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Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

Historic Limestone Friezes from Philadelphia Civic Center

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In 1931, the Philadelphia Civic Center became the center of the arts as well as a gathering place for conventions, concerts, and sporting events. It included a museum that showcased the different trade and commerce practices from around the world, a concert venue, and a convention center. The Civic Center was influenced by the Art Deco movement; it featured several enormous and beautifully carved limestone friezes.

Philadelphia Convention Hall or Civic Center as seen prior to demolition

Philadelphia Convention Hall or Civic Center as seen prior to demolition

One of these wonderfully crafted friezes was dedicated to music. One of the functions of the Philadelphia Civic Center was a concert venue. The Beatles and Rolling Stones brought in thousands of music lovers to the center as one of the U.S. tours stop with their tickets selling out within hours. It also hosted the Jackson 5 in 1970 and the Grateful Dead in 1974 and again in 1984 as part of its music history. It because musically obsolete when another concert venue was built nearby in the 1960s. This frieze was one of the first to sell once Olde Good Things reclaimed it from the facade of Convention Hall.

The 7 piece music Frieze was carefully removed

The 7 piece music Frieze was carefully removed

Part of the history of the Philadelphia Civic Center was that it was once a museum that was home to several different items from around the world.  It held textiles, ceremonial masks and robes from around Africa, archaeological items from areas of the world such as Egypt, as well as showcased handmade fishing nets, and other anthropologically significant pieces from places such as the Philippines, China, and South America. This is one of the reasons that quite a few of the friezes included in the creation of the Civic Center were of the different continents of the world. It was to be a cultural center as well as a meeting place.

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A few of the elaborate friezes incorporated aspects of transportation, engineering, and manufacturing. The main mode of transportation when this building was built was trains and ships which transported goods around the world. It was these modes of transportation that brought the goods that were created in a factory and then taken to ports all around the world to be sold or used to make other goods.

 

In 2005, when the Philadelphia Civic Center was demolished, Olde Good Things reclaimed the detailed architectural pieces. Their restoration team took great care in the removal of each of the colossal pieces, including around ornamental frieze of the Philadelphia seal.

The Philadelphia seal before removalEach piece was carefully removed and stored at our Scranton warehouse.

Each piece was carefully removed from the face of the building using lifts to guide them down to the ground to be transported to the Olde Good Things warehouse to be stored. These spectacular specimens of art, music, and commercial history are currently available for purchase and can be viewed on the Olde Good Things website.

 

Read more about this Salvage Job

Philadelphia Civic Center Frieze Finds a New Home in Bayonne New Jersey

Salvaged Antique Door Hardware from Philadelphia Civic Center

Architectural Find of the Week: Killer Pillars

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15 Ft tall cast iron light postOlde Good Things is a company well known for finding antique treasures, reclaiming, restoring or re-purposing their finds, and offers it to the general public to add to their own personal collection. These finds are from primarily New York metropolitan buildings that are to be demolished and would otherwise go to a landfill where it would be covered with unwanted refuse. There is so much that can be said for walking into a stately building built in a different era and seeing what they had found beautiful. Olde Good Things sees the beauty in the old, revitalizes the piece, and showcases it to people who are looking for a touch of elegance, whimsy, and unique.

One such architectural gem that has been reclaimed by Olde Good things are these stately heavy cast iron light posts that were created during the beautiful Beaux Arts movement by New York’s own J.L. Mott Iron Works. These magnificent light posts stand 15 feet tall and were found in front of an old warehouse in Brooklyn, NY. These monumental lights have neoclassical features that were popular during the last part of 1800s up until the Great Depression in the late 1920s.

These ornate heavy cast iron light posts features Greco-Roman column elements with ornamental bases that create an elegant, yet eclectic neoclassical design. Several banks, museums, and government buildings which were made during the Beaux Arts movement in the United States featured such amazing lighting choices that were later thought to be ostentatious. Having a monumental piece from a bygone era would lend a touch of classical ambiance to old and new structures. With such historical and architectural significance, it is a true New York diamond in the rough. These cast iron marvels are currently at the Scranton, PA location where they are awaiting a new home.

 

 

 

These cast iron gems now sit outside of the Scranton warehouse

Hidden Treasures in New York City

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Outside of our Madison Avenue storeWhen looking for beautiful antiques to fill your home or office, you could look for the perfect piece in small antique shops in even smaller towns. But when you live in New York City, you can find unique beauty in altered antiques® at Olde Good Things. There are four different Manhattan locations offering amazing pieces reclaimed from older buildings such as the historic iconic Flatiron building and the Toy building located at 200 Fifth Avenue. The fixtures and windows retrieved were then cleaned and made into beautiful pieces that’ll upgrade your home or work space into an earth friendly, trendy work of art. These pieces range from gorgeous mirrors repurposed from reclaimed copper clad windows, and elegant light fixtures.

Inside of our Union Square storeAt our location on 5 East 16th Street in Union Square, you can find a handmade farm or industrial table that would make a great conversation piece while enjoying food, family, and friends. You may also find some amazing tin tiles that would be just right to enhance your apartment, home or office walls. You can also find a great selection of incomparable light fixtures that can add a touch of class to any area. The Union Square location has two levels as well as a mezzanine of brilliantly recycled antiques that can add that little extra something to any room you are looking to furnish.

A peek inside our Chelsea store

The location in Chelsea, 124 West 24th Street, is the first Olde Good Things we opened in Manhattan.  Our largest store, it has a relaxed, eclectic flea market feel when you walk in the door. Come in and take your time browsing the wide range of restored and repurposed items such as antique furniture from the 1930s, as well as metal furniture like metal desks and filing cabinets. This location offers the largest selection of original hardware, as well as doors and mantels.  Each piece is saved from a landfill fate and offered to the general public for use in any home or office environment. Also, don’t let the “For Lease” sign mislead you, we are open for business and are not planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

Inside of the Bowery store

At the Olde Good Things 302 Bowery location, there are two levels of reclaimed and altered antiques®. Here you’ll discover an assortment of chandeliers, a wide range of practical as well as interesting accent pieces including handmade and industrial furnishings.  You’ll find architectural pieces including beautiful stained glass that will enhance the appeal of any room. We have an eclectic array of seating, tables and lighting all aimed at Restaurant entrepreneurs who may be refashioning their eating places, since this location is right in the heart of the restaurant supply district.  You’ll find hook racks, round accent tables, and amazing reclaimed building stones and artefacts from New York skyscrapers.

The Madison Avenue store located at 149 Madison Avenue has an astounding 5600 sq. ft. of open floor filled with a breathtaking treasure hoard of opulent lighting, antique mirrors, decorative art, pottery, and industrial and European finds. There is even a smaller upper level that offers a selection of marble mantels and eclectic artwork you can add to any living space to make it unique.

Madison Avenue

Imagine what treasures you can find at any of the Olde Good Things locations. With four stores within near walking distance in New York City, you don’t have to spend all day finding the right piece for you. Walk in, take a look around, and uncover beautiful and historical pieces that will transform your home or office into a conversation starter.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for at one location, take the Olde Good Things Walk and visit each of the four locations. You may even put together a package finding different pieces at multiple locations!  What a great way to shop, come join in the excitement and fun of shopping at Olde Good Things, Manhattan, the “most interesting stores in NYC…”

 

Do the "Olde Good Things Walk" in NYC

Do the “Olde Good Things Walk” in NYC

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