There is a photo of an Art Deco library newspaper reader table below. This rare piece is kind of like a foosball table, it has handles that you use to turn the newspapers to read them. We didn’t know such a piece existed until we saw this one.

New antique furniture arrivals from this past week included: queen size mahogany 4 poster bed, 2 different swivel office chairs, unusual British oak hunt table-a photo is below, wicker rocker, 7 Victorian side chairs, primitive kitchen table, maple blanket stand, Duncan Phyfe nest of tables, large carved wooden framed mirror, 2 bevelled mirrors, Louis XV vanity bench, chrome & wood plant stand, folding red plant stand, blue trunk, blue hamper, small pine bookcase, small British retro burled walnut wardrobe, and more.

Lots of odds and ends this past week including: a batch of iron fencing-a photo is below, 20” red vase, pair of Capodimonte lamps, 7 small brass planters, red magazine holder, several floor lamps, 4pieces Satsuma[2 large plates & 2 large bowls], assorted crystal bowls & vases, Dr. Polasky’s chastity protector with key, 2 water colours, collection of ashtrays, 3 different desk lamps, 32”, 36”, & 42” candle stands, large mixing bowl, large cast iron candle holder, 5 cast iron floor grates, toy radio flyer wagon, sleigh bells, glass water jug, assorted vintage license plates, a bunch of singer sewing machine parts, Royal Doulton coffee and tea set, shoe stretchers, hardware store scale, home floor scale, wooden shaft golf clubs, pair of brass & crystal wall sconces, wicker window planter, cast iron door stops and irons, signed lithograph by Frank Jordan, and a bunch of assorted smalls.

This past week we received a shipment of reclaimed wood furniture from our Irish Coast line. Details and photos are on our Reproductions page. Coffee and end tables showed up. But the exciting news is that the large flatbacks or buffet and hutches are back! A photo is below. We haven’t been able to get the hutches for about five years. The buffets or sideboards, we’ve carried since 2007. Customers have been asking for the hutches for years, and we haven’t been able to get them. Late last year we were able to work out a deal with the factory, and they’ve finally arrived. The funny thing is that we now have lots of hutches, but we are running low on sideboard. So temporarily we have limited stock. More sideboards will be arriving in September.

New antique and vintage furniture arrivals include: vintage chrome kitchen set-a photo is below, kitchen table painted red, 2piece retro kitchen hutch-a photo is below, set of 4 ladder back chairs, a whole bunch of odd and pairs of chairs, 2 hump trunks[one small, one large], iron queen size bed, kitchen island[missing top], ornate marble top console table, quarter cut oak student’s desk, bar stool, a few odd end tables, extra-large wicker chair, Victorian treaty table, round pedestal poker table, and more.

The non-furniture antique new arrivals included: a fresh batch of antique tools, 3 French style mirrors, marble desk lamp, vintage wagon, pair of French lamps, vintage crystal chandelier, 216pieces of printer’s stamps, Marconi radio[not working], large toleware bread box, wood bread box, large metal trunk painted yellow, 2 carboys, extra-large brass candle stick, nice cast iron bird bath, another 400 day clock, 2 Royal Doulton figurines, portable kerosene heater, 4 wicker baskets, cups & saucers[Limoges & Copeland Spode], 5piece sake set, nice Victorian cream & sugar, and assorted china-Limoges, Noritake, and occupied Japan.

This past week, a huge batch of the very popular pink flamingos arrived. We got a late start on outdoor season this year, with the third lockdown, but everyone seems to be making up for lost time now. A photo is below. We try and stock the flamingos year-round now. Strangely they are popular at Christmas time, because nothing says Christmas like pink flamingos by the tree.

