What's New
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, June 4, 2010
Painted Porch Antiques has just received a new shipment from England , France and Canada. There are wonderful buying opportunities , with more choices and reasonable pricing, both of which will benefit our customers. The attached image is an English grocery store counter, complete with metal storage bins and a French grape hotte, sitting on the top. There are many more store counters, used as center islands and wonderful French pieces, with rich fruitwood patina. Finally, we have purchased a terrific collection of Canadian painted antique furniture , as well as a very unique collection of affordable accessories.
All of this is now on display in our store and can also be seen on our web site, at www.paintedporch.com. We look forward to your visit!
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.
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