As it enjoys its 20th anniversary the Carolina Meadows Antiques and Collectibles group continues to instruct and entertain with its richly varied programs. From its beginnings in 1993 it has grown from meetings in private homes to monthly talks and displays in the Board Room.
The group came about when a few friends met to share tea and to talk about their collections. There were occasional discussions with knowledgeable guest speakers and trips to nearby antique shops
Around 1995 new residents brought fresh enthusiasm and ideas to the Antiques and Collectibles group. With its increased growth the group moved from residents’ homes to the activity room in the Club Center. Before long, due to the well-conducted programs and increasingly attendance the group moved to the larger Board Room where it continues to hold monthly meetings.
The group now totals some 40 men and women, including Wait List and Ready List members in addition to current residents. A survey provided information on individual collections, recommendations for program topics, speakers, and trips to see antiques shops and museum collections in the area.
Program criteria include: an intellectually stimulating topic; speaker expertise; appeal to a broad number of members, both male and female; and nearby outside trips, with expense and travel time kept to a minimum. On occasion the group shares programs with other activity groups on campus such as the Photography, Quilting, and the Art Guild.
In 2009 Pepita Huddleston became Chairman. She recently cited a favorite program displayed in each of the past five years. That program in 2009 was her Art Nouveau collection displayed in her villa. In 2010, the 25th Anniversary of Carolina Meadows, she secured David Lindquist, of Whitehall Antiques, who spoke on “Changes in the Antiques Market over the Last 25 years.” The guest expert for the 2011 program was Paige Myers, Conservator of Textiles at the North Carolina Museum of History. In 2012, Timothy Riggs, Curator of Collections at the Ackland Museum of Art, spoke on “A Season of Japan,” a special exhibit at the museum.The talk was later followed by a tour of the exhibit. The special program in 2013 was the UNC Emeritus English professor Sterling Hennis’ Collection of Pop-Up Books.
The Antiques and Collectibles program not only shows treasures; it is a treasure itself.
By CM Resident Dorothy Mahan