Saturday, August 20

September Estate Sale


 Olde Mobile
Antiques Gallery, Consignment
Shoppe, & Estate Sales
1616 West I-65 Service Road South
(Between Cottage Hill Rd and Gov’t Blvd)

Announces our Exciting, Eclectic, &
Extraordinary SEPTEMBER 2nd, 3rd, & 4th
ESTATE SALE SPECTACULAR!

Featuring a wonderful collection of Mid-Century treasures from a fine local home, an interesting Manhattan estate, and an enormous Southern collection that features Oriental, Original Artwork, and new old stock Vintage Clothing!! Tons of furniture, hundreds of records, thousands of great books, tin toys, housewares, and collectible dolls!!

Over 25,000 items priced $25.00 and under!!

8:00 until 5:00 Friday & Saturday, September 2nd & 3rd
10:00 until 5:00 Sunday, September 4th

*Friday, September 2nd, Everything priced to SELL!*
*Saturday, September 3rd, All smalls and art are 30% off!*
*Sunday, September 4th, all smalls and art are 60% off*

Estate Sale entrance at rear of building


This month we have a Special Offer for our loyal customers! Review us on Angie’s List, Yelp!, Yahoo! Local, Foursquare, or  Facebook, then bring a copy with you to the estate sale for a free item from the $1 table, or $1 off any regularly priced item!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for exciting sneak peeks and announcements






Print this Coupon for $0.50 off any item at Rachelle’s Kitchen,
Snackbar located at the rear of sale area.

DRC Security Services protects you and your loved ones, morning, noon and night.  From burglar and fire alarms to life safety devices and 24/7 monitoring, we provide you with the security services you'd get from a national company at a local level!  We'll even be giving away a free alarm system to a lucky winner! It could be you! Call us today at (251) 660-2699 or visit us on the Web at www.drcsecurity.com. Peace of mind starts here with DRC Security Services!

Thursday, July 28

Summer Style Sizzles!

                         
Summer Style Sizzles!
Savvy & Sensational

Continental, English, and American Furniture, Opulent Accent Pieces,
Fine and Decorative Art Objects, Paintings, and Etchings,
Vintage Lighting, Silver, Rare Books, Jewelry



We invite you to visit our Gallery, Consignment Shoppe, and monthly Estate Sale to find the unique treasures we’ve gathered especially for you.

1616 West I-65 Service Road South, Mobile, AL 36693
251.661.9818

Friday, July 22

August Estate Sale

Olde Mobile
Antiques Gallery, Consignment
Shoppe, & Estate Sales
1616 West I-65 Service Road South
(Between Cottage Hill Rd and Gov’t Blvd)
Announces our Sizzling, Sultry, &
Sumptuous AUGUST 5TH, 6TH, & 7TH
ESTATE SALE SPECTACULAR!
Featuring a very large accumulation of treasures from an important East Coast collection, as well as an enormous, super fine and eclectic Spring Hill Estate that features Oriental, Victorian, and Vintage!! Tons of furniture, hundreds of original works of art, thousands of collectible books and cookbooks!!
Over 25,000 items priced $25.00 and under!!

8:00 until 5:00 Friday & Saturday, August 5th & 6th
10:00 until 5:00 Sunday, August 7th

*Friday, August 5th, Everything priced to SELL!*
*Saturday, August 6th, All smalls and art are 30% off!*
*Sunday, August 7th, all smalls and art are 60% off*

Estate Sale entrance at rear of building
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for exciting sneak peeks and announcements

Tuesday, July 12

Old Paris Porcelain: A History for Collectors


Collectors the world over, and particularly in the great antebellum homes of the Deep South, prize what has become known as "Old Paris" or "Vieux Paris" porcelain.  This refers to the incredibly gilt, painted, extremely decorated tableware, vases, urns, clocks, figures, inkwells, perfume bottles, and all manner of accessories created in and around the city of Paris, by over 30 different factories and hundreds of artisans, from the mid-1700s through the end of the Second Empire.  Styles vary from neo-classical to rococo revival, Gothic to Renaissance revival. The history of these pieces is as colorful as the items themselves. 

In the 16th century, trade with China began, and in the European aristocracy the collecting craze was born. Rulers in Italy, Germany, and France so desired the fine porcelains of the Chinese nobility, that they began costly experimentation to try to duplicate the secrets of real hard paste porcelain. Many tried to recreate the delicate ceramic beauties, but none achieved success until 1708, at Meissen, in Germany. Quickly, workmen who knew the ways were bribed and sponsored by nobles to come set up production in other locations.
Hard paste porcelain production came to France in the early 1740s at the Vincennes factory, but was moved promptly to Sevres and taken over by King Louis XV, who enacted laws restricting other French manufacturers, creating a virtual monopoly.  Paris' potters, decorating studios, gilders, and merchants were so vocal with their complaints over the restrictions, and public demand for the fine pieces was so high, that eventually the King's Council relaxed the rules to allow manufacture of monochrome pieces without gilding or relief decorations.
 Soon factories were seeking the patronage of nobles (most famously Marie Antoinette) for protection from the authorities, influence, and a secure source of business, which caused the royal factory, and in turn, the King's coffers, to suffer. Underpaid royal artisans and disgruntled craftsmen often stole molds and materials from Sevres to seek new employment with competing Parisian houses. Eventually the often ignored rules were relaxed, and the French revolution saw to the end of royal privileges and the resulting restrictions .
No single porcelain mark is synonymous with Old Paris porcelain, and it is estimated that around 70% of production in this era had no identifying marks at all. Due to the demands of a style- conscious public, the forms and decoration of the wares were produced in tremendous variety, changing with the fashion of the moment.  Early 18th century pieces, despite regulations, floral decorations with scattered sprigs and sprays were popular. Later 18th century Louis XVI pieces became more intricate, with birds, figures, and cupids featured. Marie Antoinette favored cornflowers, while the Napoleonic era saw an opulent visitation to neo-classicism. As the 1800s progressed, decorative arts flourished, and Gothic, Rococo, and Ornamentalism blended to create some of the most intricate works yet. The vast variety of forms contributes to the unending interest in Old Paris.

