Secondhand & Vintage New York

ic & s u M , s k o Bo lia i b a r o m e M ers / Musical st o P / l y in V / s Book Mash-ups Instruments /

As the gateway to a nation of immigrants, New York is the epitome of mash-up culture. New Yorkers embody intellectual curiosity and cultural diversity; so it’s no surprise to find shops filled with everything from primitive artifacts to Victorian curiosities, industrial implements, and mid-century modern collectibles; along with medical instruments, kitchen utensils, old cameras and electronics, button collections, posters and charts, and wacky bits and bobs of every kind. New York’s collectors are able to source much of their vintage Americana in the farming communities of the nearby Hudson Valley, and Catskill and Berkshire mountains, where early Dutch, English and German settlers imparted their aesthetics to handmade items for the homestead.

It’s also no surprise that in a city with a long-standing and healthy interest in music, theatre and publishing, there’s a plethora of secondhand music and bookstores harking back to an era when these merchants flocked together on Book Row (along Fourth Avenue), Tin Pan Alley (West 28th Street, and later on Broadway), and Radio Row (Cortlandt Street). While these enclaves are now dispersed, New York still claims its share of independent shops offering vintage and rare collectibles for the discerning shopper.

BOOKS, MUSIC & MEMORABILIA

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ic & s u M , s k o Bo lia i b a r o m e M ers / Musical st o P / l y in V / s Book Mash-ups Instruments /

As the gateway to a nation of immigrants, New York is the epitome of mash-up culture. New Yorkers embody intellectual curiosity and cultural diversity; so it’s no surprise to find shops filled with everything from primitive artifacts to Victorian curiosities, industrial implements, and mid-century modern collectibles; along with medical instruments, kitchen utensils, old cameras and electronics, button collections, posters and charts, and wacky bits and bobs of every kind. New York’s collectors are able to source much of their vintage Americana in the farming communities of the nearby Hudson Valley, and Catskill and Berkshire mountains, where early Dutch, English and German settlers imparted their aesthetics to handmade items for the homestead.

It’s also no surprise that in a city with a long-standing and healthy interest in music, theatre and publishing, there’s a plethora of secondhand music and bookstores harking back to an era when these merchants flocked together on Book Row (along Fourth Avenue), Tin Pan Alley (West 28th Street, and later on Broadway), and Radio Row (Cortlandt Street). While these enclaves are now dispersed, New York still claims its share of independent shops offering vintage and rare collectibles for the discerning shopper.

BOOKS, MUSIC & MEMORABILIA

59

SOHO/Nolita/Tribeca

LOWER EaST SIDE

The Upper Rust

Ochre

Las Venus

445 East Ninth Street, East Village 10009 212-533-3953 Wed-Mon 12:00-19:00 Subway L to First Avenue, or 6 to Astor Place

462 Broome Street, SoHo 10013 212-414-4332 info@ochrestore.com www.ochrestore.com Mon-Sat 11:00-19:00; Sun 12:00-18:00 Subway N, R to Prince Street, or 6 to Spring Street

163 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side 10002 212-982-0608 www.lasvenus.com Mon-Fri 11:00-19:00; Sat/Sun 12:00-19:00 Subway F, J, M, Z to Delancey & Essex Streets

Treasures from estate sales spill onto the sidewalks of Kevin Bockrath’s house and garden emporium. A jumble of old and new, the look is a mix of Southern Living and shabby chic charm. Country dressers, curio cabinets, and dressing tables display collections of jewelry, picture frames, mercury glass, soup tureens, cookie jars, old biscuit tins and spools of yarn. Painted mirrors and light fixtures, wicker and rocking chairs, candelabra and vintage clocks, posters and postcards fill every available space. There are affordable accessories here as well as higher-priced furniture and collectibles.

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The offspring of a London-based furniture and lighting design company, Ochre Store features a contemporary range as well as vintage items for the home. Sourced globally, the well-made and refined decorative objects have a hand-crafted aesthetic, often based in natural materials. There’s something for everyone here at a wide range of price points, from a set of vintage Indian lassi cups, to a pair of kidney-shaped midcentury Danish candleholders, and a 12-foot-high, 19th century pine vitrine from France. Refurbished silver, vintage linens, and recycled glassware mix with contemporary wood and ceramic pieces and Ochre’s own line of furniture and lighting, making this shop a very pleasant place indeed.

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This celebration of 1960s and 70s décor opened in 1995 at the cusp of the Lower East Side renaissance, and now has two additional branches full of colorful, outrageous pieces of furniture, modern art and pop culture, all in top-notch condition. It’s a popular place for fashion shoots, music videos, and set designers – think Austin Powers. Shag rugs, sputnik lamps, Danish modern and chrome tables, graphic mirrors and art glass collectibles are punctuated with showcase items such as a Pierre Cardin metal sequin screen or a Venini crystal chandelier, and signature pieces by mid-century modern designers such as Paul Evans and Michael Coffey.

