Antiques 1. Great Barrington

Great Barrington
Antiques Trail 1


This information was compiled by Patrice Mullin Vice President of the Berkshire County Massachusetts Antiques and Art Dealers Association. Town & Country magazine summer of 2002 painted the Berkshires as fertile hunting ground for "antiquers." The region hosts hundreds of antique shops. You will find a generous assortment listed below. Start a mile or so north of town on Route 7 (at the base of Monument Mountain frequented by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville), at a former farm complex called Jenifer House (on the right if you're heading north). Here you will find:
	Coffman's Antiques Markets Over 200 dealer booths housed in two buildings (yellow and red) offer a diverse collection, primarily country but certainly not limited to such. Plan on a good hour even if you're a fast walker. The quality is above-average and everything is well displayed on multiple floors in a rustic barn.
	Berkshire Art Gallery Also at Jenifer House, the gallery features "museum reputation artists," as well as contemporary and Berkshires artists. This is investment art, much of it fine 19th C.
If you're ready for refreshment, we suggest Uncommon Ground, a coffeehouse-fresh juice bar. Take a left out of Jenifer House, it's immediately on your right. If weather permits, walk outside and around back to the picnic tables and you will see the Berkshires' beloved Housatonic River. Look to the north to spot Monument Mountain. Even if you cannot linger this is one of the prettiest town roadside views. Continuing south on Route 7, just after the second traffic light, is:
	Elise Abrams Antiques Devoted to fine dining. We are talking elaborate diningroom settings here -- the finest porcelain, silver, glass. Mrs. Abrams exhibits also in Palm Beach and New York City.
Think you have had it with dinner services for 12? Our next destination has even more diningroom-related antiques. Bear right onto Route 7, go over a bridge and through one light, and on your right just after the second light is a yellow house.
	Country Dining Room "Tablescapes," owner Sheila Chefetz (author of two books on the subject) calls them--two floors of exquisite plates, goblets, linens, most artfully displayed.
Just before the next traffic light at Bridge Street on your left is a Main Street shopfront housing a mini-antiques center. We suggest making a left onto Bridge to locate the public parking lot one block down on your left at the school -- parking is tight in this town, especially on weekends. We direct you to this center, called The Emporium.
	The Emporium Steve Kahn showcases the finest vintage jewelery. He has over 30 years in the trade, an astute eye, and is reputable. He has some delectable items, very romantic, diamonds and pearls good for the soul to lust after. Emporium owner Art Greenstone features glass, both American and European, while co-owner Mel Katz favors silver.
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