.
with dealers, shop owners, and others to discover how antiquing is not only If you have not yet been contacted regarding this event or have any
changing, but in some cases thriving in this time of Covid-19. Here are some questions, please reach out to Frank Gaglio (barnstar1@aol.com) or Alex
of the amazing and creative efforts being put forth to keep this industry Gardner. Please contact Alex with any questions regarding uploading
open as we look forward to being able to meet, look, discover, buy and sell items (alex@rubylane.com).
in person.
SHOPS:
AUCTIONS: Antiques at Edgerly Farm in Hampton Falls, NH has taking to its

Heritage Auctions is partnering with some of Dallas-Fort Worth's Facebook page to live-stream talks about antiques and collectibles to old
greatest and most beloved athletes for the “In This Together Charity and new fans of the shop. Topics are on a variety of collectibles and
Auction Benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.” Heritage Auctions, is include Fenton glass, the Vintage Kitchen (in two parts), Shore Birds and
proud to partner with the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Decoys, and will continue well into the future. Past episodes are viewable
Rangers, Dallas Stars, and FC Dallas for this once-in-a-lifetime auction. right on the page. Owners Keith and David are pleased with the result
Each team has generously donated items for this auction to help fill the (including some sales!) and went forward with this effort to keep current.
North Texas Food Bank's coffers during this difficult and desperate “The change in the antique business now is different and we need to
moment. Bidding has opened and runs through May 13, culminating engage the next level of customers either virtually or doing something live
with a live auction that begins at 8 p.m. Dallas time. – here we go!” Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.

Thomaston Place is continuing its Free Appraisal Days by conducting The Middleboro Antiques Co-op in Middleboro, MA adapted quickly
them online. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they have paused their in- by selling items in their shop directly on Facebook right from the start of
person Free Appraisal Days. You can still have your items appraised virtu- the shutdown in March. “We can do online sales and we are willing to
ally by filling out one of the easy-to-use forms on their Appraisal Page. assist with local curbside delivery of items in an effort to support our many
“We stand committed to our customers and appreciate your support and vendors.We are offering over the phone CC sales and also accepting
understanding.” Venmo and PayPal currently. We offer no contact delivery locally and
front door drive by pickups by appointment. We can also hold anything
Keen to get your mitts on a previously unreleased demo by that’s paid for at the shop until this shutdown is over.”
none other than the two living members of The Beatles? Well,
you’re in luck because Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are auc- At the Rhode Island Antiques Mall in Pawtucket, RI is operating in
tioning off a copy of “Angel In Disguise.” Written by the two sur- compliance with state requirements in response to the Covid-19 epidemic,
viving members of The Beatles for Ringo Starr’s 1992 solo album Time and the store will be closed until further notice. In the meantime, shop-
Takes Time, the demo “Angel In Disguise” didn’t make the final cut for ping continues directly from its website. As a thank you for the buyer’s
the LP, but is now being sold at auction. Expected to fetch up to $38,000 patience and support during this trying time, they added in a code
AUD in auction, the demo is being sold by former Radio Luxembourg DJ “COVID19” to be entered at check-out for 20% off the entire online pur-
Tony Prince, with a quarter of the profits going to NHS Charities chase site-wide throughout the duration of the store closure.
Together to benefit their action against Covid-19. Check out Omega
Auctions on May 19. The Rhinebeck Antique Emporium in Rhinebeck, NY is preparing to
re-open its shop and according to Jay Grutman, their shop fits into the
SHOWS: regulations now in place in a good way. “We need to have a different
The cancellation of the May edition of the Brimfield Antique Shows entrance and exit, are putting up plexiglass at our checkout, marking the
affected as many as 3,500 antiques dealers, the show fields that host them, and floor for flow of traffic, and are excited to get everything in place for a
regional businesses that benefit from the influx of thousands of attendees. at reopening.” Even with the exact date being unknown, the preparation is
what is considered the biggest and best of the three annual shows. As the new generating excitement. “We want it to be safe for everyone. That is the
field owner of Hertan’s show field facing an empty lot this May, Klia Ververidis main goal.” Meantime they are selling items online and meeting by
decided to take the May show live beginning May 12. Here is their statement: appointment.
The only Official Brimfield Live Online brought to you by the Field
Owners and Show Promoters that make up the real Brimfield Antique Flying Pig Antiques in Westmoreland, NH opened in March of 2019
Flea Market: Hertan’s Antique Shows, Heart-O-the-Mart, Brimfield and continues to grow with a great selection of antiques from multiple
Auction Acres J&J, Shelton’s, Sturtevant’s and Central Park will go on dealers. After extensive renovations, the partners settled in the shop which
virtually. This is the only virtual event that is streaming live from the fields. features over 40 reputable antiques dealers from New England, Michigan
Join us everyday throughout the day as we showcase items and stories and New York in booths and cases throughout the 4900 sq. ft. facility.
from Brimfield dealers from all fields and in keeping with tradition, As part of their overall multi-channel business, Kris and Paul Casucci
Crown Company Inc. will conduct their auction Thursday, May 14 at with Ian McKelvey run this curated shop and added an Etsy shop under
5:30 p.m. on Facebook Live from Hertan’s Field. There will also be more the same name to sell their wares ... and business is good. “We have gone
live auctions at other times and there will be a tour of the fields, interviews completely online and now I spend a good part of my time photographing
of field owners and some fun Brimfield story-telling. This event is being items and categorizing them for our Etsy page with about 400 things for
co-hosted by The Brimfield Flea Finder, John De Giacomo of Brimfield sale at any given time. We sold our first item within the first five minutes
Antique Flea Market group, Das Bulli Haus, Crown Company Inc., the of being online, and our manager Roxanne completes the listings and
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, and Ruby Lane! runs the online auction,” said Kris Casucci. “This is something we will
continue to do even after everything opens back up. Some of our dealers
Barn Star Productions has moved its Rhinebeck May 30 & 31 show do even better online because the photographs give the buyer a
online. Their announcement: Barn Star is excited to announce the launch good look at the object and the format offers them the time to
of its new online show hosted on the Ruby Lane platform. This exciting respond thoughtfully. We want people to come to the shop
new initiative will capitalize on both Barn Star’s and Ruby Lane’s strength when we are open and our online presence will help to bring
and reach throughout the antiques industry. As participants of this online people to the shop.”

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles