Antique Accents

08/14/03

Country, but not cutesy, artifacts from America's agrarian past in a simple, Williamsburg-style setting.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
This long-time antique gallery is the first in a row of antique shops clustered near the Marietta Square, making it a favorite for weekend browsers. High tin ceilings, creaky wooden floors and stenciled walls with blue moldings make a simple backdrop for a high-quality yet unpretentious collection of vintage Americana. Owner Ann Miltiades, who comes from a long line of antique dealers, sorts the gems from the junk.

The Goods
Laura Ingalls Wilder could walk in and feel right at home. McGuffey readers, punched-tin pie safes and rustic furniture recall America's pioneer days. Simple relics include rolling pins, medicine bottles, jugs, wooden tools and tobacco tins. Many of these antiques have been restored so that they can still be used every day, just as they were intended. A collection of vintage metal toys adds a touch of 20th-century nostalgia.