This car stops at all antique stores. I need this bumper sticker.

Call it junking, hoarding, retail therapy—for those of you who've got the bug like I do, there's nothing like the thrill of pulling up to a newly discovered antiques store with an hour and some cash to spare.

Consider this the first in an ongoing series about my all-terrain antiquing adventures. Whether it’s an antiques fair—like the one I drove to this past weekend—or a hole-in-the-wall junk store on my way to a wedding or beach vacation, I hope to uncover the best resources for all you like-minded shoppers, with a small dose of decorative arts education along the way.

Below are my top picks from the annual antiques fair held in Camden, South Carolina, this past weekend. On top of being a great excuse to take in some cotton-covered back roads, I discovered some fabulous new dealers and one-of-a-kind finds. I've singled out my top three favorites below.

Grand Prize Winner: Southern Hunt Board

Why I stopped: The console may look average in this photo, but it actually stands at 44” tall. The scale seemed…not human.
 
Why I stayed: Turns out a Southern Hunt Board is a console that was built for use during fox hunts. At the end of a long morning, hungry hunters would arrive home and their lunch would be served to them on these tables, standing just high enough for them to grab their food without dismounting their horse.

Hunt boards are few and far between these days. It is very rare to find one in its original condition—like this one— because people have a tendency to cut the legs down to make them more comfortable for use in their homes. A collector’s item, for sure.  

To purchase, contact Paul Dye of Shiloh Antiques—Waynesboro, Ga. Email: shilohantiques@gmail.com. Phone: 706.554.4375.

Runner-up: Venetian Tablecloth

Why I stopped: An Edwardian day dress first caught my eye, but seemed too fragile, if not impractical for 21st century use. Tucked away on the same rack was this lace tablecloth in a beautiful shade of ivory.
 
Why I stayed:  Once the tablecloth was unfolded, I noticed what looked like small children dancing in the lacework. Turns out that this piece was handmade in Venice, and its combination of embroidery and the intricacy of the lacework had me in absolute awe.

To purchase, contact Carol and Warren Ellis at Table Rock Antiques. Email: ioh312@inteliport.com.

 


Runner-up: Deco Tassle Earrings

Why I stopped: Take a look at these earrings and tell me it’s not obvious.
 
Why I stayed: These tassel earrings are original to the 1920s— one of my favorite periods right now, both in fashion and decorative arts. They are made of diamonds and pearls, and would look fabulous with a little black dress, drop-waist preferred!

To purchase: contact Elissa Beam at Gaucho’s—Savannah, GA. Phone: 912.232.7414. FedEx to Garden & Gun, c/o MK Quinlan.

 
Next up: something special between Charleston and Charlottesville, VA. Wish me luck!