OBJECTS OF DESIRE: The Lives of Antiques and Those Who Pursue Them

by Thatcher Freund

In this insightful and engaging book, Thatcher Freund focuses on three of the most highly valued pieces at the 1991 Americana Week in New York: a Colonial blanket chest for a farmer in the 1750s, a Chippendale card table created in Philadelphia in 1759, and an inlaid sofa table from the Federal period. By tracing their individual histories and showing how they came to be at the heart of the antiques market, Freund also shares the fascinating history of how the world of antiques has evolved.

Behind the current price tags of these rare objects lie the rich stories of their creations, plus colorful depictions of the subsequent generations of owners, pickers, dealers, and collectors, all of whom share a passionate if somewhat obsessive attraction to antique objects. Part history, part journalism, and always fascinating, Objects of Desire presents a slice of American life in a completely original way.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

291 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 1994

Reviews

[Anne Gerth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book but it drove me crazy! I wanted to see these objects that the book followed and so I spent endless house on the internet searching for clues in the hopes I could catch a glimpse of these three antiques. No such luck...so I would say this book left me a bit unfullfilled. If you love antiques, poking aorund yard sales and flea markets this book will fascinate you and I would suggest you add it to you bookshelf.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the more boring books I’ve read (and finished) in a long time. If you like the TV show “Antiques Roadshow,” you will probably like this; if not, not. The book weaves the stories of three main pieces of American furniture – an 1750s American blue blanket chest made in Connecticut, a 1750s Chippendale card table from Philadelphia, and an inlaid sofa table made in Salem MA, of the Federal period (around 1800) — with the stories of many American collectors, dealers, buyers, restorers, sellers, pickers, and auctioneers incuding Henry Ford, Henry Du Pont, Joseph Hirshhorn, Bill Stahl, Allan Breed, Wayne Pratt, Fred Giampietro, Israel, Albert & Harold Sack, George Samaha, twins Leslie and Leigh Keno, and others. Structured well and written serviceably (though a bit over-the-top in places) but the topic, items, and people are just uninteresting to me.

[Emily Esser · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal book. Well-told and effortlessly entertaining. Enlivens the field of antiques with a sense of lively character that one doesn't always see alongside such thorough scholarship. I was compelled, for perhaps the first time, to care about furniture.
Incidentally: it was surreal seeing Americana dealers I know actually discussed in here!

For all of those wondering what the pieces of furniture looked like: Fred Giampietro's blue blanket chest appears on the back of "American Painted Furniture" by Dean Fales. There is a photo here. https://www.christophersrarebooks.com...
edit: The card table is on the cover of the 1991 Sotheby's Important Americana catalog. https://www.ebay.com/itm/226317390631
I can't find the other one yet, but will update if I do.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A behind the scenes tour of . . . American antiques collecting."

[Starbubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was pretty good. you follow three antiques from their creation to the current owner trying to sell it. it was fun to see how furniture has a heirarchy, and how their owner fell into different categories. it focused a lot on the "blue blanket chest." which was fine, i guess. it is pretty amazing that there was never a repair (there were dings and broken hinges), addition of hardware (things like knobs), or even re-painted (original chipped blue paint intact). the willing card table sounded gorgous. but the federal sofa table remained akward in its description in the book, as well as how it was preceived by buyers.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The objects truly are the characters in a book full of characters -- two twin blond antiques dealers from Antiques Road Show (long before the road show!), the pickers, etc.

Good, good, read. Creative nonfiction at its best.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out in 1993, and now in 2011 I'm reading it for the 3rd time. It is a must-read for anyone who loves antiques, and certainly for every serious dealer. Just delightful.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent excellent book if you are interested in antiques at all. Follows the history of an antique blue blanket chest through the antiques hierarchy and dealers from lowly beginnings to the New York Armory antiques show. Not a lot of books in this genre but this is a keeper.

[Lynelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book if you like antiques

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very exciting journey into the history behind three particular antiques and the market forces as well as owners that have guided their paths to the present day.

[Cory Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the high end furniture auction market.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of high-end antique dealers and their customers because of its focus on the object--what influence does the object have on dealer and the collector.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I didn't have to read this for class I may have enjoyed it a bit more. There are some fun characters, and a lot of insights into the allure of antiques, but I don't think it was for me.