While these are serious investment pieces, you can also find more affordable objets d’art here.

Other locations: LV2 at 113 Stanton Street, 10002 (212-3588000) Las Venus at ABC 888 Broadway, 10003 (212-473-3000 ext.519) Pic 122, 123

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New York Artifact Art at GreenFlea Scott Jordan is a digger and a self-taught historian and archaeologist who’s spent much of his life searching through New York’s never-ending urban renewal for a bit of the past. Over the years he’s accumulated a collection of old bottles, pottery, keys, toys, shoes and other items, some dating as far back as the 17th century, which form a patchwork history of the city.

Scott’s passion for preserving New York’s history is detailed in his book, Past Objects.

At GreenFlea, Scott offers a collection of jewelry, designed and handmade

by Dolhathai S (also known as Pooh) from old buttons, bits of glass and shards of pottery. Each item comes with an explanation of its provenance; for example, the privy well of 40 Perry Street, or the landfill at Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Scott also specializes in restoration of larger pieces. “Our aim is to save the past and share with the public,” he says.

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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Thrift Shop 1440 Third Avenue, Upper East Side 10028 212-535-1250 http://mskcc.convio.net Mon-Wed 10:00-17:30; Thu 10:00-18:00; Sat 11:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-17:00 Subway 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

With proceeds benefitting patient care, research and education programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s cancer center, this well-established and tidy thrift shop reflects its Upper East Side setting with a seasonal array of women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, bags and costume jewelry, as well as books, small furnishings and household art. Much of the stock is gentlyworn ‘occasion’ clothing, a few years out of date. However, there are occasional vintage treasures such as a 1930s satin wedding gown. To be fair, the shop was in seasonal changeover the day of our visit, and in this neighborhood most thrift shops turn over a good number of designer pieces.

Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop 1473 Third Avenue, Upper East Side 10028 212-737-8448 www.spence-chapin.org Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00; Sat 11:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-17:00 Subway 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

Benefitting the Spence-Chapin organization’s services for orphanages and adoption programs, the shop sells high-end secondhand clothing donated by label-conscious neighborhood residents, as well as new merchandise donated by various New York designers and retailers; a collection of sample garments from Diane Von Furstenberg Studio was featured on the day of our visit. It was nice to see a section devoted to plus size clothing here as well. There was also a great collection of men’s Ferragamo ties and dress shirts from the likes of Pink and Zegna.

Pic 139

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New York Artifact Art at GreenFlea Scott Jordan is a digger and a self-taught historian and archaeologist who’s spent much of his life searching through New York’s never-ending urban renewal for a bit of the past. Over the years he’s accumulated a collection of old bottles, pottery, keys, toys, shoes and other items, some dating as far back as the 17th century, which form a patchwork history of the city.

Scott’s passion for preserving New York’s history is detailed in his book, Past Objects.

At GreenFlea, Scott offers a collection of jewelry, designed and handmade

by Dolhathai S (also known as Pooh) from old buttons, bits of glass and shards of pottery. Each item comes with an explanation of its provenance; for example, the privy well of 40 Perry Street, or the landfill at Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Scott also specializes in restoration of larger pieces. “Our aim is to save the past and share with the public,” he says.

Pic 138

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Thrift Shop 1440 Third Avenue, Upper East Side 10028 212-535-1250 http://mskcc.convio.net Mon-Wed 10:00-17:30; Thu 10:00-18:00; Sat 11:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-17:00 Subway 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

With proceeds benefitting patient care, research and education programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s cancer center, this well-established and tidy thrift shop reflects its Upper East Side setting with a seasonal array of women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, bags and costume jewelry, as well as books, small furnishings and household art. Much of the stock is gentlyworn ‘occasion’ clothing, a few years out of date. However, there are occasional vintage treasures such as a 1930s satin wedding gown. To be fair, the shop was in seasonal changeover the day of our visit, and in this neighborhood most thrift shops turn over a good number of designer pieces.

Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop 1473 Third Avenue, Upper East Side 10028 212-737-8448 www.spence-chapin.org Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00; Sat 11:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-17:00 Subway 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

Benefitting the Spence-Chapin organization’s services for orphanages and adoption programs, the shop sells high-end secondhand clothing donated by label-conscious neighborhood residents, as well as new merchandise donated by various New York designers and retailers; a collection of sample garments from Diane Von Furstenberg Studio was featured on the day of our visit. It was nice to see a section devoted to plus size clothing here as well. There was also a great collection of men’s Ferragamo ties and dress shirts from the likes of Pink and Zegna.

Pic 139

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