A is for Antiques

Congress Street is full of sales this week, and some of the best deals can be found at Allen & Walker Antiques (600 Congress St., 772-8787). This annual sale runs through Saturday (Feb. 2), and everything in the store is marked down a certain percentage (20 to 60), with merch ranging from house wares and art to jewelry and decor.

Now, I’d walked by Allen & Walker for almost a year before I went in, thinking its treasures would no doubt break my budget. But, during the November First Friday they held a tag sale next door, with items marked as low as $1. Now that gets my attention. After perusing the tag sale, I popped into the main store, and yes, prices there were higher, but definitely not out of reach. I left empty handed, but planned to return. And, their annual January sale was all the incentive I needed.

Perhaps not surprisingly, I’m partial to jewelry, and was immediately drawn to their case stocked with one-of-a-kind pieces – all marked 30 percent off. On my first visit it was all I could do to leave the pretty jade pendant, but I thought I’d be back to get it. (Turns out my now-married sister did some investigative shopping and purchased it before I could get back to it – and then gifted it to me as a MOH present. Thoughtful and sly, that girl.)

The store itself is chock-full of eclectic merch, such as this Taj Mahal-esque birdcage (Who cares if you don't have a bird? Make it a lamp! Something, anything, I love it. See image below.)

There are a lot of Asian pieces, mostly Chinese and Japanese, but that’s all cozied up beside pieces from America throughout the 20th century. And, with lots of smaller pieces under $50, it’s easy to add vintage accents to whatever your home’s style. If that feels too steep, there’s another Allen & Walker tag sale in our future – they are trying to do them quarterly, so look for the next one this spring.

P.S.The other sales abounding in the Arts District to check out: Happy Yogi’s Winter Clearance to a storewide, 25 percent off sale at Material Objects (500 Congress St., Portland, 774-1241),