Vintage movie posters at Neatoville Eclectic Finds

Travel

Go Treasure Hunting at These Antique Shops in Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Valley is brimming with antique dealers selling eclectic finds from yesteryear.

By Jill S. Devine September 8, 2023 at 8:27 am

Fall is the ideal time to visit the mountains and valley to our west. In our September 2023 issue, we reveal where to go for great hikes and how to see the area by plane or by car. Plus, we’ve found the best places to eat, drink, and shop — and where to kick back and stay awhile.

So many homes and businesses in Shenandoah are packed with history and heirlooms, much of which eventually end up in antique and vintage shops. Why not take a bit of that history home? Searching for the perfect walnut blanket chest or a collection of Elvis vinyl record albums is another great way to explore the Shenandoah Valley’s towns and hamlets.

What constitutes an antique? The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol requires items to be at least 100 years old to be exempt from import duties, so that is the general bar that separates antique from vintage finds.

Antique cabinet and paintings at The Fox & Pheasant — *The Fox & Pheasant (Photo by Jill Devine)*

Some Shenandoah Valley antique dealers set the bar much higher, such as Vilnis Vitols of Vilnis & Co. Antiques in Strasburg. “There is a place for it all around here, but vintage is vintage, and I specialize in true antiques,” he says. Since 1975, Vitols’ shop has been stocked with fine, high-style, handcrafted furniture and art from all over the world, some dating back to the 1700s. Similarly, Scotland-based owners Robin and Lorraine Murray of the Red Schoolhouse Antiques in Millwood specialize in curated pieces shipped specifically from the British Isles and continental Europe.

In contrast, Tony Tahan, owner of Royal House of Modern & Retro in Front Royal, carries a swanky collection of vintage patio sets, uranium and Murano glass, and pieces from the best designers and brands in midcentury-modern furnishings, including Milo Baughman, Adrian Pearsall, and Hans J. Wegner. “Here, it’s all about the clean lines, low-profile, sexy style of the 1950s through the 1970s,” says Tahan.

Stack of vintage suitcases — *The Strasburg Emporium (Photo by Jill Devine)*

Long Valley Traders in Winchester is a great resource for fans of high-quality, Shenandoah-made Henkel Harris furniture, along with a huge collection of antiques, clocks, rugs, lawn statuary, and art. The best source of authentic Virginian handcrafted goods, particularly blanket chests, storage cabinets, and primitive pottery, however, is Burt Long Antiques in New Market. “The people of the Shenandoah have a history of strong material culture, taking great pride in and care of their belongings,” says Long. “Some of the pieces in my shop are more than 200 years old, mostly coming from homes right here in the Valley.”

For a diverse mix of antiques, vintage, and collectibles, Neatoville Eclectic Finds in Boyce is a must-visit, especially for those searching for toys from their youth or vintage business signage. Not far away, in an old mill in Berryville, Hip and Humble Antiques and Interiors specializes in antique and repurposed vintage furniture and home decorations, but its attic full of architectural salvage sets it apart from other shops.

Labels aside, the thrill for most antiques and vintage-shop hunters in Shenandoah is scoring a distinct item that is better crafted and made of higher quality materials than anything new in retail stores. “It’s great fun and a bargain, too,” says Julie Ashby of Hip and Humble. “What could be better than that?”