As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Friday, September 30, 2022

ANTIQUING: In Which We Discover and Buy A Piece Of History



Some of our plans had unexpectedly changed, so Bekah and I went on an impromptu road trip/antiquing adventure. We had meandered through a lovely store, oohing and aahing, and even asking about a paint color in a certain booth.  (Because I am still in search of the "perfect" color for my kitchen and I have. not. found. it.)  I was looking through one last booth when Bekah asked me if I had seen the booth with the beautiful desk. I had somehow missed that space and she said, "You're going to want to see it!"

So I followed Bekah down the aisle to the booth with the desk . . . and she was right! 

Here was a simply beautiful plantation desk. It had this note taped to the side:



Bekah and I stood there and bemoaned the fact that Alfred Hicks had just died the previous year, that this desk had been in his family since 1810 . . . and that now it was here in an antique store! Why didn't anyone in Alfred's family want this piece of family history?! Did Alfred not have any descendants, or did they not value their family's history? Or were there many other items that they loved more and so they chose to let this desk go to another home? 

Regardless of the reasons, it made us a little sad to think of Alfred and his homeless desk. But I certainly had not come on this antiquing adventure with plans to spend $500.00! Besides, where in the world would I put a desk in my house? I had no empty spaces or blank walls. 

However . . . there were a few baskets in the booth that were also a part of Alfred Hicks's estate. It was a small way for me to validate Alfred's place in history, so I chose this wonderful basket with the family name inscribed in the handle. 





We left the antique store, me feeling good about my purchase, Bekah still drooling over the desk. 





As we drove to lunch, Bekah started searching for any information about the Isaac Hicks family. Much to our surprise, she discovered that Isaac Hicks was a successful Quaker merchant from Westbury, New York, who dealt in both dry goods and the shipping industry from 1790 to 1807. (You can read more ~here~.) 

And I have his basket! 

Bekah read on. 

And then: "Mom! Isaac Hicks was a cousin of Edward Hicks!" 

I have long admired the art of Edward Hicks. As a matter of fact, I have a framed print of Hicks's Noah's Ark hanging above my living room mantel. (The same print also hung in the living room of The Farmhouse.) 

Noah's Ark over the mantel at Pineapple House

Noah's Ark in The Farmhouse living room

A few years ago, we purchased another Hicks print, Peaceable Kingdom, for our dining room. We had it matted and Ron made the frame. 



To say that we were thrilled with the connection between Isaac Hicks and "our" artist Edward Hicks would be an understatement! 




By the time we had eaten lunch, Bekah had decided to return to the antique store to purchase a smaller basket that had belonged to Isaac Hicks. We both went home with treasures and we felt that we had preserved a bit of history.








As the weeks passed, we still talked about the desk and how beautiful it was and how we hoped that someone who really appreciated it would buy it. But one night, it dawned on me that I could actually move something that I already had to make a space for Alfred's desk that I loved. Of course! And then I hatched a plan to ask Ron if the desk could be my birthday/Christmas gift for several years. (My wheels were spinning!) He said yes!   

So Bekah and I made a plan to return to the antique store. Before we went, I called ahead to be sure that the desk was still there. It was . . . and it was now 20% off!  

Off we went on another road trip, this time with a definite purpose! 

As one of the men at the store prepared the desk to be loaded into my van, I chatted with one of the proprietors at the front counter. He mentioned how lovely the desk was, and how it was such a great size as many plantation desks are so large. And then he said, "It was the history that got you, wasn't it?" 

Yes! He was absolutely right. It was the history, and the way that an unknown man and his desk had pulled on my heart strings. 




Bekah and I headed for home a little giddy. We couldn't believe that we actually had Alfred's desk in the back of our van . . . and it was ours! 





Here is the desk that was in the Hicks family for 211 years. And now it is our family's turn! 


I had several ideas of where to put the desk. This is the first place that I tried it, here in the living room, across from the front door . . . and this is where it will stay. It will be the most visible in this spot and I love it here.


I think it looks quite at home! 


32 comments:

  1. Oh, it’s absolutely gorgeous! What an incredible find! I’m so glad you went back to get it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Be still my heart! What a gorgeous piece and the history is the cherry on top. Enjoy being it’s caretaker now! It’s perfect in that spot!! Linda Rudman Behind My Red Door

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing my joy, Linda! I know that you get it!

