Speaking of Antiquing – March 2020

This year, Pickety Place will be going through a series of changes. While doing so we will maintain quality items throughout the entire store.

The first major change is the introduction of Elly and Bryce who have significantly upgraded our social media presence. They are young and bring a fresh appeal to the shop with their mid-century modern interior furnishings. They know how to repurpose, restore, and stage items that will invite you to take them home.

Mid-Century modern is the era that spans from post WWII through the 1960’s. Items from the 1970s decade are called Retro. While the 1980’s and the 1990’s, for all intents and purposes can be considered Vintage, they have yet to have a defining definition.

2020 begins by inviting Deco items from the 1920s to be considered antiques. In the antique world, something must be 100 years old to have that distinction. The 1920’s reputation for wildness and overabundance is legendary. Décor and apparel were lavish. The world had come out of the Edwardian period and out of WWI and was feeling change in the air. Fashion was taking a turn to higher hemlines and less layers of heavy fabric. Women were wearing larger hats, and more furs. Automobiles became faster, and air travel was beginning. With this economic boom, the roaring twenties had begun. With the introduction of plastics and electric household appliances, life at home became simplified. By the end of that decade things radically changed.

We know that certain Pyrex and Carnival Glass have become antique, Depression Glass will soon follow. The term “Depression Glass” is a misnomer. We think of it as only glassware made in the 1930’s during the depression, when it was being manufactured all along. After the ’29 economic crash and hard times set in, few shopped for “luxury” items such as glassware. Manufacturers reduced their stock by providing premiums in soap boxes, foodstuffs and giveaways.

Most of the Pyrex that we feature is mid-century to Retro. In the 1970’s there was a huge Carnival Glass reproduction boom, and because of that we must be diligent to know the difference.

Rustic farmhouse and farmhouse primitives are still huge sellers for us. They evoke a time of hardworking, industrious families that made do with what they had, and what they had was made to last. Forged-steel tools, old wood- handled planes, wiffle trees, heavy-metal buckets, are just a small sampling of what has endured over generations. Just looking around the store I am amazed at how many items are antique. I love the blend we have created with collectibles and antiques. Come in and find your treasure.

Pickety Place has been a fixture in Jacksonville since 1986. We are open everyday except major holidays. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram at pickety_place.