Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-29
Past to Present

At the exposition enchanting
music boxes and singing birds and
dolls will prove especially spell.
binding to the youngsters that par
ents will have to bring along with
them because of the lack Of 'sitters."
Junior misses will be thrilled by the
dainty filigree jewelry while MON
is wandering around glancing at the
pressed glass, furniture, porcelains
and the blown glass that is being
featured at the showings. Pops
tinkering spirit will not move him,
although he will probably be fasci-
mated by the odd clocks. The tinker
ing around would probably be way
too expensive for the average house,
hold budget!
A local shop IN the Georgetown
section of town has also taken space
at the exposition. This shop is
very well known in the District and
is treasure trove for the sincerely
interested antiques-minded folk.
Items in this shop, as in many other
fine antiques shops, have been OBJ
tanned through collecting, sales and
appraisals of estates.
We questioned the owners of this
shop about how one could determine
"a true antique. They offer no fool
proof method for detecting and OBJ
tanning antiques. But they agree
that one should first of all deal
with a reliable dealer. Another
source of making sure that what
you are buying Is genuine is by
yuo ahfrHrv tol 0ri1o ca1nr Than IF
course, there is in Washington man
connected with the Smithsonian
Institution, who is an authority
on antiques and to whom you may
take your find" and have him pass
final Judgment on it. Another means
of learning about antiques is to con-
suit books by prominent men and
women in the field of study and COL
lection of Early American antiques
or whatever period you may possess
or wish to possess.
This local shop-whose booth at
the exposition will feature pieces
from their stock-possesses many ex-
amples of Early American antiques
and the various other periods which
collectors enjoy. There are old
prints, glass of the Early American
type, and the Venetian and the b.
hemian variety, silver, porcelains,
and other collectors items. OF his
torical interest in the shop is an
original Gilbert Stuart painting of
Charles A. Wickliffe, who was Post
master General during President
Tyler's administration and who fig
ured prominently in the annexation
of Texas. Another historical item is
the dining room table pictured &C
companying this article. 1t is one Of
the only pair of duplicate tables
made in the United States in
the period from 1900 to 1920.
The 18-foot banquet tables
mate is in the famed House of Sew
en- Gables" in Salem, Mass. The
table, which can be viewed at the
shop, was formerly in the Cover
nor's Mansion in Bardstown, KY, but
was brought to Washington when
Charles A. Wickliffe accepted the
postmaster generalship.
For those interested in clocks and
candlesticks there is beautiful blue
and gold Sevres porcelain clock with
matching candlesticks which be-
longed to the Inflated Marie An
toinette. They were brought from
the Petite Trianon Palace in France
Antiques are not out Of the realm
Of the average person. Yes, we know
that they are often rich mans
hobby, but one needn't actually pur-
chase anything at the showing OF
when wandering in and out of the
various antiques shops scattered
throughout Westinghouse car
buy" by looking. And you never
can tell but that you might be
willed a fortune in the near future
and be able to realize your dream.