Upcoming Stair Galleries Auctions

Township #1 Day

---

Thursday, May 23, 2013

---

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Heirlooms Jewelry Latest Arrivals

“Every Woman’s Favorite Store in the Berkshires”, Heirlooms Jewelry in downtown Stockbridge is pleased to announce our collection of Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Retro pieces recently acquired on our winter travels. Please stop by the store just down the lane by Yankee Candle on historic Stockbridge Main Street.

Fascinating filigree bracelets in white gold with diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds…amazing diamond cluster and cocktail rings in gold and platinum…exotic and colorful stones set in intricate old world settings…beautiful antique carved cameos from the coast of Italy…these are just a few of the wonderful “heirlooms” which you will find in our fascinating shop located in The Mews. Affordable elegance, fair pricing, and a great atmosphere all await you. We are open every day from 11 to 6. Phone 413-298-4436 or email robin@heirloomsjewelry.com for more information.

---

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Upcoming Stair Galleries Auctions

April 6-7th at 11am
English, Continental & American
Furniture, Fine Art and Decorations

Including property from the estate of Emily and Milton Rose, Alford, MA; property from a Saratoga Springs Collector; property from the Estate of Katherine W. Mellon, Stonington, CT; property from the Collection of Patti Cadby Birch; property of a Southern Collector; property from the Estate of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger; and property from, and formerly from, the Collection of the Museum of the City of NY..

We hope you will join us for another great auction!

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Friday, March 1, 2013

Upcoming Stair Galleries Auctions

March 9th at 11am
English, Continental & American and Asian & Ethnographic
Furniture, Decorations and Fine Art
This sale will include property from the Estate of Carol Robinson, Sharon, CT; the Estate of Emily and Milton Rose, Alford, MA; the Estate of Stella Fischbach, Clarence Day, and Ralph Vallone; property from the collection of Samuel N. Friedman, Keith & Chippy Irvine, Philip and Ann Holzer; and locally from a Saratoga Springs Collector and from the Ross Estate, Old Chatham, NY.

We hope you will join us for another great auction!

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Friady, February 15, 2013

Cupboards & Roses Swedish Antiques

been mentioned a number of times as the source for the Swedish pieces shown in the article “Rich & Earthy” in the March 2013 issue of House Beautiful Magazine.

One of C&R’s long-term clients with a particularly discerning eye has spent years collecting Swedish pieces and has created a warm and welcoming home that captures all the charm of a period Swedish interior.

Please enjoy the photos and interview by clicking here.

---

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Book Signing, January 26th, 5:30-7:30pm

Stair Galleries is pleased to announce an evening with notable interior designer Carey Maloney for a signing of his new book, Stuff: The M(Group) Interactive Guide to Collecting, Decorating with, and Learning about, Wonderful and Unusual Things

Explore the brilliant, bold designs, and intriguing collections in the beautiful interiors of author Carey Maloney, his partner, architect Hermes Mallea, and their firm, M(Group), in this one-of-a-kind interactive omnibus. The digital component of this interactive book lets you see and hear more information linking the reader to videos, virtual tours, museum and library collections and the world’s most prominent dealers.

RSVP to StairRSVP@gmail.com Books are supplied to the event, and can be pre-ordered, by Rural Residence, 316 Warren St., Hudson, 518-822-1061.

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Friday, January 11, 2013

Upcoming Stair Galleries Auctions

January 18th at 11am
Asian & Ethnographic Works of Art
Lots 1-433

January 19th at 11am
20th Century Works of Art
Lots 434-746

This two-day auction will include property from the Estate of Carol Robinson, Sharon, CT; the Estate of Emily and Milton Rose, Alford, MA; the Estate of Clarence Day; the Estate of Ralph Vallone; property from the collection of Samuel N. Friedman; from Salander-O'Reilly Galleries' Collection, consigned by the Trustee; from a Connecticut Home Designed by Mark Hampton; from the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Sold to Benefit the Acquisitions Fund; and property formerly from the Collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

We hope you will join us!

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Thursday, December 6, 2012

---

Monday, November 26, 2012

Painted Porch brought in a new shipment last month and this is the first moment we have had to post that message. We are excited by our purchases. Each trip is very different. You never know what you will find. This trip brought us many glamorous and useful benches. This long English pine bench is just one of 4 benches we were able to find. You can never come into Painted Porch without seeing store and shop counters, to be used as a center island or bar. This trip is no different. The assortment of furniture we were fortunate enough to find is a blessing for us and hopefully for our customers. Sideboards, buffets, small end tables etc are all on display at this time. We have also bought a golf locker, secured from a country club in the Yorkshire area of the UK. Great for a mudroom or a children’s room.

