Levy, who lives an 18th-century stone house, is an expert in furnishings and housewares from the 1800s and the colonial period. Like other antiques dealers, he knows the history behind many of the items that pass through his hands.
Regarding stoneware, made from local clay and thrown on a pottery wheel, he relates, “In the late 18th century, a plague killed a lot of people in New York City. Potters living in Manhattan and New Jersey escaped to the Hudson Valley and founded potteries in Poughkeepsie, Ellenville, and Kingston.” Stoneware containers included pickling crocks, storage jars, pitchers, and water coolers. Decorators traveled between the potteries and applied images of flowers, ferns, and birds.
Levy says antiques currently in demand include cupboards, such as the massive Dutch kasten and their descendants, and early wing chairs whose side panels were meant to enclose and warm the sitter by concentrating heat from a facing fireplace.
That warming function is less in demand today, but the beauty and history of such pieces makes them valuable to buyers who appreciate their context. As Luciano observes, “The history of the area comes alive, the more you connect the dots.”
Quick tips
Antiques are widespread in the Hudson Valley, with bargains available at yard sales and auctions. Furniture can be left with that worn, vintage look or resurfaced into handsome pieces. In shops, prices are likely to run higher, but most pieces will be more polished. Expert antique dealers are also appraisers and can be hired to establish the provenance and history of yard sale items. Some dealers offer resurfacing services.
Here are five examples of locally found antiques with deep historical resonance:
