Ancient Antiques: The Antiques Depot in Nantucket, Massachusetts
The Antiques Depot is an antiques store in the historic core of Nantucket Island. It is the joint venture of two year-round antique dealers, Jack Fritsch and Howard Chadwick, and located on the harbor waterfront since 1990 (although Mr. Chadwick had been selling antiques in the same location since 1974). It is open year-round, though only by appointment from January to March.
The Antiques Depot is one of the oldest antiques shops on Nantucket, offering an eclectic mix of quality 17th, 18th and 19th Century Formal and Country Furniture, Fine Art and Folk Art, Marine Antiques, Nantucket Memorabilia and Books, China Trade and Oriental Antiques, vintage Duck, Shorebird and Fish Decoys, Tribal Art, Ancient Artifacts, and Decorative Accessories including Porcelains, Silver, Treen, Chinoiserie and Lighting. The shop specializes in New England coastal antiques, featuring a carefully selected collection that evokes the region’s history: the collection reflects what was native to New England, as well as what was discovered and brought home by the Nantucket whalers and Yankee sailors as they circled the globe.
The Antiques Depot is a true antiques store carrying only authentic antiques and estate items. The shop does not carry reproductions or lines of decorative giftware, unlike most antiques shops around the country (and world) today. As such, every item is special and unique, a piece of the past carrying its own story and style into the present. The shop is extremely eclectic, as should be expected where two very different individuals are sharing one location. One thing very noticeable, and frequently commented upon, is that every piece is identified with a full description including age, origin, condition and provenance (when possible). The scholarly touch reflects the fact that the shop often runs a course on antiques at the Nantucket Community School. You will also notice that the prices are fair and reasonable, not inflated as is often the case in an upmarket locale, but rather in line with what you expect to find most anywhere in the Northeast.
One of the owners, Jack Fritsch, is also a Professional Personal Property Appraiser, providing formal appraisals of tangible personal property for Insurance, Estate, Tax or other fiscal or legal needs. Unlike Real Estate Appraisers who must pass a state exam and be licensed to practice, there are no similar requirements for Personal Property Appraisers, although many misleadingly advertise that they are a “licensed” or “certified” appraiser. There simply is no such thing, nor any governing body to issue such designations, so the consumer must be careful when choosing an appraiser. Mr. Fritsch is fully compliant with IRS regulations, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as established by the Senate supervised Appraisal Foundation, and the code of ethics of the American Society of Appraisers.
The Antiques Depot has a loyal clientele of Nantucket visitors, summer residents and year-round islanders. Customers return year after year to browse through the three rooms of display. The Depot may deal in the past, but they very much do business in the present and are very active on social media. Their website www.nantucketantiquesdepot.com provides the opportunity for their customers to browse the shop while away from Nantucket or during the off-season. The site is in the active process of uploading new inventory weekly. The site also links to the Appraisal side of the business, their Writing Contest… with an Antiques Twist run as part of the annual Nantucket Book Festival, their antiques blog at www.nantucketantiquesdepot.wordpress.com , page at www.facebook.com/nantucketantiquesdepot and