It’s not all about furniture at Painted Porch, particularly for the holidays. We bought a very large assortment of unique accessories, all between $95 and under $400. Featured is just one image of some of your choices. Please do come in and visit us and be grasped by the spirit of the holidays! If you can’t, feel free to go to www.paintedporch.com.

---

Monday, September 24, 2012

Stair Galleries
Two exciting auctions fast approaching!
Bidding via phone, absentee, and internet is available for each sale.

October 5th at 6pm
PROPERTY OF A LADY
Lots 1 through 299 will showcase the refined taste of a New York collector.

October 6th at 11am
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF KEITH & CHIPPY IRVINE
Lots 300 through 632 will reveal the wonderful eye of the renowned decorator, Keith Irvine.

*Please also join us on September 29th at 3pm for a Gallery Walk with Chippy Irvine, as she recalls with great fondness her late husband’s love of decorating and the eclectic nature of the collection they amassed.

STAIR GALLERIES 549 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Phone: 518-751-1000 Fax: 518-751-1010 www.stairgalleries.com Twitter: stairgalleries Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Friday, July 26, 2012

Stair Galleries Auction
July 27-28th, 2pm each day

This weekend, in conjunction with the NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance) Art Fair in Hudson, Stair Galleries is pleased to offer almost 1000 lots of modern and contemporary art, furniture and decorations!

Property from the Collection of Jan Cowles, the Collection of Michael Douglas, the Estate of Ruth Ford, the Collection of Gerald Kornblau, the Collection of Samuel Friedman, the Estate of Carol Robinson, Sharon, CT; the Estate of Emily and Milton Rose, Alford, MA; property sold to benefit Touro College, NYC; property from the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, sold to benefit the acquisitions fund; property from Salander-O'Reilly Galleries Collection, consigned by the Trustee; and numerous private collections from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

FRIDAY, July 27th at 2pm	LOTS
Photography	1-121
Prints & Multiples	122-319
Works on Paper	320-450
SATURDAY, July 28th at 2pm	LOTS
Decorations	451-576
Furniture & Lighting	577-734
Textiles	735-739
Sculpture	740-782
Paintings	783-990

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Monday, June 18, 2012
WSBS Antiques Radio Show

In conjunction with WSBS Radio, the BCAADA is participating in a radio interview show “starring” our own Association members. Every Saturday morning at 9:30 over 3 months, a BCAADA member is interviewed on WSBS 860 AM and 94.1 FM.

If you’d like to get to know your local dealers better and obtain an insider’s view of antiques in the Berkshires, tune in Saturday mornings to WSBS. Discover the tremendous range of Antiques unique to this area. Tune in to the show and take advantage of our members’ expertise. It’s a great learning process, while you get a true feel for the depth and breadth of the specialized antique offerings right here in the Berkshires. Enjoy the show!

Edith Gilson, President, BCAADA

WSBS Antiques Show Schedule:

June 9th	Charles Flint	Charles Flint Fine Art & Antiques
June 16th	Alex Sarbib	Le Trianon Fine Art & Antiques
June 23rd	Bill Talbot	Asia-Barong
June 30th	Ellen Ring	Ellen L. Ring, Ltd.
July 7th	Martin Jacobs	The Splendid Peasant, Ltd.
July 14th	Larry Solomon	Painted Porch Antiques
July 21st	Paul Kleinwald	Paul Kleinwald Art & Antiques
July 28th	OPEN
August 4th	Elise Abrams	Elise Abrams Antiques
August 11th	Cupboards & Roses Swedish Antiques	Edith Gilson
August 18th	OPEN
August 25th	OPEN

---

Berkshire County Antiques Capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

“We are proud the Massachusetts General Court has designated Berkshire County as the Antiques Capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This tribute is a recognition of the BCAADA’s members and their importance to the local economy. Along with our cultural, scenic and culinary attractions, our important tradition of superior quality antiquing makes the Berkshires a recognized, world-class destination.”
Edith Gilson, President, BCAADA


Friday, June 15, 2012

Stair Galleries Auction
June 23, 2012 at 11am

Stair Galleries is pleased to hold another wonderful English, Continental and American auction on June 23rd, beginning at 11am. The sale includes a collection of jewelry featuring a Tiffany & Co. platinum, gold and diamond brooch, an early Tiffany silver pitcher, a nice Cartier silver and enamel travel clock, Tiffany desk set articles, a nice collection of English furniture including a pair of mahogany linen presses, a set of 17th century Besler botanical engravings, a large William IV mahogany and giltwood wine cooler, a wonderful group of Orientalist paintings, and an unusual group of plaster and marble Classical busts. Full catalogue available on our website, www.StairGalleries.com.