New antique and some vintage furniture arrivals included: Georgian style mahogany corner cabinet, 2piece pine & black flat to the wall, walnut gateleg table, pine wash stand, assorted kitchen chairs, cast iron outdoor chair, maple swivel office chair, oak library table, pine jam cupboard, carved mirror painted white, Eastlake mirror with attached candle holders, 9 drawer French Provincial dresser & mirror, nice trunk, 1970’s end of bed bench, high legged refinished mahogany sideboard, mahogany corner chair, down filled boudoir chair in excellent condition, pair of tilt top wine tables, and more.

Some odds and ends from this past week included: working 400 day clock, folding wooden dog climber[I never knew these existed, but steps for dogs is a great idea.], bone handled fish set, 2 carving sets[1 is bone handled], pair of solid brass wall sconces, electric organ & stool, full size cast iron water pump, solid brass dolphins sculpture, block & tackle, blue & white porcelain elephant plant stand, and more.

It’s been five and a half weeks since we reopened to instore shopping, and we’ve finally managed to get samples of all the Reproduction items that arrived during the last lockdown into the building! All the new Springwater and reclaimed wood pieces are in. Things seem to be getting closer to normal.

So much cool stuff arrived last week that we’ve included some extra photos below. One of the photos is of a couple of new outdoor metal birds that showed up, the aviary keeps growing. 

New antique furniture arrivals included: Duncan Phyfe pedestal treaty table, nice pair of carved oak arm chairs, telephone bench, round pedestal kitchen table, cane back accent chair, oak roll top desk, 7foot tall Victorian bed-photo below, 8foot tall marble top Victorian dresser-photo below, walnut piano bench, ornate carved marble top hall table, pine wash stand, small blanket chest, semi-Victorian dresser, brass & marble wine table, 2piece painted white flat to the wall, and more.

The non-furniture antique new arrivals included: copper & brass fire extinguisher, portable kerosene heater, a collection of unusual cooking utensils, working Victrola for 78’s, makeup mirror, oak wall clock, railway cart-photo below, assorted framed prints & paintings, collection of 6 framed needlepoint pictures, assorted table lamps, 4 stained glass windows-photo below, Underwood manual typewriter, a terrific crock-Brantford Ontario, and more.

Last week we got in a huge batch of the 12” x 16” replica tin signs. We restocked lots of favorites, and a bunch of new signs as well. Yes, I mentioned tin signs in last week’s update, but this is yet another batch. They are very popular these days. A photo of some of the new signs is below.

New antique furniture arrivals from last week included: folding pine butler’s table, pair of north wind press back chairs, primitive dough box, 1/4 cut oak library table, 3-way bevelled vanity mirror, Eastlake wash stand, excellent late Victorian parlour table, small trunk with wood and leather straps, oak milk stool, pair mid-century modern dining chairs, mahogany steno chair, maple oval mirror, and more.

Non furniture antique new arrivals included: cylinder Victrola-a photo is below, 2 shadow boxes, 3 cow bells, 2 sheep bells, 3 early match holders, 2 straight razors, a collection of oil lamps, iron hanging oil lamp, sad iron, assorted lamps, cast iron cooking pot, cast iron kettle, circa 1900 gas can, portable Singer sewing machine, 2 Spanish bronze ceiling light fixtures[1 small, 1 large], unusual carpenter’s tool box, 2 brass 1920’s ceiling light fixtures, brass converted gas light hall fixture, 1920’s iron ceiling light fixture, extra-large soup tureen, cast iron bird feeder, cast iron bird bath, iron poker set, 6 tiki torches, pair of ornate brass candle holders, a collection of vintage crystal door knobs, cast iron barn door roller, cast iron hay grapple, and more.

And we finally started to bring in some of the Springwater pieces we mentioned in our June 7th update. More to come.

This past week we got in in a shipment of the always popular garden gnomes, a photo is below. The butterfly garden benches also showed up, in black and white. As well, a batch of replica metal signs arrived. We restocked some of our out-of-stock best sellers, plus a bunch of fun new signs.

Antique furniture new arrivals included: 2 door pine jam cupboard, nice pair of leather office chairs, cedar cedar chest, steel brass & glass 6’shelf, 1920’s mahogany cedar chest, 3 section oak barrister’s bookcase, and a solid walnut bonnet chest-1880’s.

