Antiques and Art, Wiscassett, Maine - Part Two

                                                                 "What is this shop?"

" I don't know....want to check it out?"

"Oh look...we have to go upstairs."

"I don't know - I am about ready for lunch"

"Well let's just run up and see if it's any good."

"Ooooh, love the hooked rug - great colors"

"Oh my gosh, look at this one! Look at that one! These are incredible!!"

I love seeing hooked rugs mounted and hung on the wall, elevating them to the art that they truly are. We had stumbled upon an exquisite collection at John Sideli Art and Antiques in Wiscassett, Maine.

 

 The rugs were displayed on the walls as we climbed the stairs, and then continued into the gallery. Mixed with other charming pieces of American country furniture and folk art, we couldn't believe we had almost passed this shop by!

 "I think we are in some one's living room," I whispered. Indeed, we were.

Antique dealer and artist, John Sideli, lives in this well edited space, displaying antiques for sale, as well as his compositions of objects, or "Object Poems" as he has been known to call them. He told us of taking years to gather three little red trucks to create the piece below.

Don't you love the eggs under the glass dome?

Rooms flow from one to another with a mix of high country antiques and playful folk art.

I was crazy for this old blue door with the skull and old patriotic textile.

John will often live with found objects for weeks, months, sometimes years, contemplating how they might fit together to create a playful and poetic construction that tells a story.

John has an amazing talent for putting these odds and ends together to create clever compositions, the way a poet might fit words together. He has an instinctual talent for combining form, texture and color.

The color mix here is superb.

Fine, traditional antique portrait of a family.

 Clever, playful, thought provoking.................

Love the mix of contemporary painting and all the antiques.

Art, architectural pieces, rugs, fine furniture, fragments and random found objects creating object poems, all in an exquisitely polished environment - John Sideli Art and Antiques was one of the highlights of our trip. After going a little research I discovered that Mr. Sideli has exhibited his works nationally and internationally. We were just fortunate to find him at home on that one glorious day in Wiscassett, Maine!

Thank you, John, for allowing me to photograph and write about your sensational gallery.

Antiques and Art, Wiscassett, Maine - Part One

The coastal town of Wiscassett, Maine is loaded with charm. The main street is lined with historical homes, antique shops, galleries and various shops geared towards tourists. Of course my favorite part, besides being on the water and the availability of lobster rolls, is the antiquing.

Marston House has had a presence on the main street for as long as I have been visiting Maine and is a must stop for me when passing through. Proprietors, Sharon and Paul Mrozinski, have been offering 17th, 18th and 19th century American and French antiques since 1987. They also have two bed and breakfast rooms available on the property. Visit the website for Marston House for more information on staying there.

Textiles, charming little whatnots, folk art and pottery fill every nook and cranny in the shop. Sharon may not like the ironing board in the photo, but why do you think all those textiles look so lovely and crisp?!

Poking around the shop I also found......

gorgeous French toiles,

stacks of antique linens and wonderful antique paper covered boxes,

and this fabulous, old French armoire. It was a built in piece in a house in a small french village. I absolutely love the faded blue paint and the perfect imperfection of it!

Wait, there is more.....

Loved these little ironstone pitchers with pewter lids and spouts - not sure what they are called but they look like syrup pitchers.

 Beautiful woven fabrics in jewel tones - wish my photo was brighter.

Everywhere I turned there was some interesting and unique fabric or object - I could spend hours in here learning so much from Sharon!
(Click on any of my photos for more detail.)

Fabulous antique pewter candle sticks................. 

another piece I adored....an antique American southern sugar chest with traces of bittersweet paint showing through.

wonderful old books, pens, wire baskets..................

Love the shape and the patina of the old wooden bread boards.

Hope you have enjoyed peeking into Marston House. If you find yourself  traveling along Highway 1 in midcoast Maine, you really should visit yourself. You won't be sorry!  Stay tuned for my other favorite place in Wiscassett!