My Weblog

Royal Port Preparing for Historic New Castle Delaware Show!

 Are you looking for something to do on Sunday, August 30th? We are bringing our antiques on the road to our next show in Historic New Castle, DE. In its 22nd year, the Historic Newcastle Show is an outdoor show on the waterfront in Battery Park. Admission is $6.00 or $5.00 with a card. (we have plenty of cards at the shop) It's one of our favorites. The show is from 10 am -4 pm. We'll be planning and packing this week. If you're looking for something and are going to the show send us an email and we'll see if we have it. Or go to the show and stop afterward at the shop. (open until 5)  If you miss it I'll be posting photos from the show next week. Stay tuned. Suzanne

Peek at the New Inventory in August at the Royal Port!

We've been busy adding some nice inventory to the shop including several pieces of furniture and many smalls.  This post is a nice sampling.  One of my favorite new pieces is this pine jelly cupboard.  It has a nicely dovetailed case and side panel details.  The piece is in very good condition.   Complimenting the top of the jelly cupboard is a beautiful grouping of stoneware plates along with a small firkin and a beautiful bucket.  I added the brush (which I love) which was already in the shop.  The child's desk is another piece I had fun complimenting with some new and old inventory.  What a great desk for a child's room, kitchen or family room area.  Add a stool and some books and create a private area for learning.  (I'm surprised I didn't keep it for Sammy hmmmmm.)  Having a business and living in Salem County drew me to the oil painting sitting on the desk.  It reminds me of all our local farming scenes.  It is signed but I'm not sure if it was done locally.  Probably done in the 30's or 40's on a canvas board.  Another great desk to the shop is this grain painted table top desk.  It was probably used in one of our local businesses in South Jersey.  The interior has some small drawers with notations of a business.  It also has a drawers for storage below.  It's an overall interesting piece of business history.  In our architectural department comes this nice selection of early Pennsylvania door hardware.   All appear to be in working order.   Great for those restoring an early home.  Early hardware is sometimes a challenge to find.  We also acquired several nice hand woven splint baskets in varying styles.  Photographed is one that I thought was unusual in shape.  It is in very good condition and I believe to be from South Jersey.  Another great piece is this miniature blanket chest.  Mike and I love boxes and chests.  This pine dovetailed box is a nice miniature chest.  It is in beautiful condition.  It's ready to be added to your stack of boxes.  And last but not least I can't forget to mention Mike's latest Funky Find.  Although it's not a funky find but falls into the category of Mike's heavy inventory.  The heavier the better.  This toledo scale is very nice.  Needs a little adjusting.  Be careful using it.  It adds 50 pounds.  That's worse than the Doctor's office scales.  And not to worry, no one was hurt in the transfer of this piece from the truck to the shop.  Did I mention it was starting to pour and I was on the bottom end of it pushing it up the ramp to the porch?  It has a nice new home at the Royal Port.  It's a great conversation piece as well as a nice scale collectible.  Please stop in to see the fun new things.  Also mark your calendars.  September 12th and 13th we'll be having our annual open house weekend.  Look for invitations in the mail or additional information on our blog or facebook.  Suzanne

Royal Port offers great ideas for a Coffee Table!!

I was walking around the shop recently saying to myself  "We have a nice selection of inventory that could be used for a coffee table setting".   If you just purchased that new sofa or side chairs or are looking for a change to compliment your existing pieces, you may want to stop by.   One of my favorite styles is the cobbler's bench.  We currently have three in stock.  As you see pictured, each one is a little different design.  Two styles were made with the leather seats and one with a deep carved seat.  The one pictured first is new to the shop.  The carved seat allows space for books, magazines, candles, potpourri and much more.   The second one is fun with the drawer and the divided top.   The third one also offers a divided section and a leather seat.  In their day these were used for making and mending shoes.  Chests as coffee tables...... In our living room and family room we use blanket chests in front of our sofas. (we grew up calling it the couch)   Our shop is full of different chests to choose from.  We offer painted chests as shown in the photo of this blanket chest with the beautiful grain painted surface. They are great for storage.  In those drafty winters in an old house it's great to open up the chest to pull out a warm coverlet.  This red grain bin struck me as a great family room or outdoor room piece.  A great place to stash old photos, games or toys when not in use.  It offers a choice for a clutter free room.  The one pictured offers a bold red paint with a double lift top.  A perfect height for those tired feet at night.  The last chest featured is stained chest for a more formal setting.  This is a great size.  Again it offers nice storage space for all those unread novels, dvd's or decorations especially for the space deprived home.  It's both beautiful and functional.  The unusual as coffee tables..... Over the years I've been in several homes where they've used some fun antiques for coffee tables.   One example is the wagon.  The wagon offers the same amount of table space.  A piece of glass could be added to create a display area for small collectibles.  The one pictured is in great condition while still retaining the original paint and lettering.  Benches as coffee tables..... My last favorite choice is the bench.  The butchers bench pictured is a great example.  This was work height in its original form.  What a great display area for antiques to compliment the room.  The other example is a primitive painted bench for the smaller room.  Perfect for a few things or to stack some books under.  Both benches are new to the shop.  These are just a few of the items in our inventory that can be used for a coffee table.  We have many more benches, blanket chests and just the unusual.  Stop by and use your imagination.  Suzanne