Paulines Antiques

I first visited Pauline's Antiques in August 2009. This was my initial impression:



Incredibly overwhelming: every cabinet is full to the brim with glassware, costume jewelry, and figurines; tables and desks are piled high with china plates and lamps; the walls are covered with paintings, mirrors, and clocks... and they have an entire showroom downstairs(!). There are many beautiful and well-preserved items to be found, but prepare to be in the store for a while if you want to look at everything.



The prices were higher than I expected, and some of the items seemed excessively expensive given that they were so closely crowded together. (I went with the intention of buying a small lamp, but every lamp I looked at was more than $100.)



The store also has vintage clothes and hats, which I did not have a chance to examine.



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I visited a second time in January 2010 with only one item in mind. The store was no less crowded with antiques than my first visit; if you tend to feel overwhelmed in antique stores, I suggest either patronizing a different store or arriving with one specific item in mind. However, items are not organized by category, quality, or time period; I was looking for a specific kind of glass lampshade, but still found myself needing to scan every shelf and cabinet, as well as crawl on the ground to examine the items underneath the shelves. (I eventually found one at the back of the store in a location so remote I required the assistance of an employee to clear a pathway, then ascend a tall ladder.)



As it turns out, I have decided that I actually like the experience of discovering hidden items during prolonged adventures in antique-land, but it is probably not for everyone. I should also note that I am a small person with a small purse and can therefore climb over chairs or under clothing racks into narrow enclaves without fearing that I will break something expensive. Taller persons and those with two left feet might feel nervous or claustrophobic in some parts of the store.