Happy Endings Antiques contents to be auctioned 8/15 The entire contents of Happy Endings Antiques -- an upscale antiques and collectibles shop in Amenia, N.Y. -- will be sold at an on-site auction slated for Saturday, Aug. 15, by Tim's, Inc., at 6 p.m.
inside (12 inches by 8 inches); a lovely 19th century four-panel folding screen, painted on leather; and a 19th century hobby horse on a sliding base, in excellent condition and with a leather saddle and harness.
Talk about a unique antique: an original oil painting on the head of an actual tambourine, made in the late 19th century. The painting depicts Mont Saint Michel in France, but the piece is English in origin. It is unsigned, but was executed by a schooled artist who knew something about technique. The grandest architectural antique in the sale will doubtless be a monumental pair of 7-foot garden columns.
Mrs. Haft first became interested in antiques in 1995 when she and her husband bought a home in Sharon, Conn., and furnished it with items bought from local antiques shops. “At first I bought mostly country pieces, folk art, fine art, painted furniture and 20th century modern,” she said. “At that time we also maintained a residence in Manhattan, but starting in 2002 we moved to Sharon full-time.”
Following her husband's death several years ago, Mrs. Haft began selling some of her antiques out of booth space in malls like Kaufman's in Great Barrington, Mass. (now closed). Then, about a year and a half ago, she took space at another shop in Amenia called Artisan Gallery Antiques. But when the owner of that business took ill and closed the shop, she decided to plow right in and and start her own business.
However, a continued deteriorating economy, and Amenia's somewhat remote location, led to the painful recent decision to close the doors of Happy Endings Antiques. “I don't regret a thing,” she said, “and I'm happy that everything I own will soon be owned by many other lucky collectors.”
The auction will begin promptly at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. There will be a preview the hour before the sale (5-6 p.m.) or by appointment (call Mr. Chapulis for details, at 860-459-0964). Phone and absentee bids will be accepted, with prior arrangements and approval. There will be no online bidding component, but images of many of the lots may be viewed at www.timsauctions.com.
Happy Endings Antiques is in the ground-floor space of a freestanding building on Route 343, which is off Route 22 (a main north-south route that continues into upstate New York). Amenia is located about two hours by car from New York City. The town can be reached by taking Route 44 from Millbrook, N.Y. From the center of Amenia, turn onto Route 343 and go east toward Sharon. The shop is across the street from a Sears store.
Tim's, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call Tim Chapulis at (860) 459-0964, or you can e-mail him at tims.inc@snet.net. To learn more about the liquidation sale of Happy Endings Antiques, and to view hundreds of the items that will be sold, log on to www.timsauctions.com. The mailing address