So, what should a collector look for in Old Paris? Since so many pieces are unattributed, and so many wonderful examples came from so many makers, there is no single "must have" mark to look for. Jacob Petit, Dagoty, Edouard Honore, and many others became known for their workmanship in the craft, and the factories of Sevres and Limoges were, of course, quite famous. However, condition is most important when looking at porcelain. Applied flowers, figures, and other dimensional decoration is delicate, so always inspect carefully for missing pieces, chips, and visible repairs. Also the condition of the gilding and glaze are important. Exotic character figures are rare; look for Chinese noblemen, sultans, fortune tellers, nuns, street vendors, etc.
As always, and most importantly, collect what you love. An object's value is meaningless if it's hidden away in a vault, instead of gracing the mantle in your antebellum home, or brightening up your spot for morning tea. Happy hunting! Please visit our website to see our fine selection of Old Paris porcelain by Jacob Petit, Dagoty, and Sevres, and more. www.oldemobileantiquesgallery.com

All photos copyright Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery, 2011

Wednesday, June 22

July Estate Sale


Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery, Consignment Shoppe and Estate Sales
1616 West, I-65 Service Rd.
(Between Cottage Hill & Govt.)
Announces our Annual EXPLOSIVE, FUN-FILLED, 3-Day, July 4th Weekend, ALL AMERICAN Estate Sale SPECTACULAR!!!!


This sale will feature a large and exceptionally fine Demopolis Alabama estate, an impressive Mobile estate from a prominent local educator, the contents of an Eastern Shore Antiques shop, as well as a massive New York City Collection!!!!
Stunning china, glassware & thousands of beautiful items for gracious living, tons of original art, our largest selection ever of furniture, rare and collectible books and bargains galore!!!!
Over 25,000 items, $25.00 and under



 8:00 till 5:00, Fri. & Sat., 10:00 till 5 Sun.
Friday, July 1st-Everything priced to sell!!!
Saturday, July 2nd-All smalls and art 30% off!!!
Sunday, July 3rd-all smalls & art 60% off!!!


It’s too hot and gas is too high to be anywhere else!!!
Estate Sale entrance at rear of building

 Sneak peeks will be posted soon on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to follow us for the latest updates!

Tuesday, June 7

Collecting and caring for: Antique and Vintage Rugs

Antique rugs are a wonderful way to add color, personality, warmth, charm, style, and personal taste to a room quickly.  They can establish your color scheme, your decorative era, your sense for detail, romanticism, fun - rugs can easily say anything you want to say within a room! You can use them to designate areas within a space, you can overlap them to create a lush, opulent effect, you can tie together your artwork and accent colors. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to saying who you are in a big, bold way!


So, what should you look for besides the style elements when shopping for vintage floor coverings? Persian and Oriental rugs are traditionally known to be valuable, but lately Native American and early Colonial American styles are gaining in popularity. Whatever your style, older rugs are more valuable, and age can be faked. Color is the main signifier of age, so here are the basics you'll need to know.

The colors available made from pure vegetable dyes is somewhat limited. The more extravagant and varied the color, the less likely that the dyes are vegetable based. Reliable synthetic dyes were not available until the late 1920s. A magnifying glass can be helpful; check to see if there is a smooth gradation of color from the base of knot to the tuft. Softening of the pile in old rugs causes the dye color to fade smoothly from dark at base to light at top of tuft. If aging has been faked, there will be a distinct light to dark line. If, when you break open the pile, the magnifying glass reveals a mid-tone band of color approximately half way up the tufts,  you may be sure that the aging of the colors has been enhanced by the use of various kind of bleach applied after the rug was removed from the loom, and the rug is not genuinely old.

Condition is also a very important consideration, so first of all, lay the rug on its face and look at the back to see if there are any light colored patches. If so, these could be the first signs of mildew, and you should pay special attention to them as you proceed. Fold the carpet across first in one direction and, after testing it, again in the other direction. To test, you'll twist the rug gently but firmly, gripping it in both hands. Stop the instant you hear any staccato splitting sounds.They are the foundation threads snapping as the rug breaks up. Check again for light patches on front and back of the design. If you decide to purchase a rug that does have condition issues, then let these hints help guide you in purchase price. Even a rug in less than perfect condition may have a long life of decorative possibility within your home. If you treat it well, a vintage carpet may survive for a very long time.

A good quality carpet pad can be your best friend in preserving antique rugs. You'll want something composed of completely synthetic fibers. Rubberized paddings often contain sulfur, which can break down fibers, and felt pads often contain woolen fibers, which attract all kinds of tiny pests. Cut the pad just under the size of the rug, so that bound edges will lie smoothly.

When vacuuming, use suction only, no beater bar, and move only in the direction of the pile. Never use carpet sprays or powders; they can damage delicate fibers and imbed between knots.

Lastly, know that sunlight is a danger to your rugs. If you place a brightly colored carpet in a sunny alcove, be aware that you will be replacing that lovely piece sooner rather than later. But, I always say, antiques are for every day, and you'll not truly enjoy your treasures if you over-think them.  Enjoy your finds in your home, and with a little care, they will be the things that make your house a home.











Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery
www.oldemobileantiquesgallery.com