First Trip to the Brimfield Antique Market

Just experience my first ever trip to the world renowned Brimfield Antique Market – over 1 mile of antiques from collectors around the country. It was overwhelming and exciting to turn the corner onto Main Street and see the spectacle of tents full of treasures as long as the eye can see waiting to be uncovered and streets full of people with high hopes for finding that ultimate find. It’s like a town springing up in a day with vendors opening their tents at daybreak. People travel all over to shop the tents looking for items to add to their collections, to furnish their homes or for the novelty of it. Store owners buy in bulk to fill their shelves, I saw one woman walk away with four bags full of vintage table cloths. Some people arrive with a specific goal, i.e. one man I saw who was asking everyone for foreign coins or others that are looking for reminders of their childhood (I found many from an old erector set to the toy telephone that recently made an appearance in Toy Story III), to those looking for something they need, or have just always wanted. I could have bought hundreds of things from metal egg baskets to mid century modern tables to industrial lighting to grain sacks, but was trying my best to be an observer. I spent four hours there and just barely covered one of the marts. (see pics below, and more below that….)

I did have a mental checklist of a few items I’d like to find, an old rolling pin, wood letter stamps, a wooden toy chest, vintage tent or canvas material, and an industrial pendant lamp. Five items, I was hoping to find there and walked away with two of them. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, can’t decide if you are better off going without something specific in mind. Actually, I think it’s best to do a mix to go with the mindset of “It’d be great if I found X, but I’ll keep my mind open because who knows what treasures I might find…… ” Trends of the show this year were 40′s/50′s table cloths, military gas masks, fiesta ware (tons of it!), trunks, tinware. You’ll find stuff you never knew you needed. Had to restrain myself from loading up on enamelware – I just love it and there were so many cool pieces in fabulous colors, none of which I needed, but all of it I wanted. So fun browsing all the collections, baubles and great finds.

Just as much fun as seeking at all the wares were visiting with the vendors who spend their years searching estate sales, yards sales and all over to purvey their collection. Each tent is unique and reflects the personality or ‘speciality’ of the seller. It’s fascinating. I feel like my friend Kim, and anthropological master, could do an entire study of the dynamics of the show the people who work the show and those who attend. The way people shop, the way they approach a tent, how they haggle, what items speak to people and why. I met a whole lot of characters and that only added to the fun.

Click for Tips for Surviving the Brimfield Antique Market.

Here’s a look at some finds from this years Brimfield Antique Market. (located near 23 Main Street in Brimfield, MA right past Sturbridge Village).