Email  Print  del.icio.us  digg  yahoo!  Comments  Feed

Subscribe to Delaware Today : Shopping - delawaretoday.com exclusive

Antiquing Never Gets Old

In these parts, there are many venues to shop for pieces of the past. Most dealers also sell at shows and via the Internet. Here are a few places to start.

An 18th-century Baroque chest of drawers, 1740-1760, at Olivier Fleury in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

At Olivier Fleury (57 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern, Pa., 610-722-5900, ofleury.com), the accent is on French antiques. The goods include such bonbons as a Provencal painted mirror boasting the original glass to faiences, the colorful pottery shaped into platters and other earthenware, and vaisseliers, cupboards crafted in Provence.

At Joseph C. O’Neal & Sons (11112 Laurel Road, Laurel, 875-5261, onealsauction.com), there are opportunities to bid on antiques just about every week, either on Friday or Saturday. A fixture in Laurel since 1971, O’Neal’s is a favored destination for collectors of art, glass and Americana.

Attic Treasures (2119 S. Dupont Blvd., Smyrna, 653-6566) is one of the few antiques stores on U.S. 13 to survive the advent of Del. 1, which whisks motorists out of the path of commerce and directly to the beach. The shop keeps irregular hours, but the wares are extraordinary, including good pottery, vintage silver and charming oil paintings.

More than 1,000 items go on the block at noon on any given Tuesday at William H. Bunch Auctions & Appraisals (1 Hillman Drive, Chadds Ford, Pa., 610-558-1800, williambunchauctions.com). Bunch is a good source for painted Pennsylvania furniture. But regulars are always on the lookout for a surprise in the jumble of art, furniture and bric-a-brac.

For folks who appreciate wares that show their age or enjoy a bit of fixing up, the non-profit Atlantic Community Thrift Shop (Del. 26, Ocean View, 539-3513) is a great place to find well-priced goodies.

One of a number of noteworthy stops in Centreville’s antiques district, Windle’s Art and Antiques (5716 Kennett Pike, Suite C, Centreville, 651-9222) specializes in oil paintings, jewelry and furniture crafted before 1830, presented in a homelike setting. Visitors will also find accessories such as period fireplace tools and lighting fixtures.

Barbara’s Antiques & Books (5900 Kennett Pike, Centreville, 655-3055) is a longtime purveyor of hard-to-find and out-of-print volumes, books about Delaware, regional Americana, postcards, paper ephemera and vintage photographs.

Folks who like a good rummage are singing the praises of Opera House Antique Center (308 Delaware St., New Castle, 326-1211), a cooperative where shoppers can explore a wide variety of curios, collectibles, art and furniture.

Lamb’s Loft (16 Commonwealth Ave., Claymont, 792-9620) offers antiques, furniture, glass, jewelry and more from estate sales and elsewhere.

For 38 years, the Pennsbury-Chadds Ford Antique Mall (641 E. Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, Pa., 610-388-1620, pennsburyantiquemall.com) has been a gathering place for buyers and sellers, with more than 100 dealers. The two-story emporium includes vintage furs, antique dolls, sterling silver, Civil War memorabilia and much more.

Conducting auctions and appraisals in the Mid-Atlantic area, Mid-Atlantic Antiques (927 Centre Road, Wilmington, 528-0206, www.mid-atlantic.com) offers everything from furniture to Oriental porcelain to English ceramics. Check the website for schedules and updates on merchandise.

Josephine Keir Ltd. (102 Savannah Road, Lewes, 645.9047, www.jkltd.com) may specialize in fine rugs, but you’ll also find antique jewelry, American and English furniture, and accessories.

H.L. Chalfant (1352 Paoli Pike, West Chester, Pa., 610-696-1862) is one of the area’s premier dealers. It offers American furniture, decorative accessories and fine art from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Looking for a unique blanket chest? This is your place.