Antique Props to Movie Sets and Interior Decorators

ANTIQUE SHOP HAD ITS MOMENTS - JUST NOT SO MANY

GOOD CUSTOMERS, GOOD CONVERSATION, AND SOME GOOD YEARS

I COULD NEVER DENY THAT WE HAD SOME VERY POSITIVE, HAPPY TIMES, WORKING AT OUR LITTLE ANTIQUE SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. IT IS TRUE THAT SOME UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND NASTY CUSTOMERS DID MUDDY THE WATER, THEN, AND NOW IN THIS SO-PERSONAL RETROSPECTIVE. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MANY MORE GOOD AND FRIENDLY CUSTOMERS, THAN KNOBS, EVEN THE THOUGHT OF JUST HAVING THOSE FEW FLIES IN THE OLD OINTMENT, SOURED ME ON THE WHOLE STORE CONCEPT. I CAN HANDLE A PARTNERSHIP, AS WITH OUR BOYS MUSIC SHOP, BUT NO MORE SOLO ACTS. I LIKE THE BUSINESS TOO MUCH, TO CHANGE HOW WE ARE WORKING TOWARD OUR RETIREMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTIQUES.

IN FAIRNESS, THAT STORE GOT US OVER A LONG, LONG ROUGH PATCH, AS A PLACE TO SELL THINGS FROM, THAT IN REALITY, HELPED US REGAIN OUR FINANCIAL FOOTING. JUST BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY CLOSED THE STORE, WHEN I ACCEPTED AN ASSIGNMENT WITH THE CROZIER FOUNDATION OF MUSKOKA, I DID OFFER A HUMBLE APOLOGY ABOUT BALING ON A FRIEND. THE STORE HAD BEEN MY SOUL-MATE FOR THAT HALF DECADE, WHEN I'D TALK TO MYSELF (LIKE HOW THE HELL I GOT INTO THIS MESS) ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY, LOCAL POLITICS, HYDRO BILLS, WATER RATES, TAXES AND SUNDRY OTHER THINGS THAT ANNOYED ME. I CREDITED THAT BASEMENT SHOP, FOR GIVING ME A PLACE TO ESCAPE, INTO WHAT WAS MY DREAM BUSINESS/HOBBY, AFTER I LEFT THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS IN THE SUMMER OF 1990. I'M PRETTY SURE MY GHOST IS STILL SITTING IN THEIR, WAITING FOR MY BODY TO COME BACK AND CLAIM IT. THE STORE WAS A GOOD LISTENER AND THERE WAS NO ECHO. JUST COMPASSION.

THERE WERE MANY CUSTOMERS I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IMPOSING, OR PARTICULARLY DEMANDING. THEY CAME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF PROFESSIONS AND BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND PERSONAL / BUSINESS ECONOMIES. I USED TO DEAL WITH A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERIOR DECORATORS, WHO WERE ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO TALK WITH, AND HELP ADVISE. I CAN REMEMBER A CHARMING WOMAN, WHO WAS A CITY BASED INTERIOR DESIGNER, WHO HAD COME TO SEE ME, WHILE VACATIONING AT HER MUSKOKA LAKES COTTAGE. WE HAD A WEE CHAT WHEN SHE CAME IN, AND THEN SHE JUST WANDERED ABOUT, OCCASIONALLY YELLING BACK AT ME A QUESTION, OR TO MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT ON THE NEWS OF THE DAY. SHE CAME UP TO THE DESK WITH A BEAUTIFUL ZITHER (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LIKE AN AUTO-HARP), AND WAS JUST ECSTATIC SHE HAD FOUND THE PERFECT DECORATOR PIECE FOR A JOB SHE WAS DOING IN TORONTO. SHE BOUGHT ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER ANTIQUES THAT DAY, AND WHEN SHE WAS PAID UP, AND ALL THE ITEMS PACKAGED AND READY TO BE LIFTED INTO HER CAR, SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, HOW MUCH I ENJOY VISITING YOUR SHOP. YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY NEAT PIECES, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAD THAT ZITHER. A CUSTOMER HAS WANTED ONE OF THOSE FOR AGES, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ONE AS SMALL AS THIS, PERFECT FOR HANGING."

