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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;lizjewel, post: 3106986, member: 13874&quot;]Living in Florida now I am in the middle in a largely rural area. Not too many real antiques to be found around here. It&#039;s mostly farm land where I live.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ve been to auctions and estate sales around here for almost 15 years. Although it&#039;s true that more good finds were around some years ago, it may not be entirely reliable as a barometer on availability; I believe I&#039;m not looking as hard now as I used to then. </p><p><br /></p><p>As far as more and better antiques in Florida, that&#039;ll be <i>hit &amp; miss</i> too. Perhaps in the wealthier cities, Miami &#039;burbs, Palm Beach, Sanford [a very wealthy city near Orlando] but I haven&#039;t searched there. </p><p><br /></p><p>The closest I got was <i>Renninger&#039;s,</i> a weekly multi-market of antiques and bric-a-brac, near Mt. Dora in Lake County. The large special markets called <i>Extravaganzas</i>, held 3 times a year used to be great for finding good stuff. </p><p><br /></p><p>Having since moved so far north it has not been practical to pop in to Renninger&#039;s like I used to on weekends when I lived less than 8 miles away. So I can&#039;t speak for now but I heard from antiques friends that Renninger&#039;s is no longer what it used to be either.</p><p><br /></p><p>When living in Pennsylvania some 20 years ago, antiques hunting was actually pretty good. I was not&nbsp; seeking items of historical import or worth, never had the funds to indulge in them. </p><p><br /></p><p>But I&#039;d frequent a few local auctions, became friendly with the auctioneers, received calls, preferential treatments so was often very fortunate. New Hope was convenient to me and a short hop over to New Jersey and bigger markets there. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here the only auction I used to frequent moved too far away for me three years ago (I no longer drive far at night), and then closed down last year. I used to stop by at the previews and leave advance bids hoping to get them. Often did, could come pay and pick up the next day (when it was light). Now that source is gone too. </p><p><br /></p><p>Estates sales I don&#039;t bother with. Usually run by pros around here the good stuff has already been pre-empted by them for their shops so they&#039;re a waste of time. </p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps it&#039;s not well known about Florida but it is when you live here: Most mature <i>blow-ins</i> [a great Brit n Irish expression for people not originally native to an area] do <i>not</i> bring their big old and/or valuable&nbsp; possessions with when retiring in Florida. </p><p><br /></p><p>Just the moving costs equal a new set of reasonably priced furniture [IKEA is in Orlando and Jacksonville] so to pay thousands to drag living room, diningroom and bedroom suites with is just not cost-effective. These are thus disposed of to children, relatives, neighbors or auctions before moving south. </p><p><br /></p><p>Unless large fine estates of people who&#039;ve lived their entire lives in Florida [or for generations], are disposed of at special sales or auctions, don&#039;t expect too many high-end finds here. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Christie&#039;s</i>, <i>Sotheby&#039;s</i> have already been contacted by the estate attorneys when these estates become available so their showrooms would be filled with the real goodies first. For those of us who can afford them of course. No bargains to be expected there.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for where I&#039;d love to be <i>to hunt for antiques</i>: East Anglia. In the neighborhood of Lovejoy&#039;s! Yeah, I know... but he is so real to me! </p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie18" alt=":banhappy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie26" alt=":bored:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie49" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/tongue.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":p" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie59" alt=":kiss:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie99" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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