Non furniture antique new arrivals included: a clarinet, machete in leather case-1942 U.S.A., 2 open crocks, 3 Murano glass vases, a variety of vintage and antique cameras and camera accessories, 5piece silver plate tea set, nice Tiffany shade, large axe, 2-1920’s electric jewelry cleaners, 5′ wood step ladder, 6 silver plated candelabras-a photo is attached, 2 waste baskets, 2 large glass jugs, 2 metal drink pails, pair of bronzed iron photo frames, wooden model touring car, 2 cast iron door stops & boot scraper. vintage rolling pin, portable Singer sewing machine, assorted Asian style wall décor, collection of Picturesque Canada books[Queens University] -late 1800’s, Toronto street light, and more.

We also restocked our flatware cabinets last week. 

Let’s update new arrivals from the last ten days, since we’ve been open for instore shopping again! 

We got in a shipment of reclaimed wood furniture that included: The Irish Coast small coffee tables, media units, and hall tables. Oval standing planters also showed up. 

New antique furniture arrivals included: a terrific British walnut armoire, tufted Victorian accent chair, Eastlake pine washstand, late Victorian platform rocker, 2 pine mirrors, 2 tier bamboo coffee table, Boston rocker, yellow hall mirror, redone living room chair, Duncan Phyfe drum table, 2 oval gilt mirrors, mahogany credenza, refinished Duncan Phyfe dining room table with leaf, high legged Hepplewhite sideboard, pair of French Art Deco single beds, pair of arrow back chairs, pair of press back chairs, iron and wood park bench, Queen Anne footstool, half-moon end table, metal stool, pair of bamboo chairs painted blue, carved mirror painted white, and more.

The non-furniture antique arrivals included: 2 large milk cans, 12piece fish set in a case, free standing patio pot, 5 vintage tennis rackets, Tiffany shade floor lamp, assorted chandeliers and ceiling light fixtures, 2piece painted bamboo swan planter, large terra cotta vase, complete set of 1944 Encyclopedia Britannica, assorted china, assorted silver plate holloware, a batch of miniatures, Spanish bronze chandelier, vintage rocking horse, a few paintings, pair of cast iron planters, adjustable dress form, tool box, and more. 

We also got in a huge batch of cups and saucers; a photo is below. This was not a typical batch, there are some rare ones and lots of demitasse. Some are out on display already. The rest will be put out as we make space. There were so many demitasses that we’ve decided to fill an entire curio with just demitasses.

Also, there is a photo below of a collection of items that came from a production called Slumberland. I few of the smaller items are in already, the rest will be in shortly. We are starting to make some space; with such a long closure we are still tight for space.

Well, it’s already been three days since we reopened for instore shopping. So, let’s update some new arrivals, that we’ve yet to mention. These pieces came in during the last few weeks of lockdown. The film and TV business was operating at full steam during the lockdown. They’ve been buying a great deal lately which gave us some space for new arrivals.

We’ve already included photos of a few of these pieces in previous updates. Due to so many new items arriving and the long lockdown, a few items in these updates may be out of order. To make space for new arrivals some items have come in, and then we’ve had to move them into storage to make room for more new arrivals. These items will be brought in again as we make space, that process has already begun. We will now return to weekly updates on new arrivals. These updates will return to simply an accurate recap of what we brought into The Barn over the past week. Everything should be sorted out and back to normal in a couple of weeks.

First, an unusual piece, there is a photo below of a stone boat or stone sledge. It’s pulled by a horse or tractor and used to pull rocks or logs out of a field. This one is circa 1870’s from Huron Perth. So, if you’ve got some boulders that need moving, we’ve got you covered. Please note that you will need to supply your own horse.  

