Jan and John Maggs Antiques

Conway, Massachusetts

Newsletter -- October 29, 2007

A quiet country road near Stow-on-the-Wold

Since last month's newsletter . . . .

. . .  we’ve exhibited at two major shows -- VADA and Rhinebeck -- and spent a week in England shopping for new stock. We're excited about our "new stuff" and are looking forward to unveiling it for customers and friends at our Fall Gala (details below).

We're writing this first draft of our newsletter 39,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, en route to Heathrow. Because our Fall trip to England was abbreviated and delayed a week by the late date of Rhinebeck this year, we've not been able to attend the two mammoth fairs in the British Midlands. Since these two events have always been a mainstay of our trips and an excellent source of good, affordable smalls, our efforts in the Cotswolds and London will be more challenging than ever. Looking out at the clouds below us, we’re optimistic that beneath them we’ll be able to find interesting items to add to our stock.

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It's now a week later, and we're in a departure lounge at Heathrow, waiting for our flight to be called. As we look back on our whirlwind week, we feel that we've been very successful. Once again, although our dollars aren't worth what they once were, our English friends were eager to help accommodate our financial limitations. Economic conditions have hurt their business, and they appreciate our custom, as we value the things they offer us. Consequently, we were able to fill several holes in our inventory and are bringing home a very interesting and appealing group of antiques.

Not only has our trip been productive, we’ve had a wonderful time, visiting with dealers we’ve come to consider friends, all of whom are experiencing the same difficulties that we and our American dealer friends are having at home. We’ve also enjoyed good food and some of England’s best real ales, and spent time exploring the English countryside, which becomes more familiar with each visit, but never less magical. We’re eager to be back in Conway, but will carry with us many very pleasant memories of this journey.

We hope that, if you're close enough, you'll be able to join us in our shop on November 10th and 11th for our annual FALL GALA, when our new finds and several pieces we've set aside for the event will be displayed for the first time.

WEEKEND SHOP HOURS

UPCOMING SHOWS

November 10 & 11, 2007

Gala Fall Opening

at our shop in Conway

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November 16 & 17, 2007

Wethersfield Antiques Show

Click here for our complete show schedule for 2007.

This Month's Featured Inventory

A Selection of Recent Finds

Click on the image for details and price

American Furniture

18th century New England ladderback armchair SOLD

Large poplar cupboard in original mulberry paint

Maple stretcher-base table with 2-board pine top

Handsome maple 6-board blanket box in old grungy surface SOLD

Banister back side chair in old black

See more in our Furniture galleries by clicking here.

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Smalls

Two attractive 19th century American ovoid jugs

See more in our Smalls galleries by clicking  here.

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Paintings

We've just reduced the price of each of these two paintings. If you've thought about them before, you might like to take another look.

Poul Kastrup (1920 - 1987)

Blazing Winter Sunset

Gerard Vanvliet (b. Maastricht, 1931)

Church in Kortenhoef

See more of our stock of Paintings by clicking here.

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Jewelry

22k Queen Anne ring with amethyst SOLD

To visit our Period Jewelry gallery click here.

This Month's Feature

Last April, on our Spring trip to England, we visited the historic village of Lacock, in Wiltshire. When we arrived, we were delighted to discover that our visit coincided with Lacock’s annual Spring festival, when many of the young people of the village decorate yards, gardens, and buildings with whimsical scarecrows. Prizes are awarded, and visitors come to the village from miles away. As a Halloween gift, we share with you some of the photographs we brought home with us last April. Click the highlighted text for Scarecrow Festival in Lacock Village.

With Jennie now married to her darling George, she seems to need her diary less than in the nine months leading up to her wedding. October's entries shift to domestic concerns, and Jennie begins to feel homesick for her friends in her earlier life. Click to read Jennie Williams, October 1873

Tales of the Trade

This month’s tale illustrates the power of the Internet and its uncanny ability to connect people and things. Read The Nathan Lane Blanket Box.

The Back Page

October Rhinebeck was disappointing to many, and dealers were going to hilarious lengths not to let unusually slow sales break their spirits. One such attempt gives us this month's Back Page.

Pippin's Page

Throughout last Spring and Summer Pippin has spent most of his daylight hours on our screened porch. As the evenings have become cooler, he’s decided that a perch near the fire offers a comfortable vantage point from which to oversee his domain – and catch a few winks. Click here for Pippin's Page.

Click to visit the Jan and John Maggs Antiques website.

Links

Click for directions to our shop.

Click for links to all past issues of this Newsletter.

For additional 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