OF COURSE, THIS IS WHEN THE ANTIQUE DEALER INHALES BUT CAN'T EXHALE UNTIL THE REST OF THE EXPLANATION IS MADE. "BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MY CLIENT WANTS IT PAINTED WHITE AND HUNG ABOVE HER STEINWAY," SHE ADDED. "BLASPHEMY. HERETIC. OUT OF ORDER, OUT OF ORDER," IS PLAYING IN MY HEAD, BUT NOT LEAVING MY TIGHT LIPS. YOU SEE, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FOUR HOURS I STOOD IN THE HOT SUN, TO PURCHASE THAT SAME ZITHER. I'D HAVE HAD LESS OF A HICCUP IF SHE HAD SAID THE STEINWAY WAS GOING TO BE PAINTED WHITE, AND THE ZITHER…..WELL, IT IS A WORK OF ART. NO DEALER ON EARTH WANTS TO HEAR THAT A PIECE OF THE SHOP COLLECTION, IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED, SO THAT SOMEONE WILL HAVE A NICE WHITE "WHATEVER" OVER THE GRAND PIANO. DESPITE WANTING TO EARN A LIVING, AND SELLING THINGS HELPS ACHIEVE THAT END, WE STILL GET A LITTLE CHOKED-UP, WHEN WE RECALL THE MOMENT A PIECE WAS ACQUIRED….AND WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH TOGETHER UNTIL THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT DRIVES US APART. WHY SHOULD I CARE IF THE ZITHER IS PAINTED WITH A WHITE ENAMEL? I WAS PAID FOR THE PIECE. MADE THE PROFIT I WANTED. SHOULDN'T I HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING I PURCHASED, AT A MUSKOKA AUCTION, WAS GOING TO ADORN A BRIDAL PATH PARLOR, AND BE THE PREFERRED MATE OF A STEINWAY? HELL NO. I WAS FREAKING DEVASTATED. BUT I ALSO KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP, TAKE THE FOLDING MONEY, AND WHISTLE WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE BANK. I HELPED HER LOAD THE ITEMS IN HER CAR, THANKED HER FOR SHOPPING AT BIRCH HOLLOW ONCE AGAIN, AND WE SHOOK HANDS ON A GOOD BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT. THEN I GRUMBLED ALL AFTERNOON. WE JUST DON'T DO STUFF LIKE THAT, AT LEAST US ANTIQUE TRADITIONALISTS. TO ME, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS BUYING A NICELY PRESERVED 1967 MUSTANG, AND INSTEAD OF ITS ORIGINAL RED FINISH, PAINTING IT GREEN BECAUSE IT MATCHES THE TRIM ON THE GARAGE.

ON ANOTHER OCCASION, SUZANNE WAS HAVING A NICE VISIT WITH AN ANTIQUE DEALER, WHO WAS ATTENDING A LOCAL SHOW. IT WAS A GENERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ANTIQUES AND THE FUN VISITING MUSKOKA EACH YEAR TO ATTEND THESE WEEKEND SALES. HE BOUGHT A FEW ITEMS, INCLUDING A SMALLER PINE TABLE. NOW HE WAS A NICE GUY, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK HE WAS BEING PURPOSELY RUDE, ALTHOUGH SUZANNE AND SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME, DID FIND IT A LITTLE INTRUSIVE. HE ASKED IF WE HAD A HAMMER IN THE SHOP HE COULD BORROW. YOU'RE GETTING THE PICTURE, RIGHT? UPON GIVING THE GENTLEMAN THE TOOL, HE WENT OVER TO THE TABLE HE HAD JUST PURCHASED, PUT THE ITEMS ON TOP, DOWN ON TO THE RUG, TURNED THE PIECE UPSIDE DOWN, AND COMMENCED, RIGHT THERE, SMASHING THE LEGS OFF THE TOP. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BIRCH HOLLOW MOMENTS I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT. SUZANNE WAS SPEECHLESS. HE WHACKED THE FOUR SPINDLE LEGS OFF THE TOP, HANDED BACK THE HAMMER, TUCKED THE PARTS UNDER HIS ARM AND BID HER FAREWELL. HE CAME BACK, SAID "I'M SORRY MAM. I FORGOT TO GIVE YOU BACK YOUR TABLE TOP," HE SAID, PROPPING THE WOOD AGAINST THE COUNTER, BEFORE LEAVING ONCE MORE. DID YOU THINK HE WAS GOING TO TAKE THE OLD PINE TOP? WHEN SUZANNE WAS EXPLAINING THIS TO ME LATER, I ASSUMED HE WAS JUST BRINGING IT DOWN IN ORDER TO PACK HIS VEHICLE MORE EFFICIENTLY. SO THERE IT WAS. A PINE TABLE TOP WITH NO LEGS. HE WAS A NICE GUY. JUST KIND OF A TOOL WHEN IT COMES TO FINESS.

