My Weblog

New Inventory throughout the Royal Port this Spring!

We have had a great month of buying for the shop.  Many of our new May Inventory items are from the old Weber's Candy Store from Bridgeton, NJ.   The store was established in 1888 and closed recently.  The owners, prior to retiring, were always set up at our local Salem City Farmer's Market and were always there with a smile.  Many of the items we acquired are those that the Weber's used in their daily candy making as well as things from the earlier years of candy making.   Many of the pieces including the glass, tin and wood trays are shown here along with the work table and copper candy pot.  Take a peak at May's album for detailed photos of all of our great finds.   Feel free to email or call with any questions.  Suzanne

New Inventory added to Finish out the April Album!

I love doing the monthly inventory albums.  It opens up a window for customers to allow them to view all of the new things that pop up here from day to day.  Each month I add to the albums throughout the month and notify customers through facebook when I update it.  For those of you that don't have facebook feel free to email us.   I will be working on a customer email database that will allow those that prefer email to also get notification when the website or albums are up to date.  This comes in handy if you don't want to miss out on that specific piece you have been looking for.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Enjoy the latest photos on the April Album.   Suzanne

Royal Port is Stocked for Your Indoor and Outdoor Spring Projects!

Springtime is always a nice push to get up and get started with those garden and household projects.  I know for us it is an exciting time to get some of those garden projects started behind the Royal Port.  We are beginning to spruce up Picker's Park.  (Don't worry I won't make it too organized)  We have acquired a large inventory of doors that include various styles of panel doors, board and batten doors, screen doors as well as panel and louver shutters.  It is a great time to stop with your measurements and find just the right doors or shutters for your restoration project at a very fair price.  It is also the perfect weather to look for fun and unusual containers and decor for your porch, garden or shed.  We are always adding gates, tables and chairs as well as unusual ornamental pieces for your garden.  April's New Inventory Album is ready for viewing.  Please feel free to call or email with any questions.  Have a great weekend.  Suzanne

Sometimes I Just Have to Pause to Ponder life at the Royal Port!

This has been a busy month for adding some great new things to our inventory.  Customers are always asking us where did you get all of this?   Today someone asked me where we acquired all of our early baskets?  From a collection?  I said no we gathered them over time.  I pondered our conversation afterwards.  I thought to myself, we are the gatherers of collections for our customers.  I know I hate to have just one of something.  I like to have collections to offer to our customers and to learn as much as I can about them.   I have the best job of all.  I get to gather collections of all kinds of early furniture, smalls and architectural while at the same time researching and learning about them at the same time.  And I get to work full time with my husband!  (Yikes! Mike may have some words to say about that!)  How lucky are we?                  Don't get me wrong, it is hard work but it is fun to share that same passion with our fellow customers and collectors.  On that deep note I have added more photos to March's Album.   Enjoy the new inventory photos and email or call with any questions.  More items are waiting to be researched and tagged.  I will post them soon.  Enjoy the beautiful weather.  Suzanne

Whew! Royal Port has been Mov'in and Shak'in to Get Ready for Spring!

It's always exciting to get new things for the Royal Port.  We were able to acquire a varied grouping of new items to add to the shop this month.  What's exciting is the addition of some bigger furniture pieces.   So the mov'in and shak'in comes into play when you have a truck or trailer full of things and you get to play musical furniture to welcome them to the already existing members of our inventory.   My mind is always racing as I run around the shop finding all the details to add to the new pieces and setups to make them feel at home in the mill. In the meantime I drive Mike crazy.  When the music stops, all is in its place and back in harmony waiting for you to stop by and enjoy!  While you are at home feel free to check out March's album.  It is full of photos and details of all our new finds.  Feel free to call or email with any questions.  Stop by to see our new look!  Suzanne

It's Not Spring Yet But the Royal Port is Blooming with New Inventory!

I hope you enjoyed the Customer Creations Postings.  We always look forward to getting your photos.  We have been busy adding an eclectic mix of new inventory which includes stoneware, furniture, treenware, early photos, pearl ware (which I love) and industrial. The new stoneware pieces include this beautiful 3 Gallon Blue Decorated Norton & Co, Mass crock along with several other blue decorated and salt glazed jugs and jars.  The stoneware fits nicely on this open bottom drysink/bucket bench.  This is a perfect furniture piece for any collection including stoneware, quilts and fabrics as well as baskets and books.    Included in this photo are additional new inventory  items that include a 5 Gallon Blue Decorated Crock along with 3 Sets of Exercise Pins and a Beautiful Red & White Signed Coverlet.  They all make a great statement in this set up.  I can't forget to mention the 6 Early Industrial Carts that are new to the Royal Port.  Carts are my favorite new items to the shop.  I enjoy doing various vignettes on each cart.  They are perfect for spotlighting different collections throughout the shop.  I think they would make a great coffee table.  Add a small crate or basket for books to add a little height.  Place a few plants, magazines and some of your favorite collections such as a few pieces of stoneware or a stack of boxes.  There are endless combinations.  I used one of them to showcase a grouping of strawberry crates and a few other pieces for texture.   Another great addition to our new inventory is this Early Grain Painted Dough Box with turned feet.  The carrier on top is sporting the latest in antique exercise equipment.  They are my favorite things. (not that I exercise!!!)  We acquired a nice collection of 5 pairs of various style dumbbells in very good condition.  There are additional photos and shop shots in our February Album.  I will be adding a few more things each week.  Check it out!  Always feel free to call or email if you have any questions or want us to hold anything.  Have a great weekend.  Suzanne

 

Where Has January Gone? Check out What's New at the Royal Port!

