Collections Archives - At Home in Arkansas

The Art & Antiques Guide

September 24, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

The hunt for a one-of-a-kind find can be as much fun as displaying the piece in your home. An oil from a local artist, a desk from the 1800s, a piece of ornate silver, or a side table with a history all its own—whatever you’re searching for there’s no shortage of shops and purveyors to assist you. Turn the page for our exclusive guidebook to the state’s best selections.

Original Zac Woodiel painting: acrylic and oil on wood in a 19th-century carved wood frame. Providence Design, Little Rock, (501) 372-1886, providenceltddesign.com…

All is Bright

November 28, 2014 by ark_admin

A Little Rock collector who is passionate about Christmas items shares the history of the popular American-made Shiny Brite ornaments

Charles DuVal has had a lifelong fascination with all things Christmas. “When I was a little boy my mother had me decorate our Christmas tree. I was very particular about where each ornament went; the lights had to be just right and the tinsel had to be just right. I was just very interested in Christmas as a child growing up,” he says.…

Tied & True

October 28, 2014 by ark_admin

At an early age, a Little Rock gentleman chooses bow ties for their ease of use and ends up a lifelong devotee

COLLECTOR Chuck Magill HOMETOWN Bettendorf, Iowa CURRENTLY RESIDES Little Rock HIS OBSESSION Bow ties HOW IT BEGAN After graduating from Tulane University, Magill says, “The South had really captured my heart.” He was “immersed in” New Orleans and decided to stay in the city to begin his career in the hotel industry. He found himself working long nights and entertaining clients well into the wee hours, and the ties he wore tended to get in the way and become cumbersome at the end of the day. As a remedy, he made the switch to bow ties for a look that was equally dapper and elegant, yet more comfortable and less likely to pick up a stain from a dinner table or an errant glass of wine. Below, he answers a few more of our questions about the collection….

Cute as a Button

September 30, 2014 by ark_admin

A pastime handed down from her grandmother has become not only a hobby but also a source of professional inspiration for this creative young collector and entrepreneur

COLLECTOR Brandy McNair HOMETOWN Harrison; currently lives in Little Rock HER OBSESSION Buttons HOW IT BEGAN McNair developed a love of buttons at an early age. Her grandmother, Florine Thomason, is a button collector and introduced her to the hobby. From there, McNair says, “I just started collecting. My grandmother lived just up the road, so I would spend many nights there digging through old buttons.”…

Tea Party

August 26, 2014 by ark_admin

Known for her restaurant, Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets, this collector pours her own flavor into the décor of her beloved Keo eatery

COLLECTOR Charlotte Bowls HOMETOWN Keo HER OBSESSION Teapots HOW IT BEGAN A watery blue teapot with a feminine silhouette caught Charlotte’s eye while visiting with her husband Curtis’ family. The piece, held by Charlotte here, belonged to Curtis’ grandmother and was proudly displayed in his mother’s china cabinet. Through the years, the teapot was handed down, and it became one of hundreds she would come to own.…

The Boy in the Hat

July 25, 2014 by ark_admin

Wearing many different hats is no feat for a 14-year-old Central Arkansas collector

COLLECTOR Wylie Greer HOMETOWN North Little Rock HIS PASSION Hats of all kinds—from ball caps to tricornes HOW THE COLLECTION GOT ITS START Greer’s dad gave him a brown-and-white-striped fedora to wear to his first middle school dance. Perhaps because of the significance, this hat also happens to be his favorite. “It was my dad’s for a long time, so it’s got a personal connection,” Greer says. As with most collections, it grew from this one special piece. “I was always a big history buff, and so it just kind of started with costumes and different hats I found for those characters,” says the soon-to-be ninth grader.

WHAT’S IN THE COLLECTION Anything that appeals to Greer; no hat style is off-limits. Some are replicas of vintage or antique hats, such as the Three-Musketeers-style tricornes. There’s also a Cub Scout hat (which belonged to Greer’s dad) as well as a fur hunting cap, also known as a shapka, that was once worn by Greer’s great-grandfather.

WHERE HE FINDS THEM Greer loves to scour junk dives and thrift stores. He also gets a number of hats from theater productions, including the ones in which he participates, such as the recent production of Tom Sawyer at the Old State House Museum, where Greer played the role of Mark Twain. Additionally, relatives, friends, and neighbors are aware of Greer’s passion and often bring him souvenir hats from events and travels.

A Garden of Relics

June 23, 2014 by ark_admin

A collection of vintage architectural elements adds intrigue to a beloved outdoor sanctuary

COLLECTOR Rebecca Thompson HOMETOWN Magnet Cove CURRENTLY RESIDES Little Rock HER OBSESSION Vintage statues, finials, tools, benches, chimney pots, planters, and keystones—anything with a back story or bit of history to bring architectural interest to her sprawling garden HOW IT BEGAN Thompson’s collection started with gardening tools from the early and mid 1900s. “I am drawn to old tools, because they carry a history and connection to the earth,” she says. WHY SHE LOVES THEM “I love mystery and the story behind all of these pieces. They have lived so many lives, and it’s fascinating to think about the ways they were used. The garden itself is a reflection of me as a person, and the architectural elements that have been enjoyed and cherished in so many ways throughout their lifetime are a big part of this,” Thompson says.…

The Man Behind the Masks

May 23, 2014 by ark_admin

COLLECTOR Davis Tillman HOMETOWN Hot Springs HIS OBSESSION Primitive, vintage, and ball-worthy masks HOW HE BECAME INTERESTED Tillman’s parents were long-time collectors who would later start the family’s famed eponymous antiques shop, Tillman’s Antiques, which is located on Central Avenue in Hot Springs. Their love of antiques and vintage pieces manifested itself in Davis at an early age while they were living in Washington, D.C. Attending the area’s auctions and markets with his parents on the weekends, the young Tillman developed a particular penchant for masks of all kinds, and began to seek them out at the shows.

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The Dish on Blue & White

April 21, 2014 by ark_admin

COLLECTOR Ashli Ahrens HOMETOWN Stuttgart; currently resides in a condo inside Little Rock’s historic Lafayette Building HER OBSESSION Blue-and-white porcelain china and dinnerware HOW THE COLLECTION STARTED “I found my first piece, a large platter, at a flea market in England, Arkansas,” says Ahrens. WHY SHE LOVES IT Many of the pieces in her collection have a family tie and are now beloved heirlooms—each with a story all their own (turn the page to read more about their heritage). HOW SHE USES IT In previous homes, Ahrens has had the plates displayed in china hutches and hanging on the walls. However, they aren’t just for decoration. Ahrens and her husband also love to serve dinner on the blue-and-white treasures. …

Stitched in Time

March 26, 2014 by ark_admin

Vintage linens with fanciful embroidery and delicate details tell the story of generations past

Using cloth napkins at the dinner table, embroidered guest towels in the bath and wearing an apron in the kitchen all resonate with vintage linen collector Phyllis Anne Clark. She not only grew up with these practices, but also carries on the tradition today through her collection of beautiful household linens. “You want to use them because they are all so pretty,” she says. Everywhere she goes, Clark is gathering small pieces of the past in discarded heaps of linens from homes that are downsizing or from friends who know of her love. This includes everything from delicate lace guest towels to more whimsical pieces stitched with brightly hued thread.…

The Art & Antiques Guide

All is Bright

Tied & True

Cute as a Button

Tea Party

The Boy in the Hat

A Garden of Relics

The Man Behind the Masks

The Dish on Blue & White

Stitched in Time

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