Preview: Saturday (6/16) 11-5pm, Sunday (6/17) 12-5pm, Monday-Thursday (6/18-21) 10-5pm, Friday (6/22) 10-8pm, and Saturday (6/23) 9-11am, auction begins at 11am. (Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for live auction updates! Links available on our website, www.StairGalleries.com)

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Thursay, May 24, 2012
A very timely, thought-provoking and complimentary editorial featuring BCAADA member Paul Kleinwald, as it appears in the June issue of the Maine Antique Digest.

You Can Fight City Hall

A few months after the western Massachusetts town of Greet Barrington passed a secondhand dealers bylaw in 2010, antiques dealer Paul Kleinwaid spoke at a town selectmen’s meeting. “I told the town they could have a bylaw, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to abide by It. This is ridiculous. I will not do it,” he said. The law strictly regulated the buying and selling of precious metals in the town of approximately 7000.

To demonstrate his objections, at the meeting Kleinwald opened a 1950’s suitcase and dumped a load of silver christening cups on a table. (The christening cups, ex-David Wood, were purchased at Northeast Auctions.) “You should have seen the expressions on the selectmen’s faces when all this stuff came clattering down on the table,” he said. “I waved my hand over the top of this stuff, and I said, ‘I bought all this in one place—in another state—and in one day. You expect me to come back here and fill out paperwork on each item, with a description of what It is and who I bought it from? And I can’t sell it for fifteen days. You have to be kidding me.’”

The selectmen told Kleinwald he’d have to speak to the chief of police—and that’s what he did.

Kleinwald met face to face with the chief at least five times, exchanged numerous e-mail messages, and put in many hours working on addressing the law. Together they were able to work out a new bylaw more amenable to antiques dealers.

“I got pretty much all the changes 1 wanted,” said Kleinwald, who noted that the police also got what they wanted—new tools to fight theft.

The new law is not perfect but is a pragma tic solution to terrible legislation. It’s not a done deal. Repeal of the current bylaw and adoption of the new one still needs to be voted on at Great Barrington’s town meeting, but with support of the police, passage would seem likely.

In an e-mall to the members of the Berkshire County Antiques & Art Dealers Association, Kleinwald wrote, “I urge you to keep on your toes should this kind of bylaw be proposed in the town you live in. It should be nipped in the bud, and a major effort should be made to keep it from being voted into your town’s bylaws. The original law was so over-reaching that being compelled to comply with it would have caused me to either move my business to another town or stay and not sell anything with even 1% silver content.”

Dealers in Great Barrington owe a debt of gratitude to Kleinwald for stepping up and working to overcome the law. All dealers should be so vigilant.

S.C.P.

---

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Every shipment brings the unusual and we are always searching for furniture and accessories that will ad the “wow “ reaction in our store. This latest container from France and England will not disappoint you. Its not all about furniture at Painted Porch. The image you are looking at are set of 8 French hat blocks, that came from a department store in France. There are many unique accessories in this shipment. A wonderful collection of English grocery and pastry scales, wine signs from France and a terrific collection of French and English cutting boards.( insert hat blocks image)

No purchases from Europe would ever be complete without a unique selection of store counters, which we sell as center islands or a bar. You will need to come visit us to see the other side of this counter or the English golf lockers that we purchased. ( insert store counter) We are proud of our newest collection of country antiques and will Memorial Day shortly approaching , Painted Porch is once again full of unique choices. We love to see our returning customers , so please come in and say hello. The store looks wonderful. Should you not be able to come in soon, feel free to explore our web site, www.paintedporch.com

---

Saturday, May 12, 2012
Stair Galleries Auction
May 19th at 11am

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FINE AND DECORATIVE ART
Including property from the collection of Jan Cowles. Also featuring property from the collection of the late Samuel N. Friedman, founder of International Contract Furnishings, a pioneer in the modern furniture movement.



Preview hours:
Saturday, May 12, 11am – 5pm
Sunday, May 13, 12pm – 5pm
Monday – Thursday, May 14 – 17, 10am – 5pm
Friday, May 18, 11am – 8pm
Saturday, May 19, 9am – 11am. Auction begins at 11am.

Full catalogue available www.StairGalleries.com, come and enjoy a fun evening in-person, or via absentee or internet bid!

STAIR GALLERIES
549 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518-751-1000
Fax: 518-751-1010
www.stairgalleries.com
Twitter: stairgalleries
Facebook: Stair Galleries

---

Friday, March 16, 2012

A Killing in Antiques

“Treasure hunting is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, Lucy St. Elmo, owner of Cape Cod’s St. Elmo Fine Antiques, has more than enough heart. Her tracking skills are what she needs to improve – or else the wrong man could be convicted of a one-of-a-kind murder….”

The famous Brimfield Antiques Show is the setting for this delicious new whodunit by Mary Moody, sister of our own Kathy Tetro of Corner House Antiques. This is first in a series, so there is more antiques mayhem to come!

To learn more or to purchase, www.marymoodymystery.com.

