Cape Ann Auction Journal
Disneyland for Antique Lovers: Inside the BG Gallery Warehouse.
I've been in the antiques business since 1979, and I don't say this lightly: walking into BG Gallery in Hanover, Massachusetts was like a trip to Disneyland for antique lovers.
The owner, Peter Levis, is a veteran seller of the eclectic — extraordinaire, really. His warehouse holds many thousands of items, and after spending hours there, I had barely scratched the surface. Aisle after aisle of furniture, lighting, art, and silver, stacked floor to ceiling. Every turn brought something I hadn't expected to see.
What catches your eye first
It's the lighting. Chandeliers hang everywhere — including one enormous dome fixture with mica panels that has to be seen in person to be believed, and mid-century sputnik fixtures mixed right in with the traditional pieces. Then you start noticing the range: a dark mahogany cabinet with brass hardware sitting near a brass-and-glass display case full of colorful art glass. A pair of bronze fencer figures. A black campaign-style chest. A cart loaded with polished silver barware. There is no single category at BG Gallery — the eclectic is the category, and that's what makes it fun.
Why I'm telling you about it now
Peter sells on 1stDibs, where he's built his reputation over years of dealing in the unusual. But a warehouse this full doesn't stay full forever, and he's now making a big push to liquidate a lot of this inventory. For collectors and dealers alike, that's the kind of moment worth paying attention to — when a veteran seller with thousands of pieces decides it's time to move them, good things surface, and they don't sit around long.
See it for yourself
I put together a short video tour from my visit — thirty-five seconds that give you a feel for the aisles, the lighting, and the sheer volume of what's in that building.
More details on the liquidation push are coming soon, and when they land, I'll share them here. But we suggest that after watching the video, you jump over to Peter's 1stDibs store at https://www.1stdibs.com/dealers/bg-galleries/ because the best treasures don’t wait around!
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— Walt Kolenda, Cape Ann Auction