Fantastic
finds abound in Hub antique shops
by Marketa Hulpachova
In a city like Boston that so values its history, it’s no surprise there are lots of tangible artifacts to be found here—if only you know where to look. Panorama visited six of the area’s top antique stores to find out what treasures customers might unearth on a typical day.
A Room With a Vieux
361 Boylston St., Brookline,
617-277-2700; 20 Charles St., 617-973-6600
As its name suggests, this lavish merchant
specializes in French antiques. With
locations in Brookline and Charles Street, A
Room with a Vieux (a play on the French
adjective meaning “old”) boasts handsome,
chateau-style Louis XIV furniture that dates
back to 1860.
Favorite find: The stunning
1854 gilded Erard piano (pictured, right) in the Charles Street showroom is
co-owner Jeffrey Diamond’s great love. “It’s
the same type that Beethoven played on,” he
says. Priced at approximately $90,000, the
hand-painted instrument has been in the shop
for two years and is, as Diamond says, “a
sight to behold.”
Marcoz Antiques
177 Newbury St., 617-262-0780
When Marcoz Antiques first opened in the
Back Bay 34 years ago, it had substantial
competition. Today, as one of only a handful
of surviving antique shops on Newbury
Street, its clientele spans the globe. The
shop’s inventory of unusual, highly
decorative European imports is best summed
up by one of its greatest assets—a 6-foot,
1828 William IV leather daybed from the
estate of the English Baron de Rothschild
(pictured left).
Favorite find: The space’s
grandiose array of décor is also home to
whimsical paraphernalia, among them an 1828
Sheffield plate-covered sandwich warmer
(pictured left with store manager Fred
Campbell), priced at $1200. “Back then, the
kitchen in the house was usually far away
from the dining room, so people had a lot of
different devices to keep food warm,” says
storeowner Marc Glasberg. “This one, I must
say, is a bit quirky.”
Antiques on
Cambridge Street
1076 Cambridge St., 617-234-0001
As eclectic as it is extensive, the 6 rooms
of this 10-year-old emporium in Inman Square
are filled with home décor from all styles
and eras. Victorian furniture is housed
under the same roof as mod umbrella holders,
but shop owner Rob Werner is most fascinated
by 1940s design. “I like the simplicity of
it—it’s well thought out,” he says. “But
people usually go for the more traditional
stuff.”
Favorite find: The furniture
jungle in a back room of Werner’s store
hides his antique of choice—a 1910
empire-style dresser with brass inlay
(pictured inset, right, with Werner). “It’s a
very classical-looking thing,” Werner says.
The French mahogany has lived in the shop
for ten years but recently sold for $1400.
“It’s a handsome, tall piece,” says Werner,
patting the smartly designed cupboards. “It
makes a statement.”
Upstairs Downstairs
Antiques
93 Charles St., 617-367-1950
Nestled in historic Beacon Hill, the row of
shops lining Charles Street is regarded as
Boston’s antiquing Mecca. In the heart of
this cluster lies Upstairs and Downstairs, a
quaint place full of items your great
grandmother would have loved. A draw for
locals as well as tourists, the shop boasts
rustic finds like alabaster lamps, country
cabinets, and ironstone house ware made
popular again by Martha Stewart.
Favorite find: Shop patron
Greg Burke grins proudly as he holds up his
latest purchase—an 1890 porcelain Copeland
fish platter. “It’s for my daughter—she
loves fish,” he says. For Burke, a
Gloucester, Mass. native, the $220
hand-painted dish (pictured left, inset,
with Burke) is a reminder of his
hometown’s
golden days. “Gloucester was once the
greatest fresh fish port on the coast,” he
says.
Cambridge Antique Market
201 Msgr. O’Brien Highway, Cambridge,
617-868-9655 The historic brick building
near Lechmere Station originally housed a
casket factory. It now accommodates the
spoils of over 150 dealers whose diverse
collections display antiques, collectibles
and memorabilia from all eras. Wander
through this 4-story labyrinth and find
everything from faux fur to antiquarian
books to oak dressers.
Favorite find: “It has some
age,” says customer Linda Anderson of
Winchester, Mass., admiring her newly
acquired wall hanging (pictured right with
Anderson). Ornamented with floral carvings,
the yard-long, $45
decoration is a steal for
Anderson, who has a weakness for old
handiwork. “Like anything handcrafted, it’s
beautiful,” she says.
Massachusetts Antiques Cooperative
100 Felton St., Waltham, 781-893-8893
Tucked away on a quiet side street in
Waltham, Massachusetts Antiques draws
throngs of devoted patrons, many of whom
reside in Boston’s suburban communities.
Well-guarded by Mei-Mei, the canine
co-owner, the shop offers a wide and
eclectic range of antiques and collectibles,
offering pieces from ancient times all the
way up to the 1970s.
Favorite find: Co-owner Jerry
Freidus’ pet piece is a 19th century blue
Favrille glass vase (pictured left with Freidus). Crafted by Louis Comfort Tiffany,
the son of the renowned jeweler, it’s marked
with the maker’s telltale initials and
retails for approximately $1200. “We don’t
see a lot of Tiffany anymore— it’s becoming
rarer and rarer,” says Freidus. “What they
produce today, we call Ti-phony.”
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Brimfield Antiques & Collectibles Show
Rte. 20, Brimfield  For six days each September, the western
Massachusetts hamlet of Brimfield sees its
population of 3,000 multiply more than
tenfold as herds of antique dealers and
collectors from all over the world saturate
the mile-long stretch of grounds just off
the Mass. Pike. “It’s a cultural safari,”
says Massachusetts antique dealer Staci
Hartwell, who has frequented the
Brimfield antique show for the past
20 years. This year, the festivities
are held September 5-10 from 6
a.m.–6 p.m. and feature over 5,000
vendors. “It’s an incredible
experience,” Hartwell says. “People
walk around with briefcases filled
with cash.…I’ve seen people take
vintage clothing off their backs and
sell it—there are no rules.” The
event draws a crowd of collectors
and dealers from eclectic
backgrounds—from doctors and lawyers
to Indian chiefs, all of whom share
a supreme savvy and passion for all
things antique. As a result,
historical relics such as Judy
Garland’s Wizard of Oz ruby
slippers, authentic astronaut suits
and first editions of Uncle Tom’s
Cabin autographed by Harriet Beecher
Stowe have turned up in the past.
“When I see things like that, I just
get the jitters,” Hartwell says.
“They are selling our history—I find
that very moving.” Refer to
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