Large antique collectives with dozens of dealers in one place are nearly extinct. Fortunately Boston is still home to two: The Cambridge Antique Market (CAM) and the Massachusetts Antique Cooperative in Waltham. CAM is the larger of the two with five floors of many affordable treasures from 150 dealers! Some people hear the word "antique" and they think scrolly, stuffy and prohibitively expensive. This is NOT the case at CAM...
We've found plenty of vintage treasures at CAM, many under $30! Our purchases over the years range from one-of-a-kind chairs to an amazing vintage decorative fan we just bought (we'll feature this fan in an upcoming blog post!).
Most of the time that we stop in, a large number of the dealers are offering discounts of 10-50 percent off the merchandise. Be sure to bring a check or cash since you'll get a better deal if you pay that way. And it never hurts to ask "what's the best price you can do?"
At CAM you'll find goodies spanning every decade from the 20's to the 70's. Sure, there are some pricier items but across the board you'll likely find this an accessible "antiques" destination. Incorporating just one unique secondhand object into an otherwise modern space can add tremendous interest and warmth. So go check out CAM and see if you can find a treasure!
We'd love to hear about your experience with CAM and any other antiques destinations you think we should blog about.
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Comments (13)
The "antiques" dealers you've shown are similar to the so-called antiques stores in Montreal. There's almost nothing before 1940.
What's happened to all the 18th and 19th century hand-made antique furniture? Where did it all go? It can't ALL be in Vermont, can it?
No, some of that is in California.
There also used to be a couple of basement rabbit's warrens of antiques malls on and off Charles Street in Boston where there were always hidden delights if not treasures. Some even pre-dated 1940.
Finally made it out to the Cambridge Antique Market after living in Somerville for over 2 years....came home with this :-D
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg302/michpc/IMG_0292.jpg
btw Lisa, there are many many more dealer booths than featured in the photos above, many of which have older items, including a large furniture collection in the basement. They also do art framing and have a used bicycle section in the basement as well.
Treasures!
not local, but a similar concept can be found in Meredith New Hampshire at Burlwood on route 3...
My best find at the CAM so far has been a near mint white side shell chair with zinc H base for only $30!
There's also a small antiques shop at 121 Hampshire street not far from the CAM called Sadye & Co (W-Sun 12-6). I found my Selig Lounge Chair (Eames knock off) there for $50, she did have some more modern pieces, but it's a real hodgepodge of eras.
Kyle, if you ever get to Brimsfield for the monster antique show, I would love to see pics and get your take on it. I've never been, but always wondered it it's worth making a special trip.
(Anybody else have first-hand knowledge?)
What's happened to all the 18th and 19th century hand-made antique furniture?
It is in the fancy, expensive antique stores in fancy, expensive neighborhoods.
Brimfield is awesome. Bring lots of cash - but they do have ATMS. Its helpful to make a list of what you want bc its easy to get distracted by things you didnt even know you needed...Wear comfy walking shoes. I bring my own lunch but they do have food vendors.
Lisa, Brimfield is AWESOME! I went to the one in July and there was pretty much everything you can imagine there from cheap little nick knacks to super expensive and impressive antique furniture pieces, to vintage and antique hardware, etc. There are also craft dealers. One of my favorites was several dealers selling mirrors with frames made of old tin ceiling tiles. It's about 7/10 of a mile long (my mom and I measured it with her car's trip odometer) and the booths go back very deep. You could easily spend the entire weekend browsing. We breezed through it in one morning/afternoon and I ended up going home with a nice early 20th century oak dresser in nice condition for $125. I would definitely like to spend a weekend myself because I feel like I missed so much with only one day to browse.
The Cambridge Antique Market is great!!! I have been going for many years and you can always find something in almost any price range....So many different dealers with so many different items. Really good deals, really good stuff.
I LOVE THE CAM! i bought my bike there about a month ago, and i love browsing everything else; i am new to cambridge, and it reminds me of some of the better flea markets we had at home (sarasota, florida, where generally items were moving on from their first owner). i am finally moving into my lovely new apartment this weekend, and i am so excited to get to use it as a resource!
A fun place to spend an afternoon treasure hunting. We found some great silver platters there. One of the women at the front desk was a bit of a lourdaud, but oh well...