Buying Patterns of Antique Lovers

Do gift catalogs follow the buying patterns of antique lovers or do shoppers search for old styles that match what’s selling at auction? Catalogs this holiday season look very different from last year’s. This year’s catalogs are filled with opulent fabrics, swags, piles of pillows, furniture with carved decoration and clutter, Chippendale, Louis XV, Victorian, older Italian styles and even 17th-century designs. A few years ago, most catalogs featured modern design. Look for reproductions of Chinese ginger jars, Empire benches, bamboo furniture, high chests and headboards, muted colors and gold trim. Twentieth-century pieces are bargains when compared to recent copies of the same styles.