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938-4990 The Hunt & Gather shop in Minneapolis attracts men looking for vintage items. Norbert Schiller found a hat to his liking as he helped his college-bound son find items for his dorm room. (SHNS photo by Marlin Levison / Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Antiquing and junking among men is surging
By Aimee Blanchette minneapolis Star Tribune ason Koenig winced at people using taxidermy as decor until he did so himself. Now the St. Paul, Minn., real-estate agent has a 4-foot barracuda mounted above his stone fireplace, along with life-size teal-and-yellow bulldog statues flanking the staircase. "I never thought I'd own a fish mount," Koenig said. "But it's so cool. I had to have it." Koenig's living-room conversation pieces were purchased at the Bearded Mermaid Bazaar in St. Paul. The hodgepodge vintage-style shop belongs to an emerging segment of the antiquing market that's tailoring its inventory to men. This movement of guys who sift through trash to find their treasure even has its own name -- "mantiquing." Thanks to the popularity of TV shows like "American Pickers" and "Storage Wars," antiquing and junking among men is surging. As the American home grows in size, family members have spaces of their own, and collectibles that were once relegated to the garage or wood shop are finding space on walls and bookshelves in the basement bar or in the proverbial man cave.
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For some mantiquers, the more offbeat the better. The Bearded Mermaid's collection of oddities has included a stuffed raccoon with its paw on a Schmidt beer can (it now resides in a local barbershop). "This isn't your typical grandma's antique store," said Bearded Mermaid owner Nick Soderstrom. "I have what guys are looking for -- good American-made stuff." Among the "stuff" in question: An 8-foottall taxidermy giraffe -- which may or may not be American-made. That's not to say women don't appreciate such eclectic decor, said Jim Bailey, a longtime antiques dealer and artist. Generally speaking, however, women are after fine pottery, porcelain and glass, while men are drawn to tools, hunting and fishing gear and sports memorabilia. "There's not too many guys dealing in dishes," said Bailey. "But I don't know a guy who wouldn't want a moose head on his wall." Sue Whitney, editor and founder of Junk Market Style magazine, admits she searches specifically for those collectibles that appeal to the masculine sex and makes sure they're visible from the window of her shop, Get Fresh Vintage in Lanesboro,
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Hometown Punxsutawney – Holiday 2013 - Issue #158 – 37