Antiques at Showcase Pleasant Under Glass

Now that we are familiar with antique malls--where dealers rent a booth, display their wares and most of the time let the mall management do the selling--along comes a concept known as the “showcase gallery.” This approach is more efficient and usually more economical. And, of course, if the operation works better for the dealer then it should also benefit the shopper.

Pasadena Antique Showcase is now under the same management as Westchester Faire Antique Mall and Antique Alley in the Farmers Market. This operation, like the others, is an efficient showcase gallery, which means that goods are displayed in lighted glass showcases (75 total). They are approximately 6 feet wide by 6 feet high and contain collections of just about anything that is small enough to fit on the 16-by-12-inch shelves.

This means a lot of jewelry, china, crystal, silver and objets d’art of all kinds. And the range of prices is as diverse as the merchandise.

There was an extensive collection of tankards, about 40 in all, costing from $55 to $950.

I found some excellent buys in jewelry, particularly American Indian and Asian. A very wide gold and white beaded collar was only $49, and a delicate liquid silver and turquoise Navajo necklace was definitely a bargain at $79.

Another stunning American Indian piece was a Zuni necklace circa 1942 priced at $359. Looks like it’s worth much more.

For the sterling-silver collector, eight julep cups for $1,400 would beat out $1,880 and $2,200 at two Beverly Hills stores. You’ll find lots of crystal, antique toys, books, magazines, candlesticks, watches, bottles, etc. A most unusual Victorian brandy set with a decanter and four glasses was $115.

The displays here tend to be of the finer, high-grade merchandise that could not otherwise be left out in an open-booth type of operation.

For the tchotchke collector, this is sheer heaven.

Pasadena Antique Showcase, 60 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. (818) 577-9660. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. MasterCard and Visa.

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Weekend Super Sale: The doors open at 5:30 a.m. for the truly devoted collector down at the Antique Outdoor Market, L.A.’s largest collectible market, where over 800 dealers hawk their wares. The prices generally are excellent and the inventory is seemingly endless. For customers arriving between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., admission is $10. From 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., it’s $4.50. Parking is free, however, and so is admission for kids under 12. Long Beach Veterans Stadium, Lakewood Boulevard and Conant Street, Long Beach. (213) 655-5703.