News Archives - Caravan Connection

Vendors, Visitors Flock to Chappaqua Antiques Fair
by Suzanne Samin (November 3, 2013)
To see the full article and pictures on the Chappaqua Daily Voice’s website, please click here.

Mike and Mary Lynn at the Chappaqua Antiques Fair. Photo credit: Suzanne Samin, Chappaqua Daily Voice — Mike and Mary Lynn at the Chappaqua Antiques Fair. *Photo credit: Suzanne Samin, Chappaqua Daily Voice*

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. — Old things from all over Westchester County are finding new life this weekend at the 45th annual Chappaqua Antiques Fair.

The fair, which takes place at Westorchard Elementary School, began Saturday and also runs on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is presented by the New Castle Historical Society, which invites dealers from across the Northeast to participate.

More than 40 vendors are displaying their antiques and own designs for sale, ranging from clothes to furniture to books, rugs and more.

“This is one of the biggest volunteer shows in New York,” said Dealer Chair Buffy Haas of Chappaqua. “We’ve got a lot of different vendors, so, it’s an eclectic show, but not necessarily very high end.”

Several Westchester vendors show at this fair, many of whom have made antique collecting a small business.

Dianne Arnold of Chappaqua owns The Barn at Sundial Farm in Ossining. Arnold repurposed old barns at the farm to sell her antiques, which she collects as a hobby.

“I try to look for unique pieces that no one else has, and I travel far and wide for them,” she said.

Mike and Mary Lynn McRee of Bedford sell antique and new Oriental rugs through their business, the Caravan Connection.

“We often visit people’s home and help them coordinate carpets with their interior design,” Mary Lynn said.

To visit the fair’s webpage, click here.

Buying Oriental Carpets
by Ashley Mastronardi (@Fox5Ash)

MYFOXNY.COM –

Oriental rugs are decadent, long lasting, and exotic. According to experts Mike McRee, of Caravan Connection, Inc., and Lee Drexler many factors can decrease their value.

So what things do you need to look out for?

Drexler says make sure you are dealing with the real thing by flipping the rug over. Machine-made rugs, which are not oriental, have perfect stitches.

Another red flag is the use of an aniline dye or marker repairs. You can check for these by rubbing the surface of the carpet with a wet paper towel. Generally, the dye will come off.

Drexler recalls a case in which a woman paid $200,000 for two oriental rugs, but was only able to get $20,000 when she tried to auction them off because the rugs were so badly repaired and painted with felt-tip markers.

McRee says repairs can decrease the value of an oriental rug if they are not done responsibly. A reputable dealer should tell you if he or she knows things about a carpet, such as if it has been painted and if the carpet has had repairs. But Drexler says that doesn’t always happen, especially at tag sales and auctions.

Drexler says other red flags are if the fringe of the rug is cut off or if the rug is faded, worn down or stained.