A martini is a terrible thing to waste.

Brimfield Antique Show.

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May 12, 2011 10 Comments

I am not a huge “antique” person.  I particularly hate it when people use the word “antique” as a verb, and I don’t like dust or haggling for prices.

Today I went to Brimfield, MA for their gigantic antique fair.  I had to buy chairs, artwork, tables for the Olde English Pub (opening this summer!), and I also needed some toothbrushes for myself, so I bought an antique toothbrush that was used by some guy in the 1860′s.   The handle is made of wood and the bristles are made of beaver whiskers.  He must have had gingivitis because there was still some blood on the bristles.  But after brushing a few times, I could barely taste it.

Some quick observations after my first experience at an Antique Fair:

1.  Antiques are expensive, despite them being old and crappy.

2.  Flea Market people are one ferris wheel away from being Carnie Folk.

3.  Bring your own port-a-potty.

4.  If stained glass gets you excited, bring some sedatives because you’ll have hit the jackpot at this fair.

5.   Drawings of flowers or birds that look like they should be in a HoJo, will cost you upwards of $300.

6.   You know who likes antiques more than gay guys?  Japanese people.

7.  Bring a wheelbarrow.  Or come up with a solid plan to carry around what you buy because it becomes a nightmare.

The Brimfield Antique Show is going on until Sunday if you want to check it out.



Comments

  • Mike
    May 12, 2011 at 12:54 am

    Matt, your sense of humor rocks. Old Jewish ladies love antiques as well.

  • Sarah
    May 12, 2011 at 8:28 am

    After all is said and done, did u get what you needed?

  • Matt
    May 12, 2011 at 8:41 am

    @Sarah. Yes.

  • Michael Cocca
    May 12, 2011 at 9:15 am

    Matt,
    If you need any big pieces of english furniture, I always use Period Picks on rt 9 on the way to Hudson. You get off the Hudson exit,of I 90, and it is right there on the right. Bruce has the stuff, and likes to make deals.Am i an old jewish lady?????
    Michael Cocca

  • Helen
    May 12, 2011 at 9:36 am

    That picture is scary – Thanks for the nightmare I will most surely be having this evening.

  • heather
    May 12, 2011 at 10:56 am

    I love Brimfield! and any other odd antique/flea market affair. I was at one at the Washington County fairgrounds a couple weekends ago and found a box full of old dentures that was being sold for $175.

  • Creed
    May 12, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Again.. HILARIOUS. I agree. I don’t get the whole “antique” culture.
    Check Craigslist for your furniture. Local people. Good prices. And, you can still feel like you’re “recycling” stuff instead of buying new

  • Edna
    May 12, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    I can’t haggle and I hate dust but I love “antique-ing”.Maybe because it reminds me of the house I grew up in,furnishings from oma and opa and great aunt Rae,all with that modern ’70′s lamp and turquoise stove.Hell,is 50 years old considered an antique? Uh Oh…..

  • shaun
    May 15, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    you obviously should hire someone to do your shopping for you ..or just go pay someone to make what you need…perhaps go to pier one imports for cheap items..
    antiques are not for everyone.. you have to be a collector..looking for a certain decor piece..and/or enjoy the hunt of looking for items at the brimfield show ..you can go buy your pub chairs from a decent furniture store 200-400 each ..or find the real antique ones for about that price ..or perhaps lower..by working a deal with the dealer who owns them (something you cannot do at most retail stores)….I can tell from the photo that this was a dealer named Jay who is a very well known antique dealer..He is no carnie folk person..just a guy making a living who does 15-20 shows a year from coast to coast..
    as for the japanese ..guess you didnt notice the large European crowd of buyers with them ..they were the ones that saved the show for most dealers with the exchange rate they were getting….and for carrying merchandise you can leave your items with most dealers and drive your car or truck up to get items when your done for the day ..or hire a porter for a few bucks to haul it for you..I have been a dealer for 20 years and also a spot away from Jay ..I enjoy antiques for the history/quality/craftsmanship of the piece as much as the hunt to find them …Its not for everyone (like yourself obviously) but sometimes the memory of the trip is not where you went ..but how you got there

  • Augustine Spader
    Jan 11, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    My fear is forgetting to change the oil so we change it when the odometer hits 5,000 mile increments. I have a toyota with 170,000 that just got an oil change and will get another one at 175,000 miles. The oil comes out pretty clean and the engine has had no issues. My goal is 250,000 miles on this car (1995 Avalon).

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