Antique furniture new arrivals included: 5 section mahogany barrister’s bookcase, marble and brass piano lamp stand, two-piece quarter cut oak hall bench and mirror, pair of tall iron wine racks-a photo is below, electric organ and stool, nice walnut tea wagon, large copper stick stand, Canadian made round mahogany French style curio cabinet, round French pedestal lamp table, set of 4 press back chairs, 3 nice gilt mirrors, and a pine secretary desk with leaded glass design.

More antique arrivals included: a pair of gut snow shoes, full-size cast-iron pot belly stove by Moffat, 2 copper boilers, three wood crates-one Pepsi, large brass planter, assorted oil paintings, original milk crate with 12 milk bottles, 45 horse shoes, five branch silver plated candelabra, assorted garden décor, brass lantern, traffic guard light, large wicker basket, pair of brass oil lights, pair of bedroom lamps, pair of living room lamps, and more.

Friday’s the day, we are reopening for instore shopping, round three. We will be open with very limited capacity to allow for social distancing of course.

For those who feel more comfortable shopping by appointment, we are taking appointments for Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am to 5pm. Appointments are not required, if you show up and we are below capacity we will let you in without an appointment. We will be closed on Wednesdays and open 10am to 5pm, Thursday through Sunday, on a first come first serve basis.

I’m going to keep this update brief, since just about everyone should know the drill by now; social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, the usual.

The Barn is packed, all our warehouses are overflowing, we’re ready to go!

We recently got in a shipment from our Springwater line that included a bunch of bran new items, and new colours. Normally, we would have brought most of this shipment in the building right away. But given the continued closure and the fact that shipments keep arriving, The Barn in full. So, this shipment all went straight into storage. But we figured we could share some details and photos regardless.

There is a new Springwater green called green, go figure. The old green was, and still is called pear. There is a new white called dove, to go along with cotton white, and the original white.

New pieces include: Mask station, Tremblant nightstands, flip top end table, and the Steadman desk.

We put photos of these and more new pieces available for order on our Reproductions page a while back. But these are the first samples to show up.

Some old favorites from this shipment included: six cube high cubby, foyer tables, ladder shelves, tater bins, milk bench, panel coat hooks, Canada flag in pine, small end tables, and occasional tables.

We got a ladder shelf in antique dove, and a panel coat rack in vintage dove to see the new colours. We found out about the new green after this shipment went into production, so a sample in the new green will have to wait until next time. We of course have wood blocks with all the colours instore, which is more helpful when instore shopping is allowed. The wait is almost over. We also got in sample tables in vintage Algonquin, its not a new colour, but we’ve never carried it before.

We received a huge Springwater shipment during the last lockdown. We were only open with limited capacity for a month between lockdowns, plus this new shipment, so our supply of Springwater products has never been better.

After we reopen for instore shopping and pieces start leaving in greater quantity, we will bring in the new Springwater items.

Quarantine Series: Supply Chain, Shipping & Materials

I’m sure that most people have learned far more about supply chains over the course of the pandemic than they ever wanted to know. Everyone remembers the run on toilette paper at the beginning, and how hard it was to find disinfectant wipes for many months. There are currently shortages of lumber, steel, microchips, and ketchup packets, to name a few.

The Barn has not been immune from supply chain disruptions, as well some other pandemic factors that will cause some noticeable changes at The Barn. So, we thought we would fill everyone in.

The Barn carries both antiques and newly made items. This article only deals with newly made or reproduction items. You will not notice any significant changes to the antiques we carry. The pandemic has not had a significant effect on our supply of antiques.

If you’ve been paying any attention at all to the news over the last few months you’ve probably already heard of the current sky-high demand for consumer goods and the coming inflation. A lot of items are getting harder to come by, and wait time are increasing for just about everything. Prices are going up as well.  

Fortunately, we saw this coming and we started ordering larger quantities and restocking earlier as far back as last summer. And because we have been closed to instore shopping for five of the last six months, this means, that we are massively overstocked. So much so, that we don’t even have samples of all the reproduction items we have in stock at The Barn. There is no room left, so when new shipments arrive, most items are just going straight to storage at this point. In the short term it’s all good news, tons to choose from, and no major price changes. 

