Jan and John Maggs Antiques

Conway, Massachusetts

Newsletter -- September 15, 2004

Finally, the rain gave us a window to paint the North side of our barn. Now, only the cupola remains.

SHOWS

Since last month's newsletter, our lives have been moving at a whirlwind pace, culminating in three shows within a five-day period last week. When we arrive home from Rhinebeck in four weeks, we will have completed a run of nine shows in a ten week period. Sales have been exceptionally strong, and we've been presented with opportunities to purchase many wonderful things at sensible prices. We continue to be grateful.

SOME NEW PRIORITIES

For about a year we've been analyzing the cost effectiveness of various categories of our inventory. In doing so we've discovered a few pockets of inventory which produce little or no income while tying up significant amounts of our operating capital. Last month we decided to liquidate our stock of period hardware, an inventory that has been producing less income than a savings account.  We contacted one of our wholesale customers, a dealer who specializes in restoration supplies, and offered him the inventory at cost. We delivered everything to him at Brimfield last week and returned to Conway about 1000 pounds lighter!

A NEW PUBLICATION AND AN OLD FRIEND REDISCOVERED

This month marks the appearance of a new antiques periodical--Find!--an outgrowth of the TV program of the same name, featuring Leslie and Leigh Keno. The magazine is of special interest to us because it contains major contributions by our close friends Geoffrey and Kathryn Precourt. We especially enjoyed Geoffrey's captivating story of Ron Keno, father of the twins and an old acquaintance of ours from the outdoor shows we've exhibited at together, and Kathryn's informative piece on their collection of relief-molded jugs, loaded with information on this very interesting form. More information of Find! is available on the web: Find!. For a printable subscription form, click HERE.

Some of you may know Kathryn's work from the Country Home Antiques Extra, which Kathryn produced in partnership with another friend, Kit Nylen. Many of you, along with us, have lamented the passing of this wonderful little magazine--a casualty of corporate downsizing. If you never got yours, they appear on eBay from time to time. Search "Antiques Extra".

THIS MONTH

This month's newsletter includes, in addition to the usual features, a special article on hearth cooking, including links to interesting sites, a few local resources, a few reference works, and pictures and descriptions of hearth cooking accessories in our inventory.

It's all below. We hope you enjoy it.

John and Jan

Special Feature

Cooking on the Hearth

As the days get shorter and evenings get cooler, the season for wood fires is nearly upon us. From the beginning, we've had a fondness for iron for the hearth. During the summer we've acquired a variety of andirons, pots, trammels, gridirons, and other interesting and useful tools. In this month's special feature, you'll find many of them pictured and described. In addition, we've listed a few books and articles that might be of interest to the hearth cooking devotee and the collector. Click on the fireplace for more.

Upcoming Shows

To see a complete listing of our show schedule for 2004, click HERE.

This Month's Feature

In this issue of our newsletter, we offer the fourth in our series of twelve pictorial articles on our restoration of our home. This month's installment focuses on the earliest stage of reconstruction. Click on NEW FOUNDATIONS AND CHIMNEYS for a look.

Tales of the Trade

Recently, during a meal at one of our favorite restaurants, we beckoned to our server. When she arrived at our table, she stopped us both in mid-swallow by asking us, "What do you lack?" Though our request was to have been a mere glass of water, her inquiry raised an issue: while we felt we lacked little, we rather desired something cool and wet. What are the distinctions between lacking, wanting, or needing?

At last month's Hancock show, a conversation with a fellow dealer offered us an insight into the difference between the things we'd like to have and those we can't live without. Click on the link for the tale of the Nine-foot Palladian Window.

Links

To visit the Jan and John Maggs Antiques website, click HERE.

For directions to our shop, click HERE.

To e-mail us, click on the mailbox.

For past issues of this Newsletter, click the links below.

Visit our newly redesigned Links Page by clicking HERE.

Thanks for taking the time to read our little monthly. As always, we encourage you to e-mail any comments that might make the newsletter more useful to you. Just use this link.

And we thank you for being a customer.

John and Jan