Antiques – Antiques Inside and Out

They may not be this big, but many old fountains, whether free-standing or wall mounted are being brought indoors these days. This early 20th C. fountain just might stay out doors. Completely restored, cleaned and in working order he could be priced from $800-$1,200.)Antiques Inside and Out.
When it comes to the month of March, we may talk of lions and lambs, but the Italians put it best, simply “Marzo é pazzo” (March is crazy), an old saying, often delivered with a dismissive shrug or wave of the hand.
It’s all about the weather, of course. It’s impossible to dress for days that can be wintery in the morning and turn to summer in the afternoon, or vice versa. This weekend, will we be working in the garden or staying indoors?
Believe it or not there are some antiques that don’t know whether they will be indoors or out these days. Some folks are finding that things like old garden statuary, fountains, urns, shutters and other bits of architecture are just too beautiful to remain weathering the elements outdoors.
I just got an email from a reader who didn’t want to know the value of the lightning rod, but whether he should chance displaying it near a window. I told him that lighting rods attracted lighting because they were placed higher than surrounding structures and had wires attaching them to the ground. But, still, I wouldn’t put it by a window.
Your question might be: What’s a lightning rod doing indoors, anyway? Well, they’re neat, and many of them, especially those from glass-blowing regions like South Jersey, are decorated with blown art glass.
Another item finding its way indoors these days is the window shutter. It seems that every week some decorating magazine comes up with a different way to “re-purpose” old shutters and incorporate them into our interior décor.
Shutters most often find themselves hung up on a wall to display everything pictures and mirrors, to pots and pans and even greeting cards. Shutters have been turned into shelves, headboards, and closet doors. Serious do-it-yourselfers have created some very interesting furniture from shutters, especially as the base of end tables and console tables.
Old fountains, birdbaths and garden urns have come indoors to become planters or tables. A piece of garden statuary might find itself standing cozy by the fireplace. A piece of old wrought iron fencing might become a headboard or room divider.
Pedestals, porch columns, gingerbread detail, picket fences – all manner of architectural and garden items can come inside. You don’t have to as pazzo as Marzo to figure out how. Just use your imagination.
If you would like to have some things appraised, this Fri., Mar.22, at 1 p.m., I will be running an appraisal program for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) at the Cape May Lutheran Church on Pittsburg Ave. in Cape May.
I will also be giving some tips on today’s antiques market and answering your questions. The donation is $10 ($5 for Friends of the Physick Estate). Bring a few things. The more we see the more we learn. Hope to see you there.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.