Concord Art and Antiques, a new store in West Concord at 129 Commonwealth Avenue, offers old fashioned customer service and a carefully curated collection of art, estate jewelry, sterling silver, and fine antiques. The shop is far from intimidating, with customers encouraged to explore the rooms at their own pace and find what they love.
Co-owners Bobbi Benson and Joy Moore are serious antiquarians, but don’t let that fool you. Both women are friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to share their passion for art and antiques.
“We worked at a local antiques cooperative, where we both were managers, and clicked,” said Benson, who is a Concord resident. “We have the same sensibilities and wanted a bigger space to curate the way we wanted. West Concord had the space.”
The two women opened Concord Art and Antiques this summer.
Benson has been in the antiques business for decades. She’s owned stores in Concord and on Nantucket Island, among other places, and is a generalist with a passion for estate jewelry and 19th century ceramics.
Majolica, pink lusterware, transferware, and Roseville pottery further enhance the nostalgic feel and warmth of their shop. Oriental rugs, fine furniture, and many unique items can also be found throughout the store.
“We’ve both been in the business for a long time and have a wide audience,” said Benson, who learned about antiques from her mother. “People stick with us. Many of our customers are local and come from Harvard, Groton, Lexington, Boston, and New Hampshire. We’ve only been opened since August and many people stop in from walking by the shop.”
There is a room in the shop dedicated to fine art, with many pieces by Ethel V. Ashton, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) artist and a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her work is in the National Gallery of Art.
“I am drawn to women artists and I have an appreciation for Fine Art,” said Moore, who owns the estate of Ethel V. Ashton. Moore has a degree in Art History from Sarah Lawrence College and studied in France.
Moore prices art on auction records, which offers more realistic pricing than some artselling websites, she said.
“I don’t think art should be bought as an investment. The market changes so much and so often,” Moore said. “You should buy what you love.”
Moore also has expertise as a numismatist or rare coin collector. Her mother-in-law was a founding member of the Professional Numismatists Guild and the two worked together many years.
The popularity of certain antiques continues to ride the wave of human emotion. The good news is that Victorian or “brown” furniture is back.
“At one time, you could not give brown furniture away,” said Benson. “It’s making a comeback.”
Benson said the six-month wait for new pieces of furniture during the pandemic helped spur the renewed interest in vintage furniture.
“Younger people’s interests are changing,” she said. “They are coming around to finding their own sense of style.”
And, creating their own heirlooms for future generations. Visit @concordartandantiques on Instagram Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
