People come from all over the country to shop at the Brimfield Antiques Show which happens 3 times a year, May, June, and September. There are acres of fields all with many different vendors in curated “shows”. A few of the fields require a fee to shop in, but most are free to enter. And there seem to be multiplying numbers of food trucks as well! I ’m hardly an expert, but I live only an hour away and so I’ve had ample opportunity to attend, and the focus seems to have shifted slightly over the years. Today I overheard a number of dealers AND patrons complaining that it has become more reproductions and flea market fare than actual antiques…and they aren’t wrong. But there are still treasures to be had, and reproductions have their place in the scheme of things.
There is ALWAYS a wide variety of stuff and some of it is cool and some of it is totally bizarre. And some of the venders are quite, ummm…memorable as well…
It takes a certain amount of confidence to pull off an ostrich feather and sequin vest with a top hat and jean shorts!
This colorful character matched the equally colorful textiles for sale.
The hot items this year were rough wooden dough bowls and bread boards (most of which were mass produced somewhere and not actually antiques – but were still interesting décor items), and large baskets and basket trays – again, not old, or even vintage, but awesome nonetheless. And there were a lot of oversize glass bottles in both clear and colored glass. All GREAT fodder for staging and photo shoot styling!
Dough bowl filled with great looking birch bark pumpkins
Bread boards in a variety of sizes and shapes at the Brimfield Antiques Show
Large cobalt bottle at one of the Brimfield vendors - there were many of these at the show in different sizes and colors and they would make a fabulous statement vase for branches or leaves or berry stems
This was one of the smaller tray baskets and it was at least 30” in diameter. Wouldn’t these make GREAT trays on a large island, coffee table, or ottoman?
An assortment of large, rustic wooden bowls. The one in the background is filled with wooden scoops
We saw some, let’s just say “intriguing”, seating options…
Red faux fur stool having a VERY bad hair day
The crash helmet of chairs…words fail…
Metal patio chair complete with drink holder?! On a hot, sunny, summer day, I imagine it would add decorative grill marks to your thighs for you
There is always some really great furniture and architectural salvage
Pretty canopy crib, though I think not in any way actually safe for a baby with sides that short!
Fabulous carved leg detail on a farmhouse table at Brimfield Antiques Show
Multi-drawer lawyers chest. The drawers are labeled things like “Wills” and “Mortgages” and “Covenances” - I had to look up that last one to see what it meant?!
I don’t think this large wicker storage ottoman was old, but it would make a great coffee table!
Rustic table; metal base with wood top and end detail with metal trim and bolts. This would make a great casual dining table, just seat your LEAST favorite guests on the ends where there is no space for knees and you have to dodge the bolts to get to your food!
Beautiful French doors…I would design a house (or at least a room!) around these doors!
A pretty fireplace mantel and salvaged columns hollowed out as…planters maybe? Interesting to see how the fluted design was created from tongue-and-groove joined pieces
There were TONS of vintage-looking storage containers from wood crates to metal locker bins. These would be ideal for organization of a pantry or mudroom, or as storage solutions in a playroom or office.
Wire storage bins
Perforated metal storage bins - shown here stacked into a bookcase configuration
Assorted vintage crates
Authentic vintage milk bottles in a carrier. This would make a nice kitchen styling piece filled with flower stems
There were many other things too - painted and reproduction and refurbished furniture, tents full of dishes, tents full of rugs, tents full of clothes, tents full of…junk - all the wacky weird and wonderful stuff…here is a peek at some of the rest.
And then there was the food…every kind of food truck and concession imaginable! We opted for the gourmet grilled cheese and chased it with pastry from the British specialty desserts vendor…and then scooped up a bag of kettlecorn for the trip home!
Goodbye to Brimfield…until next May!
