Liverpool — As a veterinarian, Holly Koenig watched over the health of countless felines and canines, tending to broken bones and bellyaches. As a longtime collector of vintage china, however, Holly steered her career from dogs to dinnerware.
Now she tends to a mother lode of vintage collectible and functional antique china at the village’s newest and coziest retail shop, Little Crooked House Antiques, at 221 First St.
The tiny red domicile with its porch freshly painted in yellow trim is the former location of Dave Detlor’s Lakeview Barbershop. Detlor retired in December 2013 after being diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, but he fought his lymphoma into remission and now spends most of his time with his wife of 34 years, Ceaira, at their home on Seneca River. Last January, Dave turned 89.
Fine china!
Holly Koenig has a good eye for fine china.
Her new shop features glass display cases overflowing with colorful plates, platters, soup bowls, cups and saucers, most dating back between the 1880s and 1970. Several plates are adorned with swimming fish designs that were popular in the late 19th century. That set includes a platter big enough to serve a 20-pound poached salmon.
The most eye-catching display, however, is an eight-seat table set meticulously set with two types of Syracuse China — Plymouth Rock “Briar Rose” pattern and Coventry china which was popular between from 1949-66.
A card on the table advises “How to set a table correctly.” Another card, set next to a cup and saucer, offers a recipe for “tea cup chocolate mousse.”
Fond memories of sit-down family dinners from her childhood inspired Holly to go gaga for china. “Collecting the dinnerware is a way for me to preserve that memory of the way we used to enjoy meals as a family,” she said. Few of us may dine like that anymore, “but I like to remember it that way,” she said.
continued — Holly enjoys sharing that vision with her customers. “As a collector, I can go out and find these wonderful pieces, and then I can enjoy them for a while, and then I can sell them, pass them along to somebody else who will appreciate them.”
Syracuse China
She buys most of her stock at estate sales.
Syracuse China is still a bargain. “And it’s quality dinnerware,” Holly exclaims. “People here should be proud of Syracuse China.”
On the other hand, the most expensive set on display is a Mason’s ironstone English dinner service glazed with an ornate floral decoration in blue and orange and nicely scalloped edges. The slightly incomplete service dates back to between 1815 and 1825 and is marked for sale at a cool $950.
But china, whether from China or Germany or Syracuse or Great Britain, is not all you’ll find at Holly’s shop. She’s also selling fancy towels and linens, women’s leather gloves, quilted pillows and seat cushions, and vintage glassware, wall-hangings and a few pieces of furniture such as a drop leaf writing desk and a coffee table.
Prices at the Little Crooked House are certainly reasonable, with many antiques and a few consignment items going for less than $15. And — get this! — canvas bags, makeup bags and pot holders all sell for only a buck!
Holly rings up all purchases on a large and shiny National Cash Register from 1914. I wonder if it’s for sale too.
Other antiques
A few things that caught my attention were a case of silver-and-gold-plated bone chokers and two antique bottles — a Heinz Ketchup bottle from the 1940s marked at $10 and a Coca-Cola bottle circa 1950 for $18.
You’ll find the Little Crooked House between Vine Street and Lake Drive. Holly is open for business from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Check out the shop on Facebook, or call Holly there at 546-2221, or, better yet, stop in and browse. You’ll be impressed.
continued — The Little House might just become the perfect place to find that perfect gift for the holidays.
Remembering Rick Sunday
Last week we shared the sad news about the sudden death of Rick Scappichio who grew up in Bayberry before becoming the keyboard player for the Stompin’ Suede Greasers and The Alligators.
His good friend and bandmate, drummer Larry Luttinger, who lives in Liverpool, has organized a celebration of Rick’s life set for 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, at Jazz Central, downtown at 441 E. Washington St.; 479-JAZZ; cnyjazz.org/jazz-central.
Scappichio, who lived the final years of his life in Long Beach, was 62 years old.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].