Summer Antiquing with Tori Jones
Written by Robert Leleux | Photographed by Dylan Chandler
Tori Jones—proprietor of Block Island’s Tori Jones Studio, a shop featuring vintage and antique finds—has “worn a lot of hats” in design. She’s served in creative roles for such publications as domino, Veranda, Elle Décor, and House Beautiful, and for such brands as Schumacher. Jones has been everything from an editor to an interior decorator in a varied career that thoroughly prepared her to found her store last summer, after first dipping her toe into retail with a three-week pop-up shop in 2021.
Jones describes her style as “magpie and free-wheeling,” with a special emphasis on the laid-back New England sensibility in which she was raised. It’s a look that’s particularly well-suited to Block Island, a summer community off the coast of Rhode Island awash in Americana charm—and that’s no accident. Jones’ roots run deep there. Not only was she raised spending summers on Block Island, but so was her father. He purchased their vacation residence in his youth, a home that her parents spent years renovating and perfecting. In her teenage years, Jones worked for practically every shop and art gallery on the island. And she retains a particular respect for the female small-business owners she worked for during those early summers, women whose work inspired her when the time came to branch out on her own.
When it comes to creating Jones’ “all-American summer” retail experience, she relies upon the distinct and one-of-a-kind. (She describes herself, first and foremost, as an editor of the collection of unique items she cherishes.) And this talent has translated into success. Not only do customers flock to her brick-and-mortar shop, which operates from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, but her year-round online emporium caters to clients from all over the world.
Read on for a peek inside Tori’s shop as well as her top tips for perfecting the art of antiquing.
Scouring a flea market is a metaphor for life: Keep your eyes open, stay present, and always look around the next corner—you never know what you will find.
tori’s Guide To Antiquing Like A Pro:
1. Familiarize yourself with local markets and estate sales. You don’t need to hop a flight to Paris to find well-designed objects of quality. There are great discoveries to be made close to home. But you’ll need to wake up early (try to be first when the market opens), bundle up (even in the spring and summer, early mornings can be chilly) and come prepared (I start shopping at the world-famous Brimfield Antiques Market at 5AM with a flashlight and tape measure, two flea market essentials).
2. Scouring a flea market is a metaphor for life: Keep your eyes open, stay present, and always look around the next corner—you never know what you will find. It can be good to shop with something specific in mind, but—spoiler alert—you probably won’t find it right away. Finding something special requires persistence (count on going back to a market again and again…and again). Don’t become discouraged. Even when you don’t find something you love, the practice of looking (and more looking) is the key to training your eye, learning about value, and developing a deeper understanding of the marketplace.
3. Chance is at the very heart of the hunt. You never know what will come to you through complete happenstance. Stay open and you’re sure to find pieces that spark your creativity, make you happy, and remind you of the journey. And keep in mind that this may be your one opportunity; the merchandise you find at markets and auctions is special and rare—here today and gone tomorrow.
4. Be friendly. It’s important to stay focused, but don’t forget to engage with dealers and other buyers. If you meet a seller with inventory you admire, ask them what other markets they participate in, or if they can recommend any of their colleagues. Exchange contact information and ask them to keep you in mind when they have new inventory. Tell them about that specific piece you’re looking for.
5. Ask questions. The antiques journey is all about learning. Talk to dealers about the items they’re selling, delve into a particular area. The best part of my job is that I get to learn new things every day.
6. In terms of budget, start small—especially when you’re just starting to explore. Learn from your mistakes and in time, you’ll become more skilled at spotting quality and rarity.
7. There is one thing I always look for at each and every market I attend: antique gold and silver leaf frames. It takes practice to spot those, but once you’ve seen a range, you’ll be able to easily distinguish between imitation and the real deal. For one, genuine gold leaf isn’t perfect: the hand-applied material has lines, folds, overlapping layers and scratch marks, all of which are part of its inherent beauty. Turn the frame over and make sure the only material used is wood. And a real silver leaf frame is the ultimate score: all antique frames actually started out as gilt, silver was used as an underlying layer. To find a complete silver leaf frame is a true rarity—often with a price tag to match. And if your budget allows, go bigger! A skilled framer can easily cut these down to accommodate the perfect piece of art. Obviously, scaling up a one-of-a-kind frame is not an option.
8. Take a friend. Antiquing can be hard work. And two sets of eyes are always better than one. Not only can bringing a buddy increase the fun of a day at the market, it can help you score that perfect find.
9. Frequency is key. Once you do find a dealer or shop you love, check back with it, perhaps even as often as once a week. It’s a rare thing to find someone who shares your taste; keep those relationships current.
10. Everything is unique. Perhaps this goes without saying, but antique shopping is the pursuit of the distinct and original. Don’t get frustrated if you miss out on that find or bargain; celebrate the fact that the items you’re searching for aren’t mass-produced—and will probably only pass your way once.
I start shopping at the world-famous Brimfield Antiques Market at 5AM with a flashlight and tape measure, two flea market essentials.