The long run is a different story. All furniture factories are working at maximum capacity right now. So, if you want to order something the wait times are quite long. We have already ordered some items that aren’t scheduled to arrive until next year.

Eventually, we will reopen and start to push through our backlog and begin to run out of certain items. Some items always sell faster than expected, the difficult part is predicting what those items will be. We will do our best to keep all our best sellers in stock, but that will probably not be possible given the current business climate.

In addition, the cost of shipping has increased tremendously over the course of the pandemic due to higher demand, container shortages, port congestion, and covid restrictions.

The cost of raw materials like wood, metal, and glass are all up substantially. I don’t know of a single manufacturer that hasn’t had to increase their prices due to the increased cost of raw materials. While there is lag time, those increases will eventually be passed on to consumers.

Some products we may not even continue to carry if the price increases are too extreme. For example, we know the price of the Tiffany style lamps we carry will be going up, due to the increase in raw material prices. We just don’t yet know if the increase will make continuing to carry them possible. Should the current trend of the strengthening Canadian dollar continue that will offset some of the increases on imported items. But things are changing quickly and it’s impossible to predict exactly how this will unfold.

What all this means is that the best time to see the greatest variety of products and get the lowest prices on the reproduction items we carry is when we reopen, and for the rest of the summer. Once we get into autumn, there will unfortunately be some price increases. And the supply chain disruptions will inevitably lead to shortages of certain products.

We just wanted to warn everyone of what was coming because we know customers often look at items for a long time before they decided to purchase. Under normal circumstances we regularly have customers who come in to get an item that is temporarily sold out or permanently discontinued, and are disappointed. And the current circumstances are far from normal, and much more challenging. It’s not all bad news, our current supply is tremendous.

This is of course our first pandemic, but we’ve seen many major market shifts over the years, and they inevitably lead to new suppliers and new products. Who knows, the increased shipping costs and environmental realities might shift some manufacturing back to Canada, which would be fantastic. 

If you had taken a snapshot of The Barn ten years ago and compared it to one today, you would see a lot of the same products, and tons of new lines as well. Things are always changing, and yet some things remain unchanged.

We obliviously aren’t bringing in the same number of antique pieces during lockdown as we do when we are open for instore shopping. But some new antique pieces always seem to find their way into the building somehow. There are photos of some of the items below, more photos were part of the May 3rd update on this page. We will include additional photos of some of these items over the next few weeks. 

New antique furniture arrivals since we last updated them include: large French inlaid armoire-88inches tall, 3 section oak barrister’s bookcase, upholstered footstool, maple swivel office chair, tufted yellow velvet living room chair, outdoor cement pedestal, assorted lamp tables & plant stands, iron and wicker tea trolley, round Duncan Phyfe coffee table, Duncan Phyfe drum table, four leaf clover parlour table, 5 drawer chest painted white, pair of Duncan Phyfe dining chairs, Canadian teak desk chair, and an ornate vintage whitewash coffer.

More antique arrivals include: large china fishbowl and stand, piano rolls, large brass wall tray, collection of 4 cast iron tea light lanterns, 2 brass blowtorches, 2.5′ x 4′ oil painting with overhead light, 2 large milk cans, wooden mailbox, 1950’s golf bag and clubs, 2 large snow globes, 4 light Tiffany style ceiling fixture, floor lamp, copper waste basket, collection of railroad spikes, a batch of assorted tools, and more.

Some sets of dishes that are in, but still boxed include: 51piece Forstenberg West Germany set, 47piece Royal Doulton Albany set, 39piece Seltmann Weiden Bavaria luncheon set, and a 123piece Krautheim Selb Bavaria set. 

We also got in a giant pile of LP records; most went to storage. We sell them in box lots, and we left a couple of boxes of 50 in The Barn.