Hope everyone is having a happy and prosperous New Year.  Sorry for the late post.   We had some hardware technical difficulties but I am up and running again.   The new camera is ready to take some great shots of all the exciting inventory that will be coming our way!  I posted a few new things on the January Album.  I will add more items this week. (Many things came and went before I could get them on the album.)  One of my favorite new items is this old wallpaper table.   It has both a country and an industrial feel.  The table top panels have breadboard ends.   Since it was meant to be a portable worker's table, it all comes apart and the base folds up.  It could always be converted to a stationary table.  Another great addition to this month's inventory is this pair of early step back cupboards. They are each 2 piece.  They are from the Carter Building in Woodbury, NJ.  The top cupboards have adjustable shelves for display or collections of books, while underneath is a terrific space for displaying prints, fabrics, or any storage needs. Terriffic pieces for the home, office or retail.  We continue to get some great architectural pieces.  These early 20th century carriage style garage doors are in good shape.  They would be perfect for any space, hinged or on sliders. They are stained on one side as seen in this photo and painted on the exterior.  Check back this week for additional photos.  I will also be posting Customer Creations in the upcoming week.  Thank you to all of our creative customers who have shared photos of their great ideas using things that they purchased from the Royal Port.  I always look forward to posting them.  Don't forget to check out the January Album.  Suzanne

Royal Port Wishes All a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Michael, Sammy & I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We were out buying this week and picked up some nice things.  I added 32 new photos to the December Album.   For those of you who need to do some last minute shopping, I added some new setups throughout the shop.  We added a beautiful appliqued quilt along with a diminutive redware crock.  We have a nice supply of dough boards and cutting boards which are always a favorite.  For the gardener we added some wheelbarrels to our porch inventory.  Take a peak at the December Album for all the other new inventory items.  We will be here tomorrow from 10am-4pm.  Gift Certificates are available for that hard to buy Antiquer! Stay tuned for updates to our show and events schedule for 2012.  Have a Happy New Year!

The Royal Port is Brimming with New Inventory this Christmas Season!

Last week kept us very busy getting ready for the Yuletide Tour. A few things got stashed away until this week.  This week has been catch up week.  As I post this Mike is cleaning some great pairs of doors to add to the shop.  I have been cleaning and tagging many new smalls for the shop.  I took a break to post a new album for December.  The album consists of a nice mix of architectural, furniture, smalls and industrial.  (the usual and unusual)  One of my favorite photos is of a nicely detailed painted mantel along with some newly added spindles.   The arched detailed middle of the mantel would be complimented well with a nice arched window hung above. (hint hint Mike).   Another new shop favorite is this 4 door cupboard.  The cupboard is not very deep but is perfect for small storage or collectibles. Our new stock of early mason jars makes a beautiful statement for the holidays.   Take a peek at the rest of our December Album for the rest of our favorites.  Just a few reminders for Christmas Shoppers.  We do offer layaway.  Gift Certificates are available for your loved ones that shop here.  Don't hesitate to stop by to make a wish list.  And finally, stop by anytime for a nice cup of Joe or hot chocolate and some cookies.  It's always ready!  I will post updates on facebook as I add new photos to the December Album.  Keep checking.  Suzanne

Some Great Examples of Industrialization in the New Inventory Added to the November Album!

This month we added several things that are testaments of what the Era of Industrialization was all about as well as the Small Business Person peddling their trade in their city or town.   We have had many interesting early inventions come and go in the shop over the years.   One of our latest pieces is the Chatham Cranberry Sorter.  As you pour in the cranberries and turn the handle the cranberries are screened and sorted in the trays below.  This is a small version as compared to larger scale ones I uncovered in my research.  The sorter has its original paint and stencil decoration.    It is in excellent condition.  Another interesting invention is this early meat grinder.  Very intricate in its design and very sharp.  (my hand witnessed this while I was cleaning it)   You feed through the top, turn the handle to rotate the blades and voila ground meat out the side.  I would not be interested in cleaning this after every use.     And my new  favorite piece to the shop is what was used by the common man, a cobbler's box.  I was pleasantly surprised when I opened this box.  The exterior of the box with its leather hinges was beautiful by itself but when you open the box it tells a different story.  The interior of the box was outfitted with all the tools needed by the cobbler.  There are several shoe lathes and hand tools as well as the small nails, needle and thread and sanders.   Leather is tacked on the sides to hold the tools needed in place.  This is the type of piece I think of when I hear someone ask "What is an Antique?"  This reminds me of simpler times in America.  Please enjoy additional photos of these items as well as the 60 photos of new inventory added to the November Photo Album.   It is mid November and there are already 125 photos in this album.  Make sure to check out the albums throughout the month.  I update them as new inventory is added to the shop.   If you see something feel free to call or email.   Enjoy the new photos.  Suzanne