---

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Stair Galleries English, Continental and American Auction
Including property from the collection of Gerald Kornblau and from the estate of George Gravert
March 10-11th, 11am

Featuring Lot 88

ATTRIBUTED TO AMMI PHILLIPS (AMERICAN): PAIR OF PORTRAITS OF ASHBEL STODDARD (1763-1840) AND PATIENCE BOLLES STODDARD (1762-1841), C. 1812-1813

Oil on canvas, unsigned, framed. Note: The Stoddards lived in Columbia County, NY. Literature: "The Magazine Antiques," February 1994, "Revisiting Ammi Phillips," by Stacy C. Hollander, illustrates plates IV and V. Provenance: Property from the Collection of Gerald Kornblau. 29 x 25 in.

Estimate $ 20,000-40,000

For additional information see Stair Galleries home page for an 8-page article on Ammi Phillips and the Stoddards family.

---

Friday, December 30, 2011
What‘s New at Cupboards and Roses

Veranda Magazine has featured our Made-to-Order reeded Gustavian-style commode, #110-01, has been featured in their January-February 2012 issue (see page 38 for their article on painted dressers). On-line, Veranda style director Eugenia Santiesteban Soto has included us in her “Swedish Shopping Resources.” Thanks, Veranda!

---

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

---

Friday, November 18, 2011

---

Thursday, November 17, 2011
SANDY KLEMPNER ANTIQUES & INTERIORS
"EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!"

Before we head south for the winter, join us for a
MONTH LONG 1-2-3 SALE
starting this Saturday, November 16, 2011.

The MORE you purchase, the MORE your ENTIRE bill will be discounted!

Buy 1 item.......................10 % off
Buy 2 items............................20% off total
Buy 3 or more items................30% off total!

Come Early for the best selection of one-of-a-kind compelling Antiques and Objects, Rugs, Lamps, Folk Art, Paintings, Vintage & Designer Clothing! All purchased with an eclectic, yet discriminating eye!

Remember, the holidays are almost upon us.
You’ll support local, buy green, and get value!

2188 Route 295, Canaan, NY 12029
Store hours: Friday thru Sunday, 10-5.
Closing end December 18 through mid-February.

www.SandyKlempnerAntiques.com
518-781-3456 (shop)
518-322-1894 (cell)

---

Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Stair Galleries’ Auction, October 15-16th
English, Continental and American
www.StairGalleries.com

Lot 274: ATTRIBUTED TO SIR GODFREY KNELLER: PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN IN AN ELABORATE WIG

Oil on canvas, relined and restretched. Provenance: Sold Sotheby's, New York, January 1984, lot #727. 28 3/4 x 24 1/2 in. (sight), 38 x 33 x 3 in. (frame). Estimate $ 2,000-4,000

This wonderfully painted portrait has been in a private collection in Brooklyn Heights since 1984 and is attributed to one of the finest British portrait painters in the baroque period. The treatment of the hair, skin and cloth is of exceptional quality, and very reasonably estimated

---

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

We, at Painted Porch, are celebrating the start of the leaf changing season by bringing in a large new shipment from France, England and Canada. This would be a wonderful time to visit the Berkshires and visit Painted Porch. We think our assortment of country furniture and accessories is unique. I know you will find it interesting. This is just a small example, by picturing this English pine settle, taken from a pub. The patina is very rich. There are also original pub signs and a great assortment of children’s toys, games etc. We are proud of our current collection of original painted Canadian furniture and English and French store counters, to be used in a country kitchen. Maybe you have been looking for a golf locker, to be used in a mudroom. If you can’t pay us a visit, you can find everything on our web site, at www.paintedporch.com

---

Monday, September 26, 2011



For the first time in many years, Cupboards & Roses is going to a show! Owner Edith Gilson has decided it would be good to get out of the shop on a beautiful Berkshires autumn weekend, and she signed us up for the Washington CT Antiques Show, a benefit for the Gunn Library in Washington Depot.

We invite you to come out to enjoy the weather and meet Edith at the Show. We’ll have some of our best pieces there for you to see.

Click here for a map of Washington Depot, CT.

Click here to see the latest pieces on our web site.

---

Thursday, September 15, 2011
Stair Antique Auctioneers and Appraisers

---

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Country Dining Room Antiques is offering its friends, old and new, a wonderful opportunity. All antiques, china, crystal, silver, dining room furniture, are 30% off. The shop remains as beautifully decorated as ever in memory of shop founder and creator Sheila Chefetz. Tom Hayes will be in the shop Wednesday - Sunday, 10 - 5. You can contact him by phone at 413-528-5050 or by email at info@countrydiningroomantiq.com.

