Brimfield Massachusetts Antique Show
Three times a year, 21 fields, more than 5000 dealers.
plenty of whimsy
vintage pottery
big green cupboard, old map, and night crawlers sign
(I'm moving in)
plenty of painted, chippy, shabby, cottage, garden
sweet white and green tete a tete chair
duck hunting boat
best industrial fan
so many great old windows
plenty of reproduction signs, but I think this is the real deal
one more look at the perfect hybrids of cottage charm and industrial salvage
Based on one visit, I think the best way to approach Brimfield is like an anthropological expedition, or perhaps a carnival---fun, weird, and try not to spend all your money on ring toss hoping for the life size teddy bear. There is high end, low end and everything between. Worlds collide--mint julep v budweiser, hot dog v. lobster roll, Neiman Marcus v Old Navy...
It's fun to just wander. Fields I'd been told were the best were kinda disappointing. Fields I'd never heard of were interesting. There were nice dealers and snooty ones. Prices seemed generally fair--not bargains, but not outrageous. Beware of reproductions. Wear comfortable shoes.
upcycled potting bench
Nice surprises: Good industrial and architectural salvage at reasonable prices. Well done upcycled furniture. Prices on old painted cabinets, pie safes (especially at the end of the week). Kicking myself for passing up the big wideboard cabinet in old pink paint for $200...
I'll show you what I did buy in my next post.
