Antiques pique interest aplenty
Antique hunters packed into Fairfield’s Triangle Grange Hall on Saturday, proving that one person’s rusty brass headboard is another person’s fanciful yard art.
Musicians played bluegrass music as patrons wedged into crowded booths to browse through weathered windowpanes, old kitchen gadgets and rusty wagon wheels that were displayed by 20 vendors.
“We really like junk,” said Teri Edwards, who organized the Farm Chicks Antique Show with Serena Thompson. “We will go to a farmer’s place, and he’ll say, ‘I have nothing,’ and then we’ll find this junk pile full of rusty tools and people find creative uses for those things.”
This was the first time the show, which has been held four times, was in Fairfield. The 77-year-old grange hall proved to be ideal, and Edwards said the town may become the show’s permanent host.
“We are just growing and planning to expand to the park,” Edwards said. “We want to fill the town with our vendors.”
Displays creatively mimicked country kitchens and general stores, selling old items packaged for modern uses.
An ivory wrought-iron wash stand, with an enamel basin, was used as a makeshift planter and carried a price tag of $149.
The planter, rustic birdhouses and other wares were displayed together in a booth operated by two women who sell antiques and collectibles through Forget-Me-Not Gifts and Antiques and the Shabby Chic Shoppe, which are both in Coeur d’Alene.
“At the beginning of the show they probably buy more smalls (small pieces) but we sold our biggest piece one hour into the show,” said Nancy Frederickson.
Most of the antiques are left as is, Frederickson explained, and others require minor repairs, such as a little scrubbing or sanding. Still, there’s a fine line between scouring off dirt and rubbing away history. “Cleaning can be detrimental. It takes its value sometimes,” Frederickson said.
As a first-time vendor at the show, Hayden Lake’s Sharon Blythe was surprised at how quickly her $5 chenille pillows sold. “I’m overwhelmed. I never expected this turnout.”
Selling the pillows was a boon. However, selling a six-piece set of bent willow furniture for $600 made her day. The furniture, which was crafted in the1920s and had a timeless silver-gray patina, was purchased by Tanja Hughes of Fairfield. “We’re building a log home in a couple of years and this will be beautiful.”
After recently moving from Flagstaff, Ariz., to Spokane’s South Hill, Valerie Wisch decided a metal antique plant stand that looks like a minispiral staircase was a must-have for her new Craftsman bungalow.
“We bought a house that was built in 1906. We’re kind of looking for period things,” Wisch said.
One booth carried bracelets made from unlikely objects, like Scrabble tiles, silver spoons and dominos. Tammy Madsen, of Spokane, bought two bracelets that were fashioned from antique typewriter keys. Letters on one bracelet spelled out “WISH” and the other had the word “LUCKY.”
“They are very unique and kind of a found item that does something fabulous with something old,” Madsen said. After purchasing several items, she was ready to search for architectural salvage a little closer to home.
“We’re going to go look in my parents’ barn now and see what we can find,” Madsen said.
Vendors and shoppers haggled over prices for lamps, washboards and picnic baskets. Some needed that perfect bobble to finish off a table or display and were willing to pay the sticker price; others wanted a bargain.
Julie McGuire liked a small stained glass lamp, but wasn’t sure she wanted to pay $20 for it. Her friend and neighbor, Terry Johnson, jumped in and started haggling over pricing. After a few give and take bids, a smiling vendor let McGuire have the piece for $16.
Johnson said vendors expect to dicker and that’s a key part of the antiquing experience. “I think it’s part of the fun, otherwise you might just (as well) go to the store and buy it.”