ANOTHER GENT, HAD A FASCINATION WITH AN ASIAN PAINTING ON SILK WE HAD, THAT WAS IN A HUGE, CUMBERSOME FRAME WITH GLASS. I WAS AWAY WHEN THE CUSTOMER CAME IN, WHO HAD PHONED US EARLIER IN THE DAY, ASKING IF WE STILL HAD IT IN THE SHOP. I HAD TALKED TO HIM ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE, AND SUSPECTED HE MIGHT STILL BE INTERESTED IN THE ART PIECE. SO SUZANNE WENT IN A LITTLE EARLIER THAT MORNING, TO CLEAN THE GLASS, AND FRAME, AND PLACE IT IN PART OF THE SHOP WHERE THERE WAS A BETTER LIGHT. WE ARE REAL FUSSY ABOUT OUR ART PIECES TO THIS DAY, AND ALWAYS PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO THE SECURITY OF FRAMING, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS A LARGE PANE OF GLASS. THE CUSTOMER CAME IN, AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE SILK PAINTING. WE HAD PUT A SIGN ON THE FRAME, IN ADVANCE, THAT IT WAS "ON HOLD," UNTIL HE DECIDED WHETHER HE WANTED IT OR NOT. HE CAME AROUND THE CORNER TO TALK WITH SUZANNE, AND OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL STAND-OFF FOR A BETTER PRICE, IT WAS A VERY FRIENDLY SITUATION. BUT HE WAS ONE OF THOSE CUSTOMERS, WHO JUST ISN'T GOING TO RUSH ANYTHING THROUGH, AND OVER ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO, HE WOULD PICK IT UP BY THE FRAME, AND MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, HE THOUGHT HAD A BETTER SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. SUZANNE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE WAY HE WAS PICKING IT UP TO MOVE. WE MOVE SUCH HEAVY FRAMED ART WORK BY THE WIRE HANGER, NOT THE UPPER FRAMING. SO AS HE MADE YET ANOTHER SHIFT OF THE ART WORK, FOR A BETTER LOOK, THE FRAMING JUST SEPARATED, TOP FIRST. WHILE THEY BOTH TRIED TO STOP THE GLASS FROM POPPING OUT OF THE FRAMING, IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN PROTECT HUMAN FLESH FROM THE SOON-TO-BE SHARDS FLYING EVERYWHERE. SUZANNE GOT SEVERAL SUBSTANTIAL CUTS AND THE SILK ART WORK, FELL OUT AS DELICATELY AS AN AUTUMN FLOWER PETAL HITS THE GARDEN EARTH. IT WAS SPARED BEING SLICED AND DICED BECAUSE THE GLASS FELL AWAY FROM THE INTERIOR.

THE CUSTOMER OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT, THEN AND THERE, AS HE HELPED SUZANNE WRAP HER INJURED HAND. HE WAS VERY CONSIDERATE, AND ASSISTED WITH THE GLASS CLEAN-UP IN THE SHOP. THERE HAD BEEN OTHER CUSTOMERS STANDING NEARBY AT THE TIME, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE. STRANGE THING THOUGH. THE CUSTOMER ACTUALLY LIKED THE SILK ART-WORK BETTER OUT OF THE FRAME, THAN WHEN IT WAS BEHIND THE NON-GLARE GLASS. WHILE HE DIDN'T BUY IT, ON THAT OCCASION, HE DID ARRIVE TWO WEEKS LATER, AND PURCHASED THE PIECE WITHOUT NECESSITY OF RE-FRAMING. THE ONLY DISCOUNT WAS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO GIVE HIM BEFORE THE FRAME WAS DESTROYED. IT HAD BEEN A CONSIGNMENT PIECE. WE JUST SACRIFICED OUR COMMISSION, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, WE HAD BEEN THE STEWARDS OF THE INVENTORY…..WHERE THE MISHAP OCCURRED. BUT THAT SAME GENTLEMAN, CONTINUED TO COME INTO OUR STORE FOR YEARS AFTER THIS MISADVENTURE, AND ALWAYS MADE A SIGNIFICANT PURCHASE.

