AUGUSTA — Those who preferred to start the new year with something old flocked to the Augusta State Armory on Wednesday for a New Year’s Antiques Show.

Emery Goff, of Farmington, selected a sweet grass basket pin cushion with a splint pattern.

She and seller Vance Stuart debated a little about whether it was a Shaker or a Native American basket before concluding it was the latter.

Goff, who operates the Old Barn Annex Antiques, said she was buying the basket to resell it later in Searsport, where the shop exhibits items at several stores. Goff said she has been in the antiques business for 44 years.

State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. pored through boxes of postcards in transparent protective sleeves on several tables.

“I’m looking primarily for prints, old postcards, photographs, stereoviews of Maine; and I always find interesting material here that isn’t already in the collection,” Shettleworth said.

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Nearby, Anthony Douin, of Augusta was concentrating his efforts on locating material relating to the capital city.

There were tables with lamps, jewelry, books, miniature dishes, buckets, maps, bowls, several pairs of snowshoes — including at least one pair with upturned tips — and numerous other items.

Dennis Ladd, of Farmingdale, who works with Cabot Mills Antiques, of Brunswick, had a broad smile as he surveyed the wares spread across the armory auditorium. “This is a good way to start the new year off, getting my antique fix for the day.”

Ladd said he is a “door-knocker” who approaches people in homes asking whether they have items for sale.

“The part I enjoy about the business is the hunt,” he said.

The annual Augusta State Armory New Year’s Antiques Show, featuring more than 30 dealers, is organized by Jim Montell.

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This year, Montell greeted many of the showgoers by name, welcoming them and offering them bright yellow cards for his March 30 show at the same location.

“It’s only 88 days to the next show,” he told them.

He said he was grateful for the sunshine, which brought out attendees; but less fond of the cold, which had frozen the door locks on one exhibitor’s van and meant an empty exhibit spot at the show.

Gary Leighton, of Augusta, quizzed Montell about the types of exhibitors and items he prefers at the shows.

Leighton said he and Tom Foster buy storage units and have been selling those items wholesale and are considering getting into retails sales as well.

Betty Adams — 621-5631 badams@centralmaine.com Twitter: @betadams


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