There’s something about sourcing in late autumn that feels different. The air is sharper, the crowds are thinner and the dealers who show up in November are the ones who truly love what they do. This photo was taken at a fair in England just as the sun broke through the morning chill, warming the corner of a tent filled with portraits, old chairs and pieces that still have stories stitched into their surfaces.
Cold-weather sourcing has its own rhythm. The day starts quietly, usually with a hot coffee in hand and a slow wander through rows of stalls before the frost has even lifted. You hear more: the shuffling of boxes, the murmured conversations between dealers, the clink of a teacup placed gently back onto a saucer. Without the bustle of summer tourists, you find yourself noticing small things you’d rush past in July, like the way a carved leg catches the early sun, or how a cracked frame suddenly glows golden in the low light.
There’s beauty in that stillness.
Beauty in seeing pieces before everyone else does, when they’re just waking up in the cold along with you.
Beauty in the patience required to shop slowly, carefully, with an eye that isn’t overwhelmed by heat or crowds.
And there’s a particular kind of magic in knowing that the best finds often appear in the months when fewer people are looking. Dealers bring their most interesting stock to winter fairs because the serious buyers always show up, whatever the temperature. If you’re willing to bundle up and wander with purpose, the rewards are worth it.
Sourcing in the colder months isn’t just about antiques.
It’s about the atmosphere. Crisp mornings, warm drinks, quiet conversations and that golden, fleeting beam of sun that lands on a portrait at just the right moment. It’s about finding pieces that feel a little more special because you found them in a season most people overlook.
If you’ve never sourced in November or December, consider it your invitation.
Pack gloves. Bring a strong coffee. Take your time.
And let the colder months show you what they’ve been holding onto.