      Delete
  3. What a lovely piece of history! And you have connections in your house. And now Bekah has her own start of the collection. Thanks for sharing, I love the history behind these things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Melissa! I'm glad you like the history too! It seemed meant to be . . .

      Delete
  4. Glad you went back to get the beautiful desk. I have gone back sometimes and item was there, sometimes not and then in”kick” myself. Blessings, Sharon D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sharon! I would have been so disappointed if it had been sold. But I definitely had to think this one through (and get permission!) before I could purchase it. Whew!

      Delete
  5. What a wonderful story of your find on this unplanned antiquing day and all the history you brought home. It does look perfect for that spot. Hooray for 20% off! Now you can have a birthday/Christmas gift one year earlier than expected. Smile....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ellen! Yes, 20% off on something we already loved! All smiles over here!

      Delete
  6. I didn't know whether to cry for joy or smile with glee with you both, so I did both! The desk and baskets have now found their forever home, I think Mr and Mrs Hicks would be pleased, Cheryl! I am always amazed at God's timing, it is perfect!
    Ron seems like my DH, always wanting the best for me, enjoy your great find.
    Thank you for visiting my blog and for your sweet comment.
    Blessings,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're such a good friend, Sue . . . rejoicing with me as if it was your own find! And, yes, Ron is a gem! We are blessed, aren't we?!

      Delete
  7. I'm so glad you went back and got the desk, it's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jan! I am so glad that we went back and that it was still there!

      Delete
  8. Love your desk. It belongs in your home. For more history fun,look up Valentine Hicks. The hamlet, (now Long Island suburb) of Hicksville was named after him. He was born in Westbury, NY in 1782 and had a brother named Isaac! Hicksville isn't too far from or home so I was curious if maybe it was named after your Isaac Hicks. Dee/NY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Dee! And thank you for the lead on another trail of learning! It appears that Valentine was a son-in-law to the Quaker minister Elias Hicks . . . and Isaac Hicks was a cousin to the same Elias and traveled with him some. Fascinating!

      Delete
  9. I'm so happy to read that you returned for this beautiful desk, Cheryl!! It's beauty alone would have tempted me, but the history would have sealed the deal. At 20% off it was meant to be, my friend. I'm sure this is an heirloom for the ages. The ash baskets are so unique and with their connection to the Hicks', they are perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Martha Ellen! The beauty and the history (and Ron's generosity) combined to seal this deal! I smile every time I look at the desk . . . and the baskets too!

      Delete
  10. Oh, yes, it does look right at home. I was trying to be satisfied with the purchase of the baskets, but... So happy for the turn of events. It was meant to be. The whole concept of replacing an item with something of higher value or more meaning is one we all need to learn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you were rooting for the desk too, Vee? Yay! I, too, think it was meant to be! Sometimes we just have to adjust our "glasses" to see something in plain sight. Thank you for your kind words!

      Delete
  11. Oh Cheryl, what a wonderful story. I was pleased about the baskets, but thought surely you could make space for that desk! And you have! The history and all the connections would get me, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lorrie! Yes, you saw it before I did (in the story, at least) . . . but I am so happy that I went back? How could I not?! It had my name on it, didn't it?

      Delete
  12. That's a fantastic story. While I was reading I kept thinking, "Go back and get the desk!" LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that, Sallie! It seems that a lot of you were thinking that! :)

      Delete
  13. What a great story! And thanks for sharing it with all of us. Jacki G

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for enjoying it with me, Jacki G!

      Delete
  14. I absolutely love this story! The desk is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was so hoping you would get the desk. This is quite the story and I love that you were able to take this treasure home with you. I don't have that kind of money, but if I did I would have taken it too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kathy! It is a treasure, for sure!

      Delete
  16. What a great story to read, and what a happy ending! I know you will enjoy your beautiful desk for years, and after that your progeny, do doubt, will. :) Love the picture of you and Bekah!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed the story, Becki! I still enjoy the desk every. single. day. and yes, I am certain that I'll continue to love it! I wonder if Bekah has already written her name inside it somewhere? 😉

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...