HOW TO TACKLE ANTIQUE MARKETS LIKE A PRO
Jesse Lauzon is an avid collector who shares his vintage finds with like-minded followers on Instagram
Jesse Lauzon is a self-described magpie. An avid antique collector, every week for the past year Lauzon has shared a snapshot on Instagram of one of his collections, ranging from centuries-old Victorian clay pipes he picked up while on vacation in London, England, and flower frogs he collected over time to cabinets full of ironstone pitchers and McCoy pottery.
Milton-based Lauzon, a chef who works as the food director at Springridge Farm and also has a degree in history, says collecting vintage treasures has always been a part of his life, having grown up with parents who went to auctions and decorated their house with antiques.
When he discovered Instagram, and its community of like-minded collectors, he realized he had found his people.
“It’s not about, ‘hey look at all my stuff,’ but about sharing and connecting.”
Lauzon’s love of food, sense of history and collecting are evident when you browse his Instagram feed, @jesselauzon, whose swoon-worthy kitchen pieces have garnered more than 9,000 followers.
Lauzon talked to the Star about his passion for collecting, the best markets for treasure hunting, and offered his best tips on how to antique like a pro. Every week for the past year you’ve shared a different collection on Instagram under the hashtag #magpiemonday. What is “Magpie Monday” and how did you get involved?
Folks from all over Instagram post their collections on Mondays and use the hashtag — there are hosts who choose “winners” each week, but the real fun is in browsing the tag to see what collections catch your eye. I started on Instagram putting up pictures of what I eat or where I was going on vacation. Then I started seeing people who collect some of the things I collect or do some of the things I do . . . I had watched it for a while before I started to share. Once I did share the reaction was so instant. It was an instant community, so friendly and encouraging. My first post was a collection of turquoise McCoy plant pots and it was a turning point, it got 1,500 likes in a day. It is just meant to be fun, but it’s also about the stories, the connections, the sharing and every so often I see collections that knock my socks off. Someone yesterday posted a collection of old paint rollers arranged in the most graphic, cool flat-lay and I thought, that is art. You have a lot of collections. Where do you keep it all? That is the question I get asked the very most. All of it is for living, all of it is in my house. I have a collection of jadeite (a type of glass tableware made of green glass popular in the early 20th century), it’s in my kitchen cabinets because it’s what I use. I would be lying if I didn’t say there are things in my garage, but for sure it’s all here, we live with it. I have a stack of old luggage, it looks nice but it’s also where Christmas lives. So, in terms of where do you put it? Right in front of my eyes. What are some of your favourite spots to look for antiques?
I’m a big fan of the antiques mall because I love the bang for your buck, the diversity of what’s in there. But my favourite is probably an outdoor market. I love getting to talk to folks that are selling stuff.
Locally I like Aberfoyle Market, Southworks in Cambridge, the market in St. Jacobs, the Barrie Antique Centre and the 400 Market. The St. Lawrence Market is a hidden gem.
Part of the joy of this hobby is that you get in the car and you go somewhere. It’s as much about the day as it is about the loot. It’s a change of scenery and is a great way to see Ontario. 5 TIPS FOR ANTIQUING We asked Lauzon to share his five top tips for tackling antique markets like a pro. 1. Go early and be prepared Get out of bed, grab yourself a coffee and get there. If you want to see it all you go early.
I bring an amount of cash in my pockets. That’s my informal budget. Don’t pull out a wad of cash in front of a vendor. Bring a debit card for an ATM for the emergency “I need that piece.” I bring bags, stuff in my car to wrap things. I have a box in my SUV that has a big blanket, a ratty old tablecloth and a few newspapers so that if I find something I can wrap it up and keep it safe for the ride home. 2. Be open-minded Tunnel vision is the enemy of antique shopping — it’s not conventional retail. It’s not a chain. It’s not a big box store. Be open to finding something new, unique and different. It’s one thing to go with a plan and know that you are going for a colour or to limit your collecting to a certain kind of look, but to me the joy of going antique shopping is in the surprises. 3. Look under the table What is special to one vendor may not be special to another. They may have other items for sale that aren’t valued as much and so they may price it for less. Look in the boxes that are tucked away out of sight. 4. Buy what you love I’m a huge believer that if you buy what you love eventually it will find a home in your space and it will all make sense. If I’m talking about something a half an hour later then it’s time to go back the moment that I recognize it’s on my mind. There is a sense of urgency at a market, which I think you need to be prepared for and respond to . . . of course, some bigger purchases you may want to percolate on, but when you are talking about a few dollars, just go for it. 5. Be friendly That’s a basic thing. Say hello. Compliment the vendor. A comment is a great ice breaker. There is a nice way to ask about pricing. Say “this is great, you’ve got $6 on it would you take $5” or if I’m looking at a couple of things I’ll say “if I take all three of these could I get a bit of a break?” Or ask if the prices are firm, which is more open-ended than “can I have a price break.” Be prepared that bargaining doesn’t always work and that’s OK, but you need to think about whether you really want to buy it.