Collection of Jim & Susie Widder, Thanksgiving 2011

For some, antiques are not just objects to buy, sell, and collect, but instead they are truly a way of life.  For nearly five decades, such as been the case with Jim and Susan Widder.  They met at The Ohio State University when Jim was a graduate student (and Susan's lab instructor), and when Jim completed his doctoral work, the couple settled in Cincinnati, where Jim spent over thirty years in research and management at Procter and Gamble and as a professor at the University of Cincinnati, while Susan spent
fifteen years as a research assistant at Children's and University Hospitals. When the Widders decided to move away from the then-popular trend of Danish Modern decor, a friend, who also happened to be
a local antiques dealer, introduced them to the world of painted furniture and folk art, and they soon began filling their suburban Cincinnati home with brightly decorated furniture, folk portraiture of all sizes and a veritable menagerie of carved animals.  They also began to participate in antique shows, using their growing knowledge to sell some of their discoveries to their fellow collectors. To Jim and Susan, however, the things that filled their home were not just neat things to look at, but rather objects with stories to
discover and to tell.  Through diligent research in libraries and, later, online, Jim and Susan breathed new life into many of their antiques by making new connections and unraveling the mysteries of their makers.  This commitment to research even led them to the front door of the 92-year-old great-great-granddaughter of folk portraitist Ruth Whittier Shute, a moment that was one of the highlights in their life in the world of antiques (and the portrait by Shute is one of the highlights of their collection). After nearly fifty years of living with antiques (and 52 years of marriage), Jim and Susan have decided to allow the objects in their
collection to ind new homes.  Selling now has not only allowed them the opportunity to participate fully in the cataloging of their collection, but to also simplify their lives in order to spend more time with their two daughters and four grandchildren.  We at Garth's are honored to have been chosen to represent this deeply
personal collection, the result of years of a shared love of both  antiques and each other, and we remain grateful for the Widders' contribution to the catalog you now hold in your hands and for their many years as good clients and even better friends.

Give them what they want...

Today was our monthly walk-in appraisal day at Garth's.  Starting on our third year of these monthly events, we have really begun to realize a significant, steady stream of traffic.  Today we had a special visitor:  a member of Delaware City Council.  He commented to me that perhaps our traffic is a sign of the times - that people are getting "desperate" in this trying economic climate, and they are resorting to selling family heirlooms to generate much needed cash (for food, gas, housing). Sadly, this is a reality for some folks today; and, we have had our fair share of panicked calls, often accompanied by a plea for a cash advance.  But, those calls were happening more often in the absolute darkest days of the housing crisis and recession.  Fortunately, they are much fewer and further between these days.  What we see from the hoards of folks who come bearing treasures to these monthly last-tuesday events, is a desire to simplify their lives.  They are looking for ways to lighten their loads, slow down, eliminate some responsibilities.  We have realized, over the years, that there seems to be a certain sense of burden for someone who isn't really interested in an item, but stores and protects it "because Aunt Sally thought it was important enough to give to me, so it must be valuable."  It always amazes me to see the look of relief hit their eyes when we tell them that it really isn't a big deal, and it is ok to just let it go.  Of course, it is pretty terrific to see the light in their eyes when you share a big dollar value, too.  But, at the end of the day, it is clear that most people are coming because they are seeking simplicity in their everyday life.  Interesting to think about the motivation behind selling - and how that might be affecting a buying audience, as well...hmmm.