Comments on: What’s New and Hot? Vintage Markets in Chicago

By: sandy reist

sandy reist — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:34:39 +0000

what exactly is meant by “decorative household items?” or just “decorative items?” a green-handled egg beater from the art deco period? it is useful (many of my customers at antique – yes, they still use that word – shows buy such items to use.

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By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:15:40 +0000

Totally agree! The shows you mentioned are the high end shows, that 5 percent or so of this business. I think I do mean a more mid range show but in the scheme of things and to the public it’s considered high end where we in the business think the Winter Antiques Show or the Armory Show in NYC is top of the line. Brown furniture, definitely in trouble 🙂

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By: Geo

Geo — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 05:07:51 +0000

p.s. the Philadelphia Antique show also has beer and wine. You do have to spend a lot to get drunk on the prices, however.

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By: Geo

Geo — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 05:05:18 +0000

I’m also not sure it’s either-or. Some of the same dealers and some of the same stuff is at Vintage Markets and mid-range antique shows. Vintage markets may for some be a gateway drug to collecting, but then again they may just be a gateway drug to more expensive decorating. They’re all fun!

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By: Bettianne Sweeney

Bettianne Sweeney — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:21:06 +0000

I am all for urban markets especially when it brings the twenty and thirty somethings into the mix. Let’s face it, they are GREEN, they are fun and they inspire creativity. Eddie Ross and Martha Stewart have helped these markets to grow and thrive. Investing in vintage outweighs investing in some of the new (not real) furniture and accesories that are on the market and in catalogues today. I encourage my grandchildren to search for their furnishings and accessories at these markets. I hope someday when the economy improves and they have bigger incomes, they will slip into the antiques market.

As for high end shows being in trouble; I am not sure I agree with that. It is the middle market, brown furniture, refinished and with no provinence that is not selling now. The small charity shows are not necessarily high end. They are middle market and the promoters are not doing a very good job vetting. The real high end shows in my mind are the New York Winter Antiques Show, The Philadelphia Antiques Show, The Manchester NH Dealers Show and possibly the Washington DC Charity Show. Of course there are others, but there are lots of nice sales at these shows every year.

Yes, booth rents have gotten too high. Sometimes it is necessary when the venue is a fancy hotel, sometimes it is just greed.
Outdoor shows and shows in public buildings, fairgrounds and school or church buildings need not be that expensive. There are still reasonable booth rents out there such as Liberty, NC and York, PA. The Liberty show might be more in the category of a vintage market and thereby not attracting some of the so-called “better dealers”. York, PA, promoted by Butch Arion, on the other hand has become a destination show with easy access from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington and not far from the Virginia hunt country.

Bettianne Sweeney

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