Having just returned from England, I think it’s appropriate to mention one of my passions. Antiques are a visual and symbolic link to a bygone era. They tell a story of how life was experienced in decades and centuries past. I find it euphoric to come across an 18th century book from the Enlightenment or a bakelite encased 1950s radio. It’s the history behind the object that intrigues me most.
My favourite area to treasure hunt, happens to be the Cotswolds. The area is loaded with charming antique arcades, stuffed with Edwardian top hats, 400 year old farm tools, 18th century literature and vintage radios. The Cirencester Antique Arcade, Antiques at The George in Burford and The Old Ironmongers Antiques in Lechlade are impressive examples of what to expect from such a shopping experience. Although, many of the antique shops are run by savvy dealers, I find the prices to be much more reasonable than posh large city shops.
There are less expensive ways to find antiques, but time is an issue when traveling. When I lived in the CotswoIds, I used to frequent auctions and charity shops throughout Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Many auction items can go dirt cheap. I have a pretty good idea of what to pay, from having researched similar collectables. Even with the exchange rates being unfavourable for North Americans, dollars still go pretty far in vintage goods. Many items are also much rarer in the USA, meaning they are also more valuable when you bring them home.
You don’t have to plan on traveling overseas for that set of 18th century, 1st edition novels, there are many exceptional Chicagoland shops to explore. Logically, you find an abundance of antiques from the late 19th and 20th century in America. 1940s-1950s furniture and other utilitarian household objects seem to be more available in North America. You can still find plenty of gold speckled formica covered, steel framed kitchen tables.
My favourite Evanston antique shop is, Secret Treasures, located on Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue. Most of the items you will find here date from the 1920s to 1950s. You might even find a 1950s Radio Flyer Wagon or an original 1940s military issued Hamilton watch. It’s always an uncertainty to see what might appear, which is half the fun.
Here’s a mention of the Dempster Street shopping area in Time Out Chicago.
