About the Business
We specialize in New England furniture made between 1650 and 1820, with a particular emphasis on William and Mary, country Queen Anne, and Federal period furniture from eastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Connecticut River Valley. A selection of early glass and fireplace equipment is always on hand. In addition, we maintain a select stock of vernacular Chinese furniture in original surface and condition.

Our emphasis is on form and surface, buying and selling pieces that reflect the aesthetic judgement and skill of the maker -- and that retain their structural and surface integrity.


About Peter Eaton
Peter Eaton holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in American history. He is past president of the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers' Association, past president and Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Antiques Dealers' Association of America, and most recently served as Director of Standards for American Furniture for the Antiques Council. He has written about and lectured on American furniture in forums ranging from Antique Collecting Magazine to Maine Antique Digest and Olde Sturbridge Village.


Business Philosophy
More than 50 years ago Harold and Albert Sack wrote, "The value of the professional dealer is threefold: to judge authenticity, to judge quality, and to determine value". These, I, believe, are also the responsibilities of a professional dealer, and I have based my career and reputation on that belief since I opened my own business in 1970.

Every piece that I sell is fully guaranteed to be as described on my sales receipt. Any repairs or restoration which, in my opinion, have an effect on an item's monetary value are noted. Obvious signs of use or age are generally not noted. Should I have missed a significant problem with a piece, I will take it back for a full refund of its purchase price. Any such problem must be agreed upon by two experts familiar with the field, and any refund is strictly limited to the amount of the purchase price. All sales to the trade are final.

All pieces in the shop or at shows are clearly marked with a 'retail' price. I make a clear distinction between ‘retail' price and a 'discounted', 'trade', or 'wholesale' price. Paying ‘retail’ allows up to 90 days to pay and includes shipping and insurance. Buying at less than the marked price requires making full payment within 15 days.

I am always interested in re-purchasing any piece that I have sold, but I must evaluate each transaction on an individual basis -- depending on my funds at the time, my inventory at the time, the needs of specific customers, the state of the antiques business, and the state of the economy. I do not operate my business with a credit line from a bank or private backer, and therefore depend on a steady stream of antiques being bought, sold, and paid for as readily as practicable, to keep the business running. If I am unable to re-purchase a piece directly, I am always willing to take a piece on consignment, or suggest other avenues for its sale.

On occassion, I will examine pieces at auction for a client and provide condition reports -- either verbally or in writing. I provide this service only when I will be representing the client at the sale. I limit the number of pieces that I will examine to five, and I charge $400.00 for this service -- whether I am looking at one or five pieces. If, after examination and discussion, a client chooses to have me bid on an item, I charge a 10% commission based on hammer price. If a purchase is made, I provide a written evaluation and guarantee the item to be as represented. If my commission exceeds the initial examination fee, that fee is waived.


Services
The antiques business is our only business. While we maintain an open shop and an inventory, we also offer our customers a wide range of additional services.

We act as agents to locate, evaluate, and purchase specific items from third parties.

We provide delivery services including professional crating at cost, and complete insurance coverage for items in transit.

We are ready to assist in the dispersal of a single item or complete collection at any time.

We will, on occassion, examine and report on pieces offered at auction, but only when representing the recipient of the report at the auction. Please contact us for more information on any of the services we offer.