Claudia Glassman, 62, vintage textiles dealer of Brimfield, Mass., died peacefully at home on March 21, after a brief illness. Born in New Haven, Conn., on November 13, 1945, she leaves behind a large and loving family, including her spouse and business partner Karen Young of Brimfield, a sister Michele Piccolo of Holland, Mass., numerous friends in the trade and her loyal customers.
Claudia’s lifelong passion for vintage and antique textiles developed into a business after she and Karen moved to Brimfield in 1995. Some of the highlights of Claudia’s business history of the last 13 years include her Turkey Red damask collection featured on Martha Stewart’s television show and in Martha Stewart Living magazine, sharing her knowledge and inventory of vintage barkcloth on Martha Stewart’s television show, authoring an article on the Brimfield shows in the April 2006 issue of Country Living Magazine and most recently being chosen for Country Home magazine’s Top Ten Collectibles for 2007, for antique homespun linen where her merchandise was featured on the cover, as well as inside the magazine last July.
Claudia’s joy came from sharing her knowledge of antique and vintage textiles with her legions of customers in New England, all over the country and worldwide. She was a fixture at the Quaker Acres antiques show in Brimfield, and other shows throughout New England.
Her legacy will live on with the thousands of handmade and decorative items that she made from antique textiles and sold over the years. Those items are now enjoyed in her faithful customers’ homes and her popular tote bags made from vintage textiles are worn by women all over New England and beyond. She was proud and grateful to be part of the antiques community, and the vintage and antique textile community specifically, and she will be deeply missed.
