By: David S. Smith
SOUTH NORWALK, CONN. — “It is nice to finally have a permanent home for all of the consignments we get,” stated Elizabeth Jackson at the grand opening of her new shop. Jackson, one of lower-Fairfield County’s most well-known estate sale managers, opened at 207 Liberty Square on Friday, December 13.
“My motto is that I don’t want you to feel like you wasted your time. I want you to feel that it was definitely worth the trip,” said Jackson as she looked about her well-appointed new digs that boast not only quality antique furniture and accessories, but also a view of Long Island Sound.
Opening on Friday the 13th proved to be a day that brought anything but bad luck as a large number of shoppers made their way through the gallery and good sales were noted.
Jackson’s estate management team conducts between 10 and 14 sales per year, always three-day events that she describes as “fun.” “A lot of younger people come through my sales, often times to view the house and not the contents, but I spend a lot of time teaching the younger buyers about antiques — and that gets them hooked.” The dealer hopes to incorporate the same “fun” into her shop — only open for three-day spurts over a “long weekend” each month.
Jackson recalled cutting her teeth in the business at an early age, attending a Robert Foster auction in Maine with her mother and aunt. “I was 12 years old and a decorated tole spice box was being sold, a round one with the different tins inside, and I bought it for $5. That was it,” she said, “I was hooked.”
The first lot to cross the auction block at the next auction she attended was an Oriental carpet. Foster said, in an effort to add some enthusiasm and jump start the sale, “The first $5 takes it.” Much to her aunt’s and mother’s surprise, her hand shot up in the air. “It was a nice Sarouk and it is in the upstairs foyer of my home,” Jackson commented, with a charming smile. The tole spice box also remains in her collection today.
Jackson hopes to add appeal to her shop with a focus on mini-seminars, inviting experts into the shop to explore topics, such as how to start a print collection or explaining the differences between English and American silver.
Opening morning at the shop was active with early sales including a silver bowl, a crystal chandelier, a pair of Art Deco chairs and a silver meat platter cover. Snow was falling for Saturday’s opening and traffic was somewhat slower, although it picked up again on Sunday.
For additional information, contact Elizabeth Jackson at ejacksonllc@msn.com or 203-838-7636 or visit the website www.ejacksonllc.com.