The Country Dining Room Antiques, 178 Main Street, Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

---

Friday, August 5, 2011

BCAADA member Bill Talbot of Asia Barong has received a number of new pieces, including the Samurai-era Katana shown at right. It’s of exceptional length, circa 1844, and comes with papers of authentication from SHINSA

Other spectacular new items include a 28-foot ocean going bamboo outrigger sailboat from the South Sea Islands and an 18-foot long lost wax cast brass dragon with pearl.

Bill invites you to see these pieces and more in person at the largest Asian store in America. Asia Barong keeps flexible hours at 199 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA, so call before you come, 413-528-5091, or email Bill at talbotwilliam@hotmail.com.

---

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Ellen Ring of Ellen L Ring Ltd has recently returned from a buying trip with lots of wonderful pieces of jewelry, antique, estate and contemporary.

Attached are a few examples:

An iconic pair of signed Seaman Schepps earrings from the Cage Collection.

An exceptional 18kt, ruby and diamond bracelet that is so flexible and smooth, it is a joy to wear.

The following are a few other recent purchases:

Judith Ripka Green Amethyst Ring

Antique 18kt & Diamond Bird in Flight

Victorian 14kt and Garnet Heart Pendant

Visit our website at www.ELRLTD.com or stop into The Emporium Antique Center located at 319 Main Street Great Barrington, MA to see these and many other lovely jewels.

---

July-October 2011

Ellen Ring of Ellen L Ring Ltd Jewelry is showcasing a curated selection of her antique, estate and modern jewelry in the Chesterwood gift shop. In August Chesterwood will be hosting a wine and cheese reception where Ellen will bring additional jewels for you to covet and purchase!! She will also speak about the styles of jewelry, past and present and will be available to answer any questions. Date to be determined.

More of her jewelry is also represented on her website www.ELRLTD.com and in The Emporium Antique Center, 319 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA

---

Sunday, June 11, 2011

Painted Porch is ready for the summer, with a new container from France and England. One of our primary desires is to buy unique store and shop counters for country kitchens. The attached image is a French variety store counter , with storage, drawer and a brass slot , on top, to deposit Francs. We have many unique store counters, purchased on this recent trip. In addition we were fortunate enough to purchase the nicest painted Irish step-back cupboard we have ever bought, circa 1780 and a terrific selection of dresser bases and sideboards. Canadian painted furniture is also part of our inventory. It’s not all about furniture at Painted Porch. Metal and straw grape hottes, glass wine kegs, shoe and bakery racks, scales, antique toys etc are merchandised throughout the store. This would be a perfect time to pay us a visit or go to our web site, at www.paintedporch.com. we look forward to seeing or hearing from you, in the near future!

---

Monday, March 21, 2011

In the second of a two-part series on the antiques business in Berkshire County, Berkshire Trade & Commerce monthly discussed the impact of current economic conditions with Alex Sarbib of Le Trianon and with our own Edith Gilson. 

The highlights of the March 2011 article are below.

High-Tech Antiques

Trend toward online sales provides both challenges, opportunities for dealers

By John Townes (Berkshire Trade & Commerce, March 2011)

The antiques business, which deals in the past, is being pulled into the future, as one of many sectors that are impacted by the trend towards online Internet e-commerce.

Online commerce has not replaced the traditional ways of doing business such as bricks-and-mortar antique stores, personal relationships and word-of-mouth, or live auctions.  However, as detailed in the first part of this series in last month’s BERKSHIRE TRADE & COMMERCE, the traditional antiques trade in recent years has felt the impact of difficult economic conditions, changing demographics and other challenges.  The emergence of online commerce is further reshaping the dynamics of the antiques marketplace in ways that present both challenges and opportunities for dealers.

Over the past decade, an increasing share of the sales and purchases of antiques is taking place online, through individual dealers’ websites and Internet auctions.

For dealers, the Internet has been a double-edged sword, bringing both new opportunities and challenges.

The most obvious advantage for dealers is the ability to expand their potential market beyond the physical limitations of their own regions.  With the Internet, even a small dealer can reach a national and global marketplace.

On the flip side, it has brought a new dimension of competition to individual dealers by offering customers access to sources of antiques throughout the world.  Rather than being limited to visiting dealers in their own region, or having to travel to areas with concentrations of antiques stores, consumers can now browse and buy online from an infinite array of sources.
Antiques dealers have widely varying opinions about this trend, ranging from an enthusiastic embrace of online commerce to pragmatic acceptance to outright resistance.

They have also adapted in differing ways.  Most antiques businesses have incorporated some aspects of online sales into their operations, such as the use of email and a promotional website.  But, beyond that, there are many variations and levels of involvement in e-commerce.

Some dealers, for example, simply use their website as an electronic calling card or billboard, to publicize their location, specialties and other basic information.  They may also use it to promote special items or sales.
“Other dealers take it further by including an extensive catalog of their merchandise, along with mechanisms for online purchasing.

The Internet has also spawned a new generation of dealers who deal exclusively online.

