Skip to main content

The Antique Shops at Kensington


Gold Buddha

Today, I went for an adventure in Kensington, MD to check out antique row.  Amazing.  Very cool little area with more antiques than you can comfortably absorb in a day.  The shopkeepers were amazing and kept recommending the next shop in the row, which I have to say shows very good manners and respect for one's colleagues.  One shop was extremely enjoyable.  A cheerful young woman was working there and began to tell me the history of the shop and its owner.  As I was walking around, I had noticed the buddhas which were substantial and very attractive.  The shopkeeper explained that the owner's father had owned an auction house and had been a great collector of Asian antiques.  Although none of these beautiful relics were for sale, they were a real treat for the eye.  There was also a nice navajo squashblossom necklace (well over a thousand dollars) and an amazing small ivory buddha ($500).


Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright

In a shop run by a pair of very sweet, humorous and interesting sisters, I was shown a gorgeous coin silver ladle made by a local Washington silversmith in the 1850's.  Very nice, simple and elegant piece.  And, as we noted, it's always great to see old antiques made by craftsmen still lovingly kept in the community where they were produced.  Also in the store was a terrific plaster bust of Franklin Lloyd Wright.  This piece, as they explained was made in a series of busts of persons who were thought to be the "light of the world" at the time.  Since Wright brought us so many masterpieces of modern architecture, I have to agree with the sentiment.  I certainly enjoyed this shop.  And while I can't remember the names of each of the shops, if you go visit you really should see them all anyhow.



Orange Abstract
 
Fleur de Lis Pin
 The last shop with items I coveted was large and had some fantastic turquoise and silver jewelry.  I chatted with the friendly owner whose son had also gone to Tulane and now was in business in NY.  She had a great store and upstairs I saw two items I loved.  One was the dynamite fleur de lis pin and the second was the awesome giant orange abstract painting.  All said, it was a wonderful few hours in the shops at Kensington.  My last stop was the charity shop for the prevention of blindness which had two lovely volunteers.  There, I bought several knives, cufflinks, and so on and have added those to my shop.  To see those purchases, check out my shop at:



.

Comments

  1. MiriamOctober 8, 2010 at 1:48 AM

    Nathan, this blog is incredible! I adore your shop--everything's a treasure.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Bricker Foundry: 1800 Degrees or 2,000 Years

  A small element On a cold January morning, I had the distinct honor to visit the Robert Bricker foundry in Virginia. The foundry is part of a large secure industrial complex tucked away in a corner of a small town. When I arrived, Bricker came down from his sprawling perch to meet me. Though I have met him numerously, it's easy to forget how tall he is. We climb flights of stairs before entering his art complex which he has maintained for over four decades. Suddenly, entering the room and seeing the scale of his operation, Bricker seems both imposing and yet not as tall in the context of the high ceilings and sweeping open wall studios. I am endlessly fascinated to hear the story about how artists found their talents and when. At one moment, Bricker brought down a model airplane-- his first project. He had built this airplane as a boy from balsa wood, even making the detailed rivets by snapping off the heads of pins to line the wings. He demonstrated the spring-loaded machi...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Afternoon at Trimble's Tavern Antiques with Chris and his 'Witnesses of History'

Chris Trimble Trimble's Tavern Colonial Shoe Buckles, a pewter pap boat and riding spurs To spend a few hours shopping at Trimble's Tavern is an extraordinary privilege. And if you chance to engage Chris Trimble, two things become immediately evident. Firstly, you are speaking with one of the most expert pair of eyes in the mid-Atlantic antiques business and secondly, you have come to a place that has been overtaken by an extreme passion for history. From the imposing and rare large scale furniture pieces to the smallest coin, everything here exudes a past-- and when he's able to avail himself (only because he is in such high demand), Chris Trimble will be your guide. His formal education and a lifetime of scholarly study of colonial American history is instantly accessed as he recalls the stories of how he acquired a piece and why it's so important. You will find his shop just as you enter the small town of White...
Post a Comment
Read more
How Can I Tell if it's Silver or Silver Plated? In the world of antiques, the line between silver and silver-plated can be deceptively thin. As dealers, we’ve all seen it—the moment someone brings in a cherished piece, convinced it’s solid silver, only for a closer examination to reveal otherwise. It’s an easy mistake to make; after all, silver-plated items were crafted to mimic their solid counterparts, often with impressive skill. But understanding the difference is essential, not just for assessing value but for appreciating the craftsmanship and context of each piece. Allow me to share the most reliable methods of identification, each with its own advantages and pitfalls, to help you discern the genuine article from its plated counterpart. You can, of course, reach out to DC Silver (www.dcsilver.com) for guidance about specific items. 1. Hallmark Examination Method : Look for hallmarks or stamps. Sterling silver often bears marks like "925" or "Sterling," wh...
Post a Comment
Read more