As Peter Allen crooned almost fifty years ago, “Everything old is new again.” That “vintage” phrase certainly represents the antiques industry, which has soared across the pandemic and beyond.
Sustainability and supply chain issues have led to rapt attention from shoppers, with second-hand items grabbing gazes as tight as the wrought-iron setting on a mid-century mixed-medium crystal wine decanter. Millennials are also finding that nothing provides more pop to a first home than a modernist, Milo Baughman-era velvet couch, or a bright 1970s chrome-and-Lucite ice bucket. (Boomers already know that, because they lived it!)
Looking for some new pieces to bring dazzle to your dwelling? Check out the following guide for treasures.
Hunting for Treasures
Retro Marketplace
Retro MarketplaceWorld War II desk accessories, pillbox hats, 1950s-era travel pennants: Retro Marketplace houses a lot of history and heart in this quaint shop on Main Street in Travelers Rest. Mary Webb and Edith Garrett got into second-hand sales when their mom moved into a retirement apartment, and they needed to relocate family furniture, accessories, and collectibles. One antiques booth grew into another, and then another, until finally, the sisters opened Retro Marketplace in 2016. Today, all who spend the day in TR must stop in to chat with the sisters—you’re sure to leave with bags and boxes, loaded with love.
Plus, be on the lookout for Time Warp Fashion Shows & Wine Tastings, when the ladies partner with the Tasting Room of Travelers Rest for an evening of festive fun. Dolly Durham, who curates clothing for the shop, puts together vintage runway looks spanning the decades, as the audience samples fine wines. (A recent show featured a 1980s Laura Ashley Private Collection.)
128 S Main Street, Travelers Rest. (864) 610-6001, RetroMarketplaceTR.com
Vintage Market of Greenville
What started as cast-off photography props has morphed into a treasure trove of colorful, bold, eye-catching heirlooms. Owner Rob Belknap likes to fill his camera frame with Americana, everything from vintage Esso signs to grandma’s picnic basket. Five years ago, he decided to start passing his accent items along to the public through this wonderful shop off August Road. Wicker baby prams, Kentucky Derby glasses, and mod bar stools are all arranged neatly in groupings. Need an accent piece for a project or party? You can also rent, or put treasures on layaway.
The Vintage team prides itself on architectural salvage mined up north. At regular intervals, they restock the shop with time-worn corbels, ceramic drawer pulls, and door knobs, as well as factory and metal-clad doors. Find out why business and restaurant designers stop by regularly to see what they can find.
5500 Augusta Rd, Greenville. (864) 451-7042, facebook.com/GreenvilleAntiques20017
Rock House Antiques
In eight short years, Rock House has become a favorite of those who like to antique, pick, and plunder. Oh, the finds in this 15,000-square-foot facility loaded with upscale inventory and collections. Some eighty-four dealers carefully curate their booths with items dating back to the eighteenth century. Chinoiserie ginger jars and Persian rugs sit alongside original artwork, ceramic busts, and Italian baroque mirrors. Need a chest of drawers? You’ll find every shape and size, from a nineteenth-century mahogany five-drawer with Brisco finials to a George III period chest-on-chest from England.
Want to make a statement? Stop by the Arm Candy Designz booth by Zelma Umphlette. Here, shelves overflow with repurposed Chanel buttons, medallions, and charms. The classic, interlocking Cs grab the eye when paired with iridescent pearls, conch shells, and gold chains.
415 Mauldin Road, Greenville. (864) 299-8981, TheRockHouseAntiques.com
Buncombe Antiques Mall
Step inside one of the oldest antique malls in the area. Buncombe Antiques first opened in 1986 and moved to its current space on Wade Hampton in 1990. Like going to the Louvre to spy on the Mona Lisa, it will take several hours to find your way and meander through the 18,000-square-foot property, housing sixty-five vendors. Looking for a particular collectible? Odds are you’ll find it here, along with pinball machines, Wurlitzers pianos, and mink coats. The spectrum of treasures available is as varied as the centuries and decades they represent.
Got a sports fan in the house? Swing by booth No. 34 to check out the thousands of baseball and football cards. Hall of Fame names pop from the display. You’ll also find hundreds of albums; tap into the soundtrack of your life, with every authentic pop and click, by stacking the turntable with original LPs by Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, and Paul McCartney.
5000 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Taylors. (864)268-4498, Buncombe-Antiques-Mall-Inc.business.site
Lingo for Treasures
Pre-Owned — Anything bought secondhand and made in the past thirty years
Vintage — Anything made thirty to one hundred years ago
Antique — Anything made more than one hundred years ago
Collectible — Usually fifty years or less, mass produced with the intent of collecting
Tips to Treasure Forever
Act Fast: One-of-a-kind items don’t come in twos
Buy What You Love: If you like the way it looks, labels are secondary
Keep an Open Mind: Shop for enjoyment and beauty. Narrow expectations are hard to find in stock
Shop Often: Dealers are always on the prowl and restocking booths and shelves
Photography by Jen Jefferson.