Early adopter sees benefits

One strong believer in the value of e-commerce is Edith Gilson, owner of Cupboards and Roses at 296 S. Main St. in Sheffield and president of the Berkshire County Antiques and Art Dealers Association.

While on-site display and sales activity in her Sheffield store continues to be an important core of her business, online sales through her website www.cupboardsandroses.com to national and international markets are now a significant portion of her sales.

Gilson credits this with helping her business to withstand the impact of the economic downturn, and even to grow despite the difficult recessionary market.  “It has made a huge difference for me,” she said.  “If I had not made the investment in a website, my business might not have survived.”

As owner of a business that specializes in Swedish painted furniture and other items from Europe, Gilson noted that the Internet is a good fit because it links her with people interested in her niche throughout the world.  She noted that she was an early adopter of online commerce, and she placed substantial effort into establishing an Internet presence before it became widespread.

“Five or six years ago, people thought I was crazy to invest so much into a website,” she said.  “They did not think it would be an effective way to sell.  But today the Internet is a major source of sales.  Now, dealers recognize that if they don”t have a good website, it will hurt their business.”

Alex Sarbib, co-owner of Le Trianon Fine Art and Antiques at 1854 N. Main St. in Sheffield, believes the Internet is a useful tool but not a panacea.

“I think the Internet can be very beneficial, but it also depends on what you’re selling,” he said.  “It also requires a lot of additional work.  Unlike a physical store, you can”t simply place an item on the sales floor and talk to customers about it.  You have to build a database with photographs and complete descriptions and constantly update them, as well as handle inquiries and orders.”

Sarbib’s parents, Colette and Jean Henri, started Le Trianon in New York in 1978 and moved the business to Sheffield five years later.  The business launched a website www.letrianonantiques.com about 10 years ago.

Today, Sarbib said, online commerce is an important part of their operations, but primarily as a supplement to traditional interactions.  He estimated that online activity currently accounts for somewhere around 20 percent of their business.

“It has helped us to grow from being strictly a regional business to one that deals nationally and internationally,” said Sarbib.  “It enables us to show and sell items to people who might never actually come to Berkshire County.”

(Le Trianon also now has a branch in San Francisco.  “Basically, my brother wanted to move to San Francisco, and that gave us an opportunity to have a presence on both coasts,” Sarbib said, adding that the company’s website and online presence provide a virtual bridge between the two locations.)

Sarbib believes the Internet is most useful for items that have potential appeal to a geographically broad base of customers.  “It’s less of a factor for an item that is primarily of local interest,” he said.  “But it can be very helpful for items that are of interest to people in other locations.”

He added that for buyers it is a double-edged sword.  “It has made it easier for customers in some ways, but also made it harder in others,” he said.  “Instead of just competing with buyers in their own area for an item, on the Internet they may be competing with people all over the world.”

Although Le Trianon’s business continues to be based more on traditional approaches to sales and marketing than on the Internet, Sarbib acknowledged that online commerce is changing the antiques market in fundamental ways.

“We’re able to continue to primarily do business through our store and client relationships because we were already an established business before the Internet,” he said.  “But if I were starting now, I don”t know if it could be done in the same way, because so much has changed.”

Personal vs. virtual

As a market that deals with tangible items that also have intangible qualities and appeal, there is a paradox between antiques and the detached and virtual nature of online commerce.

Sarbib believes that many people still want to see items and buy them in person, but they also use the Internet to make the process more efficient.

---

“It has helped us to grow
from being strictly a regional
business to one that deals
nationally and internationally.”

---

”For example, many of our customers are professionals like interior designers in this region, and they are often looking for particular items for a client,” he said.  “Before the Internet, they had to visit or call many antiques dealers in the region to find what they were looking for.  Now they can use the Internet to see which dealers have it.  So they still do their examination and buying in person, but the Internet saves them time.”

Meanwhile, for other types of customers, antiques shopping is traditionally associated with experiences such as weekend afternoons spent visiting shops, savoring the ambiance, chatting with the owners and seeking out items that make a connection with them.”

---

Monday, January 17, 2011

In the first of a two-part series on the antiques business in Berkshire County, Berkshire Trade & Commerce monthly discussed the impact of current economic conditions with our own Edith Gilson.  The highlights of that February 2011 article are below.

"Antiques dealers have definitely been affected by the economy," said Edith Gilson, current president of the Berkshire County Antiques and Art Dealers Association (BCAADA).  "But I'd say that a more fundamental change has been due to the Internet."

"In general, the level of sales and walk-in traffic for dealers is certainly not what it was several years ago," said Gilson, who owns Cupboards & Roses at 296 S. Main St. in Sheffield, and antiques business specializing in Swedish painted furniture and other items from Europe and Scandinavia.  "We've all had to contend with that."

