Jan and John Maggs Antiques

Conway, Massachusetts

Newsletter -- March 15, 2005

March snowfall -- beautiful, but when is enough enough?

This Month's Newsletter

We had hoped to open this month's newsletter with a scene of snowdrops poking out of the ground and buds popping from the branches of trees. Instead, the best we can do is share pictures of the two feet of snow that have fallen in Pumpkin Hollow during the past week. White fluffiness notwithstanding, we're sustained by the anticipation of five major antiques events in England which we'll attend next month and, of course, by the promise of Brimfield and Rhinebeck, both little more than a month away.

FEATURED INVENTORY

This month's inventory section begins with a few recent purchases:

• A spectacular walnut slant-front desk

• A simple, early 19th century pine jelly cupboard

• For the bibliophile, The Spectator, complete in seven leather-bound volumes SOLD

• To read The Spectator by when the lights go out, a seventeenth century Dutch Heemskerk candle holder SOLD

• The best ram's head peel we've had in a long time SOLD

• A three-piece set of brass and iron fire tools

It always surprises us when a piece that we think is particularly wonderful remains unsold after a few months. In this issue we're re-listing a few pieces that fit that description. Each is a fine example of its form but has been on the website for longer than we ever thought it would be. Assuming that cost may have been a deterrent, we have lowered the price of each item. If you've considered one of them, you might wish to take a second look.

• A small, late-18th century pine corner cupboard

• An imposing one-drawer pine blanket chest

• A17th-century Rhenish pitcher with unusual incised decoration

• A 17th century Bellarmine jug in nearly perfect condition                              

• A maple Queen Anne highboy base with top

• A handsome maple Chippendale six-drawer chest on bracket base

UPCOMING SHOWS

On Saturday March 19 we'll once again exhibit at the Country Antiques Show in Danielson, CT.

After Danielson, our next major event is our Spring Open House on April 30 and May 1. Look for details in next month's newsletter.

Likewise, details of our May schedule, including Brimfield and Rhinebeck, will appear next month.

To see a complete listing of our show schedule for 2005, click HERE.

This Month's Feature

This month we offer the tenth in our twelve-part pictorial series on the restoration of our home. Work on the outbuildings continues with OUTBUILDINGS: SHED, MILK HOUSE, AND BARN
 

Tales of the Trade

Anyone who attends indoor, papered-wall antiques shows will have a pretty good idea of what is involved in setting up a booth. Less obvious, perhaps, is the process of getting merchandise from home to the show venue and bringing unsold items back home after the show. As members of the profession that "moves house" two or three times a month, we offer this true story of the travails of a recent antiques show. Click for The Sixty-three Inch Court Cupboard.

Bonus for Beer Lovers

For a report on our recent dinner with Michael Jackson, click HERE.

Links

Click to visit the Jan and John Maggs Antiques website.

Click for directions to our shop.

Click for links to all past issues of this Newsletter.

Click for links to businesses and places of interest, visit our Links Page.

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 click the mailbox, or write to jmaggs@jmaggs.com.

And we thank you for being a customer.

John and Jan