Country Gentelman Antiques

GARY HOLLAMBY -

In the early 1970's when Gary was a teenager, his grandmother died and left a houseful of old things for his family to go through. Gary was so intrigued by antiques...what were these things? who made them? how old were they? From that moment on, Gary was hooked. While he was raising his children, they would go out to flea markets, auctions, antique shows and antique shops to see more, ask questions, and try to understand all he could about them.

Gary was especially interested in quality furniture. While raising two sons Gary needed furnishings that would hold up to them---constructed of real wood and not flakeboard, which would fall apart in no time. His boys recall this tale about Gary's early years of collecting and dealing antiques out of their home... One evening while eating dinner around an old oak table, a customer came calling and wanted to buy the table. Before they knew it, they were loading the table into the customer's vehicle and would finish their dinner in the living room that evening.

In 1981, Gary was instrumental in helping to start a small antique cooperative. This grew into a large group shop of approximately 40 dealers that he and his friend Nancy Jones ran for about 10 years. In 1991, with his family and business partner Scot Ewing, he restored the beautiful building now known as the Country Gentleman Antiques store. This wonderful old building started out as The Garden Inn in the 1930's. At that time, one could stop there for dinner, have a glass of wine, get free silverware, get their car serviced if needed and even spend the night upstairs at the INN. After The Garden Inn closed, the building was always used as a restaurant, under several different names - known for there delicious meals and fun times until its closing in the mid 1980's.

Through the years, Gary has volunteered his gained knowledge to help non-profit organizations, such as libraries, historical societies, churches and the Salvation Army with appraisals on donations of antiques. He's co-chaired auctions to benefit The American Red Cross and most recently as an appraiser for the Cuba Cheese Museum's annual "road show" event. This fund-raiser is sold out each year to people interested in learning more about their treasures.

For many years Gary has conducted estate and tag sales for people who have lost their loved ones and need help in dispersing their complete households. He has been instrumental in helping several customers with decorating their homes to certain eras or with interests into particular styles and needs. We pride ourselves in finding the best quality furnishings, purchasing most of our inventory locally or wherever needed and as far away as Belgium, Germany, Italy, France and Denmark, but focusing on "American" antiques when possible.

Gary has done antique shows for many years from New England to Florida, and during those shows has been seen on the Antiques Roadshow on PBS. He has also been interviewed by Terry Kovel, renowned author of Kovels Antique Publications and was on their TV show Flea Market Finds.

Gary's interest in antiques varies widely from fine period furniture, paintings and oriental rugs to painted American furniture, folk art, and studio pottery. You can contact Gary directly at cggents1@dishmail.net or 716-372-4263.