If you’re checking in with styleNorth this morning on your way out to the Christie Antiques Show in Dundas, Ontario, here’s my advice:
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Clear out the trunk of your car before you set off and toss in some old blankets in case you need to wrap something.
- Take a little more cash than you’d be comfortable spending. You will inevitably find something fabulous that you just can’t live without and to come up short, well, it would be criminal wouldn’t it?
- Pack a lunch if you have special dietary requirements and take some bottled water. There is a “food court” at the show but the line-ups are long and you’ll have to cross a very large site if you feel peckish.
- If you find something wonderful, buy it. Don’t resolve to “be back” because you’ll never locate that particular stall again and even if you do, the thing you’re chasing will inevitably be gone.
- Go slow: There is so much to see that you’ll feel urgency nipping at your heels — ignore it. Take your time, enjoy the day and kibitz with the dealers who also want to have some fun.
Good luck!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Thanks for the tips, Chris. I am presently packing my wheat-free lunch and will be heading to Christie later this morning. Perhaps I’ll see you there!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Wonderful idea, if I was not renovating I would be there as well. Great tips, another would be if you attend early (when the VERY best bargains are found) bring a flashlight.
Good luck to all the *hunters*
September 13th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Can anyone please help me find the dealer contact information for a vendor who was selling a curly maple set of drawers and matching headboard yesterday (September 12th) at Christie. He was located towards the end of the alphabet and was selling furniture only. His booth had a cover. He gave me his card and I can’t find it. I’d really appreciate the help. Thanks.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Chris,
Just wanted to thank you for posting about the Christie auction. It was our first time and we picked up a very nice bench, globe and mirror. Wish I’d seen your tips in time!! We did run out of cash and in May I’ll be sure to get there early!!!
May 30th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Despite the funky weather in the morning, things cleared later, the crowd was really large it seemed, and ‘we’ had a fun day and sold down pretty good. I may not have enough stock to do the fall show but that just means I’ll be there shopping.
Some extra advice for future visits, added to those from Chris:
?Wear comfortable shoes.
…Or boots, or waterproof hikers, it was wet and muddy this spring, they had mud mats and straw thrown down in the bad spots, one parking lot was closed due to mud, dealer trucks were getting stuck.
?Clear out the trunk of your car before you set off and toss in some old blankets in case you need to wrap something.
…Carry it out yourself if you can; they have a courtesy service pick-up area where kids in golf carts can shuttle pieces from the booths but as is always the case they were backlogged an hour or more by the afternoon.
?Take a little more cash than you’d be comfortable spending. You will inevitably find something fabulous that you just can’t live without and to come up short, well, it would be criminal wouldn’t it?
…They have cash machines on site, but they get notoriously huge line-ups and even run out of cash; no cheques!
?Pack a lunch if you have special dietary requirements and take some bottled water. There is a “food court” at the show but the line-ups are long and you’ll have to cross a very large site if you feel peckish.
…They have been licensed for the last couple shows but I don’t think folks really know this yet, a beverage in the afternoon totally fits the mood of the show.
?If you find something wonderful, buy it. Don’t resolve to “be back” because you’ll never locate that particular stall again and even if you do, the thing you’re chasing will inevitably be gone.
…I had several “be backs” this year, all disappointed, I sold a table to a couple who lingered for a few agonizing minutes while the ‘be back’ agonizinly lingered a few feet away waiting to jump back in, you snooze you lose; that said, if the price is just wrong (and many are) don’t hesitate to say ‘I’ll be back’ when you have no intention – several dealers just need to learn to price better.
?Go slow: There is so much to see that you’ll feel urgency nipping at your heels — ignore it. Take your time, enjoy the day and kibitz with the dealers who also want to have some fun.
…If you arrive early and are near the start of the line to get in, one good trick is to walk past several of the booths and go into the centre and start looking slowly, inevitably the crowd enters the field and logjams the closest booths so the bargains closest to the gates disappear quick.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:59 am
Gus, great tips, thanks! In the end I couldn’t make it; I’m starting a big project this week and there was all kind of preparation I needed to do that kept me in the city. I heard from another dealer that the crowd was especially big this year, which is amazing considering the gloomy weather. See you in September!
May 30th, 2011 at 10:48 am
I definitely didn’t follow your 5th tip – I walked away from a gorgeous vintage Persian rug and when I went back, it was gone! I did manage to buy a smaller one from the same vendor, but it wasn’t the same :( It was my first rodeo, so next time I will be more prepared!