August 27, 2015
Anastasia's Antiques /Facebook
A vintage factory clock from the Wheaton estate in South Jersey, dating to approximately 1910.
Next to the fridge and the kitchen cabinet, the most valuable and eye-catching features of any home are its distinctive ornaments and conversation pieces. Taken as a collection, a well-curated set of rare or one-of-a-kind antiques can make all the difference between nice and memorable homes.
Finding these treasures can be a challenge, so to help with your antiquing escapades, here are five of the best places to hunt for collectibles in the Philadelphia area.
617 Bainbridge Street
Dedicated to artifacts from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, Anastasia's Antiques carries everything from unexpected oddities to jewelry, wall art and furniture. With reasonable prices and an inviting space, guests are warned to block out ample time to get lost in the hunt for the perfect object or unique gift. The glass eyeballs, dolls, vintage lamps, and signage will leave you feeling as though you visited a museum in its own right.
6148 Lower York Road, New Hope
Victrola record player at New Hope Antiques Center. (New Hope Antiques Center/Facebook)
If you're in need of an addition to your collection of figurines, the New Hope Antiques Center is the place to go. A wide range of vintage handcrafted objects and throwback technology from clocks to cameras will greet you inside this calm and casual suburban showroom. The affiliated People's Store in Lambertville, New Jersey, and Stone House in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania, also provide tours through history and the chance to take a few pieces of it into your possession.
631 Bethlehem Pike, Erdenheim
While many antique shops have a more focused, boutique-style store design, those with a more general set of home furnishing needs will find everything they're looking for at Phantastic Phinds consignment store in Erdenheim in Montgomery County. In particular, those seeking out well preserved second-hand furniture will have plentiful options to choose from while perusing a variety of artwork, books, collectibles, toys, cookware and home decor.
424 High Street, Burlington
A look inside the Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium (Historic Burlington Antiques & Art Emporium/Antiquesnj.com)
No matter how much hunting one collector may do, buyers of antiques will likely find the most eclectic blend of vintage goods in a location where multiple dealers have set up shot. At the Historic Burlington Antiques & Art Emporium in South Jersey, more than 65 individual antiques and collectibles dealers work together under one roof in a 14,000-square-foot space. Specialists in framed prints, furniture, records, primitive and cottage antiques, and crystal, porcelain, glass, and chromeware are among the cast of dealers visitors will encounter at this diverse location.
936 Pine Street
Sampler in silk and linen by Eliza Jones of Chester County, 1798. (M. Finkel & Daughter/Samplings.com)
Specializing in antique samplers and needlework, this family-owned location along Pine Street's historic antiques district has been operating since 1947. The father-daughter duo of Morris and Amy Finkler bring an academic focus and encyclopedic knowledge to their customers and clients, partnering with major museums and historical societies to assemble their collections. An internationally acclaimed selection of antique samplers, needlework and silk embroideries dating from the 17th through the mid-19th centuries is joined by two floors of antique furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries and an extensive collection of period accessories.
