We’ve all heard that April showers bring May flowers, which is certainly true as the rains continue in the Flower City, but, for me, May itself brings the unofficial opening of show and sale season.

The good news—or the bad, if you’re as limited for space as I am—is that garage sale signs are popping up all around town. Flea markets are starting to open. A lot of local organizations are holding their annual sales, and flyers for all the upcoming shows are being distributed wherever you go antiquing in the Rochester area—and I’m chomping at the bit.

Without a doubt, I’ll be tempted to go out collecting every weekend between now and Halloween, whether I should or shouldn’t.

Realistically, I simply can’t get to every event since I do have other things to do. What’s worse, I definitely don’t have the space to bring home any more treasures. Really, I should stay home and work on my own collections—and follow through with my New Year’s resolution to curate what I have rather than collect more.

Nonetheless, the local shows and sales beckon.

So far, I’ve been lured to the Genesee Valley Bottle show that was held last Sunday (but I resisted the first community garage sale at the Rochester Public Market). I made it to the Breweriana show that’s going on today (but will likely forgo the first Saturday at The Shops on West Ridge, even though it’s one of my favorite stops for collectibles of all kinds.)

Although I did give in and come home with a few new purchases from these show and sales, I also picked up a few curating tips along the way.

You see, committed collectors—especially ones who’ve sworn not to buy another item for their collections ever again—can learn a lot at events like these.

So…if you need a reason to justify going to any of the shows and sales in Western New York this year, read on. I’ve learned several things just by window shopping and noticing the merchandising more than the merchandise.

When you go out antiquing, you can, indeed, do more than shop. In fact, you can also learn the following four curating tricks:

How to Display Multiples of the Same Thing

Needless to say, many dealers specialize, so their wares often include multiples of the same items or many of their variations. Their displays can give you an idea of how to show off every Pepsi Cola bottle ever made or every individual piece in a set of Spode china.

By noticing how dealers stagger, elevate, and group items, we can get great ideas for displaying our own treasures at home. Maybe we’ll spot a booth with a lot of similar items. Maybe we’ll notice another dealer who has complete sets of things. In either case, we can walk away with a plethora of ideas—even if we can’t buy another single item for our collections.

How to Coordinate Various, but Related Items

Likewise, we can discover ways to incorporate related items together. Again, some vendors specialize in certain eras (like the Great Depression) or broad fields (like fashion), so their merchandise is usually a mix of different items that still belong together for some reason. Sometimes it’s whimsical style; sometimes it’s vibrant colors.

In any case, by noticing how different but related items are arranged—and even asking about the choices the dealers make—we can glean tips on how to create our own tablescapes and other varied displays. Some dealers just have an eye for organizing an eclectic mix of things, so we collectors can learn a lot from them.

What Kinds of Shelves, Racks, and Risers to Use

Another really useful thing to notice at antiques shows and collectible sales is what the vendors are using to display their goods on. Many use small bookcases on top of their sales tables, while others stand up small, flat-bottomed wall curios to accomplish the same thing (eye-level viewing of items).

Sometimes, you’ll see that boxes, tins, and other containers have been used to elevate the wares in the back, while hooks, hangers, and even clothespins have been used to display things overhead or at least up high. Old fashioned cork bulletin boards and picture frames outfitted with chicken wire are other ways to display different kinds of small items.

How to Pack Collectibles

One of the most important things to notice is how to pack and transport collectibles, which dealers do time and again. Many use packing paper, bubble wrap, and even quilted disposable bed pads to wrap fragile items. The latter two are studier and can be reused many times before becoming ragged. Some also use dish towels and large washcloths because, they, too, are soft and reusable.

Some dealers buy banker’s boxes or packing cartons because they have handles, which make them easier to carry. Others re-purpose liquor boxes because they come with dividers that often prevent items from knocking against each other. Some love plastic totes that are all-weather, can be color-coded, and have sturdy handles and locking lids.

Hopefully, you have lots of display space at home, so you won’t need to pack your purchases for longer than the trip home.

If you don’t, you might want to leave a comment and inquire about my plans to open a museum. That’s still my goal for 2019, and maybe we’ll see your collections there, too.

Happy Collecting—and Even Happier Curating!

Patti
The Committed Collector