The Bottom Drawer Antiques - An Icon Closed

The Bottom Drawer Antiques - An Icon Closed

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Posted 2021-01-08 by Tricia Ziemerfollow


This antique shop has been around since I was a little girl. We used to spend hours browsing the shop finding buried treasure to take home, followed by Devonshire tea at the little cafe in the middle.

I was down Mornington way and could not resist a nostalgic visit. It was so wonderful to again browse among the time machine of our Australian heritage before COVID arrived. They had everything from handmade lace to handmade glass to rare stamps, rare coins, or rare posters and paintings.

Our very first baby highchair was bought from here. It was an Australian original collapsible baby chair that turned into a wooden pram on wheels. It lasted for two babies, safe as, in glowing tassie oak.



So antiques are still alive and well in the Australian market. Some of us revel in real deep coloured Tassie oak, jarrah Australian handcrafted or 18th and 17th-century elegance in our furniture.



Compressed wood shavings with a fake plastic top, just does not appeal. It's not that it can't be stunning but it is about personal taste. Many people want to know the history of a piece of jewellery, glassware, or a desk that, maybe just maybe, Joan Lindsay wrote her first story at in 1942.



My mother-in-law loved collecting historic and artistic postcards. This is a passion I share. Most times my special cards to friends are rare postcards.


Sometimes, I have found simple vases, that are inlaid with silver for just a few dollars. Divine. Every day they give me joy.

Once I found a rare conch seashell over almost 500 centimetres in length and in mint condition. I paid a pertinence and it has pride of place in my seashell collection. I beachcomb for the rest.



The other thing you run into at antique shops are experts. If Granmum has left you a very pretty print by famous Australian artist and you have no idea, find one of these shops. You might find a tidy sum in cash treasure. But please get several opinions. Antique dealers like to buy cheap to make a profit, so make sure you are not taken for a ride. If you think you have something incredibly rare. Take it to a very reputable group like Sotheby's. They can auction it for you to get the best value. You will pay commission but you will get far more for the effort.



There are also numerous auction houses, but again, do some research to find out who is reputable. Once I dropped off a box of silver to get sold off. I thought it would be sold off piece by piece. They sold it as a whole box lot. It was hundreds of dollars worth of silver and silver plate. I went home after commission with $25. Not a reputable place. But again, it is buyer beware. Some want more money in your pocket, not yours, so find out when experts are having Evaluation Days, such as Rick Milne from 3AW.

But this shop at Mornington was a gem and a place with old-world service, a magic feel, and incredible bargains. Sometimes some things very old and rare are a far nicer gift than a cheap China glass plate.




Antique shops are rare treat for kids. It's like visiting a museum but they can explore, see and touch. They learn the value of old things and historical significance. They can handle items made to last. This is not 'Barbie Plastic Fantastic'. Instead, you find old handmade or hand-painted porcelain dolls. Although an original Barbie now in its box is valuable too in this day and age, it is now vintage.

It is a shame that this place that had been here almost my whole life is now lifeless. The owners have been trying desperately to shut down the website but online companies, just say, sorry you must log in online.

You might have started a business and used an IT consultant to set it all up, and then they left you with no details to be able to close it down. If you are not computer savvy, guess what; you are officially vintage as well, you are a non-existent being. So when you see the website for this place, it is not the owners' fault, they have tried everything to get it deleted.

But if you still want to prowl the historical halls of antiques, there are many venues. Try:

www.weekendnotes.com/mill-markets-geelong
www.weekendnotes.com/hunted-antiques-collectables-kilsyth
or
www.weekendnotes.com/waverley-antiques-and-collectables-bazaar

And search the rest of WeekendNotes Melbourne and find your special treasure.


#antiques
#art
#attractions
#bucket_list
#cafes
#child_friendly
#day_trips
#free
#mornington
#mornington -peninsula
#things_to_see
#tourist_attractions
%wnmelbourne
155935 - 2023-06-14 11:36:42

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