Gilson attributed this primarily to the economy and the downbeat public mood about other issues.

"Antiques are not an essential purchase," said Gilson.  "Consumer confidence is important, because when people are worried about the future they are more reluctant to buy non-essentials.  With all of the negative news lately, that confidence had not been there."

Gilson believes that the antiques market is also experiencing a residual effect of the years of the real estate boom.  "With the expensive prices people had to pay for houses back then, they often have not had enough money left over for added expenses like antiques," she commented.

Nevertheless, Gilson noted that recently there have been signs of improvement.  "I'm more optimistic now than I was in the spring, because the activity for many dealers this summer was much better than expected," she said.

Gilson noted that the market for art has also stayed relatively strong.  "European buyers are investing in art, and that has helped works of art to maintain their value," she said.
However, the antiques business is also subject to the larger uncertainty about the timing and extent of recovery.  The shape of the market will also be affected by whether the present economic turbulence is simply the latest version of the perennial cycles or is a symptom of underlying structural socio-economic changes.

Gilson said she is concerned about the potential deeper trends in the economy and society in the United States.

"Something quite disastrous has happened to the middle class," she said.  "The poor have become poorer and their numbers are increasing.  The middle class is being squeezed and is shrinking.  That is a real soci0-economic problem.

 "There will always be a segment of wealthy buyers, but the middle class have the greater numbers.  If America is not able to sustain a middle class, everything will be adversely affected, including the market for antiques."

Earlier this year, the BCAADA launched a campaign called Antiques are Green.  "Antiques are relevant to today's interest in sustainability, and that's a message we hope to convey to younger people," said Gilson.

Despite the present economic challenges, Gilson also emphasized that there have been silver linings and some signs of improvement recently.

And, despite the belt-tightening and some casualties among dealers, the antiques business in the Berkshires overall has held its own during these difficult times.

---

Friday, September 24, 2010

Panted Porch Antiques has just received a new shipment, from France and England. There is new excitement here . Zinc Top store counters, butcher blocks, with marble top, French lawn bowling and French menu signs, are but a few items you will see, when visiting us. Now would be the time. The piece shown, will likely last about a week. It's a golf locker, from the Yorkshire area of the UK and would be perfect for a mudroom or den! In the next week or so, everything will be posted on our web site, at www.paintedporch.com. we will be open 7 days a week, during the fall foliage season. We are quite pleased with our shipment and trust you will be, as well.

---

Monday, July 26, 2010

BCAADA members Richard and Rebekah Wise of R.W. Wise, Goldsmiths will be showcasing the Henderson Collection of fine jewelry in their store Friday evening and all day Saturday, July 30 and 31.

"The name Lecil Henderson is not yet a household name," said Rebekah, "but he has done something pretty amazing. He has developed a line of richly colored golds - that's right, colored gold - in colors like black, denim and bronze, and he has created a line of jewelry featuring all of these colors in 18k gold.

"Think of it - 18k denim gold that matches your jeans or picks up the color of your eyes! Bronze gold is a wonderful color for redheads, and black gold, well, black goes with everything," she added.

The public is invited to meet Lecil Henderson and see his creations at a reception Friday night, 4:00 to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Richard or Rebekah at 413-637-1589 or rebekah@rwwise.com.

---

Friday, May 14, 2010

Charles Flint of Charles Flint Art & Antiques, as well as in his role as President of the Lenox Historical Society, announces the opening of the Musical Memories exhibit Friday, May 14th at 5:30 p.m. at the Academy building at 65 Main Street in Lenox, MA.

The exhibit is free. Those attending the opening can also enjoy a Wine and Cheese Reception, celebrating the rich musical history associated with the Lenox area.

At 6:30 p.m., the A-Cappella students' group from Lenox High School will perform.

For more information, contact Charles Flint, President of the Lenox Historical Society at (413) 637-1634, or Curator, Vickie Salavtore at (413) 441-7902.

---

Saturday, May 1, 2010

A new exhibition, "The Little Family Letters," opens May 1 at the historic 1774 Dan Raymond House Museum in Sheffield, MA. Built around the recently acquired collection of nearly two dozen letters from the early 1800s to and from members of the Little family, the exhibit also features antique pieces on loan from members of the BCAADA.

The north and south parlors, keeping room and buttery are filled with period vignettes which include extraordinary examples of antique chairs, tables, writing desks, paintings, samplers, china, redware, and mantel clocks, as well as objects related to letter writing such as inkwells, lap desks and envelope holders. Poignant excerpts from the letters appear on the museum walls, and a portfolio of the letters is available for viewing.

The Dan Raymond House is located in the center of historic Sheffield, Massachusetts on Route 7, just north of the Connecticut state line and immediately south of Great Barrington. For more information, contact the Sheffield Historical Society at www.sheffieldhistory.org or 413-229-2694.

