The Antiques Capital of Connecticut
Recently, my sister, Laura, told me that she and her husband, Randy, needed to escape the winter doldrums and were taking a drive to Woodbury, Connecticut. Located in the western part of the state in scenic Litchfield County, Woodbury is known as the 'Antiques Capital of Connecticut.' This reputation became established more than 50 years ago when antiques dealers began setting up shop in the historic homes on and around Main Street. Woodbury soon became a popular destination for collectors and for the curious. I, myself, have made many trips to Woodbury and have found many great treasures. There are some lovely inns and some great places to eat. It's a fun place to visit. Please enjoy these photos from Laura and Randy's field trip.
1 The sign leading into Woodbury, Connecticut
2 One of many historic buildings in Woodbury, the Canfield Corner Pharmacy is a quaint, family operated business.
3 This is G. Sergeant Antiques - this converted barn houses a varied selection of period furnishings of English, American, Continental and Asian origins, dating from the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. www.gsergeant.com
4 G. Sergeant has been selling to museums, collectors, and the trade for over thirty years.
5 The large piece in the rear is a George III mahogany breakfront circa 1785. To its right is a Baltic cabinet whose doors are decorated with gilded metalwork.
6 A very impressive collection
7 This is a fine 19th century Chippendale style gilded mirror - very beautiful!
8 Another great mirror
9 A stunning game table
10 This is an Italian Tavolino table - exquisite inlaid wood!
11 Another room filled with fine pieces
12 Wayne Mattox Antiques is a trusted source for 18th and 19th century American furniture, paintings and folk art as well as primitives and antiques with historic appeal. www.antiquetalk.com
13 I really love this gilded weather vane.
14 The gallery is housed in a classic Greek revival home.
15 The rooms have lots of light and are painted with great colors. The dining table is a Duncan Phyfe design, one of 19th century America’s leading furniture makers.
16 This ship painting is by Thomas Willis, an idiosyncratic 19th century artist.
17 Willis, who worked for a time in New England's textile mills, executed ship portraits, using velvet for the hulls and silk and silk floss for the sails and rigging.
18 This painting is by Thomas Chambers, a 19th-century artist, known for his maritime and landscape paintings.
19 This painting box belonged to Harry W. Newman, a 19th century painter.
20 The slag glass on this art nouveau lamp is stunning.
21 This is an old pharmacy sign made of sheet metal - quite fun.
22 This beautiful bowl is French from 1820. This style of glaze is called Faience, generally defined as tin glazed earthenware.
23 A copper horse weather vane - these were often seen on top of old New England barn cupolas.
24 This painting, Man With Cockerel, is by Romeo Tabuena, a Filipino living in Mexico.
25 The Crossroads is a very unusual antiques store. http://sportingantiquesct.com/
26 This shop offers English and American furniture highlighted by antique and vintage accessories celebrating the horse, the dog, and decorative sporting accents.
27 Across the street is Martell & Suffin, specializing in 18th and 19th century English and Continental furniture and accessories. martellandsuffinantiques.1stdibs.com
28 This giant cast iron rooster is found outside of Monique Shay Antiques & Design. www.moniqueshayantiques.com
29 Monique Shay specializes in French Canadian painted cupboards, armoires, tables and accessories.
30 I love the giant pantry against the wall.
31 And also this corner pantry.
32 An unusual long bench
33 There are six showrooms in this New England barn.
34 This is a great kitchen island work space.
35 It was an entertaining and educational visit to Woodbury's Antiques district.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
I can't think of a better way to spend a winter day but for antiquing. It is so much fun. As well as looking at beautiful objects, one learns a bit of history. Plus there's that special connection with someone who used that object in the past. The Faiance plate had wonderful color, didn't it? Great photos. The pictures took along on their trip, a virtual excursion. This is a fun blog !
Posted by: Penny | February 11th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Good morning Martha, I really miss your posts, I was busy renovating our home in Kuwait. This is a very interesting post, I was introduced to antique furniture and antique accessories when I was a child. My mom is a great antique collector.
I was checking your furniture line, so classy and elegant. I wish you could post about your collection on your blog. Always wishing you great success.
Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | February 11th, 2010 at 3:54 am
Oh my gosh! I had forgotten how much I love to shop antiques! I love that corner pantry especially. Thanks so much for this little vacation for my mind before I start work today. You're the best, Martha and Laura!! *
Posted by: Lin Valentine | February 11th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Hi
Thanks sharing your pictures. Really enjoyed the antiques. I liked the paintings, especially the one in the round frame by Thomas Chambers.
Beautiful
Posted by: Thelma Day | February 11th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I absolutely adore the painting, where can I get more information about prices I have no idea this kind of paintings go for.
Posted by: Claudia | February 11th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Hi Martha and Laura,
I think a trip to Woodbury would get me out of my winter doldrums too! Lucky for me though, we don't have a lot of winter here in Florida. Anyway, what beautiful shops! I really like the Monique Shay French Canadian Collections and especially picture #29 with the old wooden floor and the giant pantry in picture #30. I think I would be so comfortable in that sort of atmosphere. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures Laura, and I hope you had a really fun day in Woodbury! Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 11th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I had a great time perusing Woodbury...so thanks Martha and Laura for generously sharing your photos and information! Some great finds in these shops.
Posted by: sherey | February 11th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I absolutely adore the picture of the outside of the G. Sergeant Antiques building. There is a special place in my heart for barn houses. I love when they are made into cozy restaurants as well. Thank you for sharing the pictures!
Posted by: Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) | February 11th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Oh, I just love it all! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Robyn | February 11th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Hi, first time checking Martha's blog. Big fan of Martha.
I am looking for blog buddies, I am a French designer.
http://www.lechateaudesfleur.blogspot.com
Posted by: isabelle thornton | February 11th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for giving us an idea where to go for winter blues. Now I am excited to see this antique place. Victoria
Posted by: Victoria of Bergen County | February 11th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Now I wish I'd explored Woodbury's antique shops when my brother lived up there!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | February 11th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I am going to Woodbury as soon as the weather is nicer! Loved the photos! Thanks
Posted by: Marlene(BJ Treasures) | February 11th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
We have been to Wayne Mattox's shop in Woodbury. Love it! His website http://www.antiquetalk.com has very informative columns on antiques. Can't beat antiques for the quality, aesthetic and history.
Posted by: Kate | February 11th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Hi Laura, Thanks for this magnificent blog about Woodbury, Connecticut's Antique Shops. You certainly have good taste as is shown by you fabulous photos! It looks like it was pretty cold and cloudy that day, but your interior photos made it seem very warm and cozy. Thanks for all you do to present Martha's wonderful blog. Really love seeing you and your fantastic kids on this blog occasionally and on her TV show. Take care and stay warm. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 11th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
I consider myself "a collector without borders" so during a treasure hunt weekend, we crossed the border from New York State into Connecticut and landed in Woodbury! Wow! What a wonderful, one-stop-shop if you adore the archived, the historical, and the lovely....
I can highly recommend Wayne Mattox Antiques. The beautiful collections are in a lovely, "home" setting ( which of course, allowed me to visualize these beauties in my own home) and the owner is extremely knowledgeable, quite a storyteller himself.
Treat yourself....make a trip to charming Woodbury, Connecticut...in any season.
Posted by: jessica trapasso | February 11th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Well, if I only could pile in the car and find such a wonderful destination. We used to make road trips just as Laura and Randy did/do. It just seems more and more shops and little antique communities have closed. Oh they were so much fun.
Posted by: Margie | February 11th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
WOW!! Thanks Martha for the great tour. What treasures !!
Posted by: Becky HK | February 11th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Hello Martha, Seeing images of those beautiful antique stores made my heart go pitter pat. I lived in Maine for over a decade and I very much miss New England's abundance of beautiful and historic architecture, and the rich and diverse array of antique stores. Just lovely! Trina
Posted by: Trina | February 11th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Thank you for posting all the great images from Woodbury! I've had an opportunity to visit Wayne Mattox Antiques on several occasions over the years. If you haven't met Wayne, you need to! He is a wonderful human being and a wealth of information on American furniture and folk art. He has a fantastic selection of antiques and is always willing to provide the history of each piece. I learn something every time I visit! After seeing all the wonderful pictures, I think it's time to make another trip to see Wayne!
