Treasure Hunting in the Brimfield Antiques Fair
Whether you’re a serious collector or just enjoy the delight of a search, the Brimfield antiques fair in Massachusetts is a must-visit. The biggest outdoor antiques show at the Northeast, extending 1 mile down Route 20 in Brimfield, Massachusetts, it started in 1950. It takes place three times a year (May, July and September) for six days. With more than 5,000 traders from all around the country attending, there’s something for everybody. Here is a peek in the September 2013 series.
Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show
Where: Route 20, Brimfield, Massachusetts
When: Tuesday–Sunday, September 3–8, 2013. The 2014 dates are May 13–18, July 8–13 and September 2–7. Hours change.
More information
Jessica Delaney Photography
The vendors and their goods spread out along Route 20. The May series has the largest attendance, as it is the first show of this year, but the September series gets a very strong turnout too.
Hint: Parking lots are available along Route 20 and cost $5 and up, depending on the location. They fill up quickly, so the earlier you are able to make it the better.
Jessica Delaney Photography
A collection of jadeite for glass enthusiasts is for sale. The mint-green glass could make a great addition to exposed shelves at a white kitchen.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Many design professionals attend the fair on opening day to grab the best finds for their projects. I saw many red hold/sold tags as early as 9 a.m. on Tuesday, opening day. Stylists from major fashion magazines and houses attend Brimfield early in the week.
Hint: If you’re planning to visit out of town, be sure to find out your lodging plans early. There are lots of B and Bs, quaint inns and some larger chain hotels in nearby Sturbridge, but they fill up quickly.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Even though some people today come simply to browse, many design professionals, such as Megan Pesce of MK Coastal (shown here with her son), come with particular notions. Pesce’s mission this year is to find new methods to use her reclaimed sailcloth for custom one-of-a-kind home decor pieces. On Tuesday she discovered two bag racks she plans to refinish.
“Should you see something and are thinking about coming back for this later, it will most likely be gone. If you believe you might regret it, chances are you likely will,” states Pesce. “It might be the most crowded on the weekends, but they’re definitely the best times for bargains.”
Jessica Delaney Photography
Midcentury pieces such as this mod elegant yellowish vest are always common. Sometimes you will come across a seller such as Mix on Main in Sheffield, Massachusetts, who’s selling this Jonathan Adler chandelier in a fraction of its current retail cost.
Hint: Bring money and come with a budget in your mind so you can stay focused. There are ATMs sprinkled about, and some vendors do accept credit cards. However, vendors are always more prepared to negotiate if you’ve got money.
Jessica Delaney Photography
These Eames seats are being marketed by Jerry and Jeremiah Pasternak, who starred at the Discovery Channel series Natural Born Dealers.
Jessica Delaney Photography
This eland skull and antlers mounted on Lucite, from Mix on Main, is definitely a conversation starter.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Some of the finds demand a little TLC, but you can get some great treasures, like this Lucite dining collection from Rich Nye The Furniture Guy, selling for $375. All that is needed is a good cleaning and upholstery.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Among the most important and most expensive pieces I came across was this reclaimed display case; it’s about 18 feet wide and has been sourced from a jewelry store. How amazing would this be in a large, open kitchen set of conventional shelving? Sold by Brooklyn, New York, company totally Bruce, the cupboard is priced at $10,000. It comes in to six pieces, so if you did not come from a U-Haul, there is always UPS.
Jessica Delaney Photography
This piece was made from salvaged marble, mounted on top of a lathe in an old shoe factory. This looks like a gorgeous, one-of-a kind kitchen island.
Hint: Transport options such as UPS and FedEx are available onsite. A number of traders will ship to your home, so don’t be scared to ask. And there are porters available to help you move big items to a local shipping location or to your car. If you know you’re searching for furniture, rent a truck you’ll see them anywhere.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Check out this exceptional piece. The shop’s proprietor, Otis Williams, says it’s a palace chair from Cameroon, dating back to the 1800s.
Hint: The vendors are always pleased to share the history of their pieces. Don’t be scared to ask for as many details as you can.
Jessica Delaney Photography
My one buy of this day was a bust for $30. I intend to use it to accent a living room console or as a necklace holder. There were lots of unusual lamp bases too, like these, which can be a mixture of glass and wood.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Upcycled, recycled, reclaimed, repurposed and industrial pieces are trending this year. So are statement lighting fixtures. The men at Cleveland Art have some amazing pieces, similar to this metal one. It is made from scallop-dredging series, salvaged from the Hurricane Sandy–wrecked beaches of New Jersey. It comes with a Sputnik arrangement of Edison bulbs.
Jessica Delaney Photography
This magnificent chandelier can also be from Cleveland Art. It is made of individually blown bottles which hang from upcycled bicycle chains.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Wares are a labor of love for a number of vendors. It took Kevin Shahan of Swanky Design Studio seven hours to place the final touches with this lighting fixture: applying gold leaf to the interior. Shahan especially loves working with steel. His passion leads him to repurpose pieces of older, sometimes rusty, steel into exquisite works of art like these two lights.
Jessica Delaney Photography
Upcycled golf club heads were given a new sculptural form here.
Jessica Delaney Photography
These older hand molds were used to fit latex or leather gloves; they are repurposed as ring stands or affixed to a wall to hang neckties from.
Jessica Delaney Photography
The series is a fantastic spot for picking up accessories which make a home feel curated as well as completed. These Japanese classic fishing floats from East End Antiques at Southampton, New York, would look great on a coffee table or end table.
Jessica Delaney Photography
The weekday audiences are somewhat less daunting. Come well rested and prepared to barter. And the cleverer you can be on how you get your paintings home, the better.
Jessica Delaney Photography
This visitor also had a good day.
After: During Sunday, September 8, 2013. In 2014 the dates are May 13–18, July 8–13 and September 2–7. Hours change. More information
More: A Beginner’s Mini Guide to Buying Antiques