Talk of the Trade: All I want for Christmas By Randall Decoteau The season of holiday gift giving is upon us and many I know are hurrying to and fro trying to discover the ultimate gifts for each person on their shopping lists. My ultimate fantasy is to find all of my gifts under one roof, so I decided to indulge myself with a trip to West Townsend, Mass. to see how much I could find in the shops there. I ended up at Hobart Village Antique Mall where 80 dealers on two levels have displayed a remarkable assortment of antiques, linens, jewelry, clocks, silver, glassware, vintage clothing, tools and household goods. The staff was full of ideas and hosted me for a few hours. Am I the only one who might like to go out shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts without having to worry about a budget? I decided to immerse myself in my ultimate fantasy and simply select the best items I could find for everybody on the list – all the while completely disregarding prices. My shopping spree turned out to be an excellent exercise in sharpening my taste level and I found some spectacular antiques in the process. Antique shops are the ultimate ‘green’ resource for recycled goods. Everything in the inventory has character, historical significance and a sense of individuality not found in your local big box store. And for those with a feeling for the past, these places offer shopping trends that you might not ordinarily think about. All I want for Christmas is any one of these terrific antiques and collectibles. Around 1950, the new modern Lucite handbag was on the cutting edge of fashion and it is so again today. This Llewellyn handbag with a beehive motif was produced in a plastic material very much like Bakelite. Three brass bees are set into the lid and tiny Lucite feet are on the underside of the handbag. The base stands 7 1/2 high. This bag is perfect for the femme fatale in your life. Price: $95. Photos courtesy Hobart Village Antique Mall, 445 Main Street, West Townsend, MA 01474, 978-597-0332, www.hobartvillage.com. Open six days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. I was very taken with this beautiful blown and cut scent bottle with silver top and crystal stopper beneath the cap. There is an old repair to the side of the neck and some wear to the ruby flashing, but the decoration is very unusual. Note that the central reserve depicts a steamship with smokestacks spewing smoke and coal dust. For those who like nautical antiques, this little four and a half inch bottle is a treasure. Price: $95. Silver lustre was originally created to simulate more expensive solid silver tea ware. For many years it fell out of fashion and could be bought for a song. Today, the ware is once again highly collectible. This three-piece silver lustre tea service was produced in England around 1825-1830. There are a few small chips revealing the dark red-brown body beneath, but the lustre finish is nearly intact. This pretty set might be a perfect foil for a cupboard full of Blue Staffordshire transfer ware. Price: $320. WWW.FONTAINESAUCTION.NET Page 24, Northeast Antiques, December 2009 The condition of this Victorian baby buggy is remarkable. The wooden frame, carriage and wheels are undamaged. The iron fittings are still in place; and the leather and silk sunshade is easily adjustable. The upholstery is a bit faded, but intact. This beauty is a perfect item for a doll collector or Victoriana enthusiast. Price: $950. The doll marked CMB Germany is priced separately at $525. www.northeastantiques.com