---

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Richard and Rebekah Wise of R.W. Wise, Goldsmiths have just returned from their gem and jewelry-buying trip to Southeast Asia. Among other treasures, they found some great hand-made sterling silver jewelry from SE Asia. They will also be featuring silver jewelry by Gurhan, the famous Turkish designer.

Although they could not buy in Burma because of our country's embargo, they did meet with a miner friend who explained that the surface deposits of rubies and sapphires have been worked out and that these gems will not be available in Burma for the foreseeable future.

For more information, contact R.W. Wise at infowise@rwwise.com or at 413-637-1589.

---

Monday, April 26, 2010

"Invest in the Future....Recycle the Past." This is the new slogan for our members since we have joined "antiques are green," a group committed to the idea that purchasing an antique is a great way to support the health of the planet.

As an example, take the simple antique Windsor chair. "The chair parts were made by craftsmen who lived in the woods where the materials came from. The turnings were produced on treadle-operated lathes, then parts were taken on foot to a local workshop to be assembled. From there the completed chairs would be distributed around the country by horse and cart or waterways. The chair saw a hard use but is still around today. " (Excerpted from www.antiquesaregreen.org.)

BCAADA president Edith Gilson believes that this is a win-win idea: the antique purchased today is an investment in the future, both financially and environmentally. "We're proud to be a part of this world-wide movement," she added.

---

Thursday, October 29, 2009

"The fascinating back story of the Hope Diamond. It is both a delightful read and a treasure trove of insights into the world of the 17th century gem trade."

John S. White, Former Curator
National Gem Collection, The Smithsonian

Our member Richard Wise, of R.W. Wise Goldsmiths, has just published a new historical novel based on the real-life story of 17th century gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier and the stone destined to become known as the Hope Diamond.

THE FRENCH BLUE recounts Tavernier's six voyages - from the seraglios of Persia to the Empire of Shah Jahan, from the lands of the Great Mogul of India to the court of Louis XI - to the ultimate acquisition of a great blue diamond weighing 116 carats. Over a span of forty years and sixty thousand leagues, this is the unforgettable story of one man, one beautiful woman and the world's most fabulous diamond.

---

Monday, June 8, 2009

PAINTED PORCH ANTIQUES has been featured in Architectural Digest for the 3rd time in 8 years. The June issue displays a grape Hotte, used in the south of France , to pick grapes in the fields. This metal holder would be strapped to the workers back and the vineyard is featured on the front of the grape hotte. This particular piece has long been sold, however PAINTED PORCH currently owns 5 more, that can be bought. Below is the link to this article and can be found on our web site, along with other magazine articles featured throughout the years in business.

http://www.paintedporch.com/architecturaldigestJune2009.htm

---

Friday, June 5, 2009

After reading a recent article in the Berkshire Eagle about hard times for the antiques business, Association President Edith Gilson responded with a more positive assessment of the current climate. Her letter follows:

To the Editor, The Berkshire Eagle:

Regarding the May 31 AP article on "Antiques dealers lament" in Woodbury, Conn., I feel compelled to dispel some of the doom and gloom that was chronicled. Lest one assumes that the sky is falling everywhere in the world of antiques, I can assure you as President of the Berkshire County Massachusetts Antiques and Art Dealers Association (BCAADA) and as the owner of Cupboards & Roses Antiques, that while these economic times are challenging, we continue to succeed at meeting our customers' needs and making sales here in the Berkshires and beyond.

Brothers Leslie and Leigh Keno, from PBS's Antiques Roadshow, describe the Berkshires as an "Antiques Mecca", and this is quite true. Our dealers specialize in antiques ranging from American folk art to Chinese, from American wicker to high-style English pieces, from French formal and country, to Swedish painted furniture -- in other words, something for every taste and budget.

The bottom line is that our member dealers are unique in that they offer a rare depth of inventory for residents and visitors alike. The business of antiques is always evolving. I'm no Pollyanna. One must work doubly hard to make a sale. Internet sales are now a huge part of our business. Stellar customer service is essential.

Many antiques dealers throughout the Berkshires, including the majority of the 45 members of the BCAADA, have been in business for 20 years or more. We've seen and weathered the ups and downs of countless business cycles. We prefer not to dwell on negativity but to offer a different perspective -- realistic but positive -- as we roll up our sleeves and work harder and smarter for our customers.

Edith Gilson

---

1st Dibs - Antiquing in the Berkshires

We are absolutely thrilled that 1st Dibs, the great on-line antiques resource has posted a special feature, Antiquing in the Berkshires. Susanna Salk from 1st Dibs toured our area and has reported on what to do, where to eat and where to stay, as well as on the Berkshires antiques dealers who display their wares on 1st Dibs.

This will be seen by designers and antiques lovers throughout the world! Click here to join them and learn what's hot in the Berkshires.