THE MOST FUN I HAD AT BIRCH HOLLOW, WAS WHEN A MOVIE PRODUCTION CREW SHOWED UP, ON AN OTHERWISE BORING SATURDAY AFTERNOON, TO LOOK FOR PROPS THEY NEEDED, FOR A SUMMER CAMP MOVIE, BEING MADE ON ALGONQUIN PARK'S TEA LAKE. THE FOUR OF THEM, IN THE PROP DEPARTMENT, WERE ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF THE HUNT, WORKING OFF A LIST THEY HAD, ABOUT STATIC ITEMS TO ADORN THE WELL KNOWN SUMMER CAMP. I HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR WORK, COMING UP WITH SIGNIFICANT PROP ITEMS FOR MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILMS, THEY'D WORKED ON IN THE PAST, AND HOW THEY OFTEN HAVE TO VISIT HUNDREDS OF SHOPS LIKE MINE, TO FIND THESE SMALL DECORATOR PIECES, FROM QUILTS, BLANKETS, TO OLD JACKETS, HATS, VINTAGE TOYS THAT WERE EITHER HUNG OR STREWN ABOUT TO ENHANCE THE MOOD OF THE PARTICULAR SHOT. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MY OWN BUSINESS, FROM THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PROP PICKERS, WHO BESTOWED GREAT CREDIT ON MY OWN ANTIQUE SELECTIONS. THEY SPENT CLOSE TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT AFTERNOON, AND CLEANED ME OUT OF A LOT OF INTERESTING PIECES……SOME THAT I CLEARLY SAW WHEN WE ACTUALLY WENT TO SEE THE MOVIE. THEY WERE FRIENDLY, CONSIDERATE, AND WILLING TO SHARE SOME INSIDE INFORMATION, ABOUT THE HUGE WORK-ORDER, GATHERING MOVIE PROPS….ESPECIALLY SMALLER ONES LIKE I HAD IN STOCK, THAT WERE PRICED AFFORDABLY. YES, IT WAS ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS, I REALLY ENJOYED BEING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MY CUSTOMERS. THIS HAD BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND INSTEAD OF BEING PISSED OFF BY A CUSTOMER'S ACTIONS, I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE WITHOUT ME. I LOVE ALGONQUIN PARK. I WOULD HAVE GLADLY OFFERED MYSELF AS A PROP FOR FREE. I COULD HAVE DONNED THE MACKINAW COAT, AND PLAYED THE ECCENTRIC….POSSIBLY DEMENTED WOODSMAN HERMIT, OR THE CRAZED AXEMAN. OH YEA, IT WAS A COMEDY. I CAN DO THAT TOO!

THE MOVIE, BY THE WAY, WAS "INDIAN SUMMER," STARRING DIANE LANE AND ALAN ARKIN (AS UNCLE LOU). THE CAMP THEY WERE FILMING AT WAS, TAMAKWA, ON TEA LAKE.

I HAD THE GENERAL ADVANTAGE OF MEETING MANY UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, WHO LIKED TO POKE THROUGH MY OLD BOOKS, AND LECTURE ME ABOUT STUFF…..WHICH WAS OKAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY A TUITION FIRST. I CHATTED WITH MANY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS (I ALWAYS HAD A SELECTION OF OLD CAMERA GEAR), WOOD WORKERS, AND EVEN STEAM ENGINE SPECIALISTS, WHO WORKED ON GRAVENHURST'S WELL KNOWN "R.M.S. SEGWUN" AND THE "WANDA" THE RESTORED STEAM YACHT THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE EATON FAMILY. I HAD AN ARRAY OF HISTORIANS, REGIONAL, CANADIAN AND MILITARY, AND A FEW CELEBRITIES I VOWED ALWAYS TO PROTECT. THESE WERE GREAT MOMENTS IN A SIMPLE, NO-FRILLS ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE SHOP ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO. I HAD ANOTHER FRIEND CONNECTED TO THE FUNERARY ENTERPRISE, AND SHE SAID SHE'D GET ME A HORSE DRAWN HEARSE IF I REALLY WANTED ONE……AND I DID, BUT MY MARRIAGE CAME FIRST. I THINK SUZANNE WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY WITH THE HEARSE IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT NOT THE TEAM OF HORSES I'D NEED TO PULL IT. WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE ANTIQUE-HAULING OUTFIT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN, TO MAKE MY HUNTING ROUNDS, EVERY WEEKEND DURING YARD SALE SEASON. I'M A SHOWMAN FIRST, ANTIQUE DEALER SECOND. A WRITER, WELL, I GUESS THIRD WILL HAVE TO DO!