Many thx,
Scott
Posted by: Scott | February 12th, 2010 at 12:15 am
Did you find anything that you had to have?
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | February 12th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Hi Laura and Martha,
Wayne Mattox's wife, Kathleen here. I can't tell you how thrilled we are that you loved our place (and commented on the room colors!). We have been renovating the inside and outside of our house/shop for almost 3 yrs. My mission was to make our place so beautiful that Martha would be pleased if she ever stopped in! Martha, you are a true inspiration and we are big fans. Thank you for promoting history and artistry and sharing your passion for antiques and design.
Posted by: Kathleen Dowd | February 12th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I really enjoyed the woodbury pictures. Thanks
Posted by: peggy McCullough | February 12th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Wow great images and blog!!!
although I have stopped collecting antiques I got quite excited viewing these Connecticut Antique Shops...since my grandmother was Georgianna Ives and her grandfather was the clock maker I always look for a reasonably priced clock by him..I can't help but think looking at all those stores if any of the Ives owned any of the items...I went through the same thing In Dresden Germany visiting there and Georgianna lived there with so much family History there of my German/American heritage.
Posted by: delia | February 12th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
This definitely would have been a nice getaway and diversion from the winter doldrums, especially since they surely are on the prowl with the heavy snows we've gotten in the last 2 weeks! These antiques destinations are always such treasure-troves, and one basically has to scour the premises several times, as one can miss so much the first time around.
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One thing that has helped me to escape to a different era this winter is my own treasure-trove of found/stored 'Early American Life' (which then evolved into 'Early American Homes') magazines from 1998-2001. I had subscribed to the publication with genuine interest those 10+ years ago, but I am SOOO much more enthralled NOW with the subject matter and content, that I find myself just being absolutely lost in the pages, with hungry eyes to take in visually the architecture of the period as well as thirst for the wonderful knowledge in words that I so seemingly devour. It's just wonderful, and I just might seek it out again as a near-future subscription possiblity.
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I'm glad that Laura got to get away and have a good time...I know I would've enjoyed myself immensely! (Thanks, Laura, for sharing your pictures with Martha and us!)
.
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 15th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I was wondering who was taking pictures in my store that cold day. Now, I know.
Thank you for choosing to feature our store along with the others, out of all the fine shops in Woodbury.
Dealing with a real dealer makes all the difference when purchasing antiques. Our knowledge and love of the items we all sell makes the buying and learning experience all the better for our customers. We invite all of your readers to visit our associations website http://www.antiqueswoodbury.com, and of course, invite them all to visit the shops here in our corner of Connecticut.
Posted by: Mike Suffin | March 2nd, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Upon occasion, I have had the pleasure of visiting Wayne's shop in Woodbury, Connecticut. Now that I live in South Carolina, I find myself visiting his website often (http://www.antiquetalk.com) just to stay in touch, and get my "North East cultural fix." . Wayne's shoppe is breathtaking! Martha, I am not surprised (with your keen eye and sense of style) that you have found this hidden gem nestled in the heart of antique country; and you have earmarked this particular shoppe as one of the stars amongst the galaxy of the many fine antique destinations Woodbury has to offer. Wayne's shoppe is an amazing resource for authentic, one-of-a-kind items, but it's his knowledge and love for this industry that keeps me coming back for more. Martha, thanks for continuing to share your impeccable taste with us. Keep these resources coming!
Posted by: maura | September 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I can attest to most of the comments here about Woodbury, CT because I live in town. The antique shops are an absolute treat to visit. Despite the fact that I've lived here a while, I'm always finding new and interesting things to do in town. There's also a fantastic museum in town that shows us what life was like during the revolutionary period. Speaking of revolutionary, there's going to be a re-enactment of the civil war here in the summer. You won't want to miss that. Hopefully it's ok to post a resource website for things to do in town, http://www.woodbury.mobi
Posted by: Michael | April 21st, 2011 at 3:07 pm