IT WASN'T A GREAT DAY OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUSTINGS BUT I DID COME BACK WITH A WONDERFUL VINTAGE PRINT FROM A WELL KNOWN NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND PRINTER, IN A NICE ORIGINAL FRAME. IT IS ENTITLED "THE HILLS OF BONNIE SCOTLAND," BY WELL KNOWN ARTIST / ILLUSTRATOR, F.W. HAYES, FROM THE LATE 1800'S, WE BELIEVE, ON INITIAL RESEARCH (NOT CONCLUSIVE HOWEVER). IT WAS PRINTED BY THOMAS FORMAN & SONS OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND….A PLACE I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF, DURING A TRIP IN THE MID 1970'S. HAYES WORK IS FEATURED IN MANY ADVERTISEMENTS OF THE DAY, AND WAS FEATURED ON HUNDREDS OF POST CARDS……MANY STILL BEING SOUGHT AFTER IN ONLINE AUCTIONS. THIS IS A NICE FULL COLOR PRINT AND IS IN GOOD OVERALL CONDITION. MY COST WAS $12.00. IT COULD RETAIL FOR UPWARDS OF $75.00 PLUS, DEPENDING ON PARALLEL AUCTION SALE RESULTS. THERE ARE MANY ART PRINT COLLECTORS WHO ADMIRE THE WORK THAT GENERATED FROM THAT FAMOUS NOTTINGHAM PRINTER. IT'S A "BONNIE" PRINT FOR A "BONNIE" HOUSEHOLD. I'M GOING TO HANG THIS IN MY OFFICE. SUZANNE IS DOING EXTENSIVE FAMILY HISTORY PRESENTLY, IN PREPARATION FOR HER FUTURE BLOG, DETAILING OUR RESPECTIVE FAMILY TREES, THANKS TO THE MATERIAL AND CONNECTIONS (NETWORKING OF OTHER RESEARCHERS) OF ANCESTRY.CA. I ALWAYS KNEW SHE HAD SOME SCOTTISH BLOOD IN HER…..ESPECIALLY THE TIME SHE WOULDN'T GIVE ME A QUARTER TO GET ACCESS TO A PAY-TOILET STALL, SUGGESTING INSTEAD, "AYE, YOU CAN DO THE LIMBO WEE LADDIE." I SWEAR, AT THAT MOMENT, I HEARD THE EERIE SKIRL OF A DISTANT BAGPIPE. THE PICTURE, HUNG ABOVE THE COMPUTER TABLE, WILL TAKE HER TO THE OLD COUNTRY….THE SMELL OF HEATHER IN THE AIR, AND KNOWLEDGE SHE STILL HAS THE FIRST DOLLAR SHE EVER MADE. AYE, INDEED! WHAT A THOUGHTFUL ANTIQUE DEALER HUSBAND I AM!

IN OUR WEEKLY SEARCH FOR CANADIAN SYMBOLS, ON A HOST OF ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE ITEMS, IT WAS ALMOST A BUST TODAY, IF I HADN'T STUMBLED UPON A "MADE IN CANADA," MAPLE LEAF "SOUVENIR SPOON" RACK, TO GO WITH THE MAPLE LEAF SPOONS WE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. ALL ITEMS WERE FOUND LOCALLY. SOME AT THE RE-STORE, IN GRAVENHURST (BEACH ROAD), AND THE RACK, AT THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP, IN BRACEBRIDGE. WE'RE NOT GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR REGION TO BUY THESE NATIONAL SYMBOL PIECES….WHICH INCLUDE ONLY ITEMS WITH THE IMAGE OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, THE MAPLE LEAF, AND THE GOOD OLD BEAVER. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF TIME TO LIVE UP TO OUR BOASTING, AND MANY ENJOYABLE MILES TO TRAVEL IN THIS BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. MUCH MORE TOMORROW. "HOW I INVESTED MY YOUNG LIFE, AND OH SO MUCH MONEY, AT LIL & CEC'S CORNER STORE, IN BRACEBRIDGE, WITH FRIENDS CRACKER JACK AND A LUCKY ELEPHANT.