Seller Story
Roberts’ Antiques, Lexington, KY
“The collecting began when my father, Lon Roberts, was practicing medicine. He started initially buying brass items at auction, and it grew from there. My parents traveled together to antique stores, auctions, and yard sales all over the country. They lived on a farm called Cherrywood here in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky where he built a number of warehouses to hold the items in his collection. After his workday, he’d open the warehouses to the public who could come shop the collection. My parents also grew asparagus so sometimes people would come to purchase asparagus and then go buy an antique.
He retired in 1993 and moved from the farm to town in 2004, and they had to do something with these warehouses. So he moved the contents into the building where Roberts’ Antiques is. He had a specific interest in lighting, and often would collect, repair and restore vintage and antique lights and lamps. At one point he got involved in salvaging buildings and ended up with a lot of demolition rights, so a lot of the hardware in the store – locks, hinges, lighting – most of it was salvaged from buildings that were being destroyed.
While they loved when they could sell something and make a profit, most of the time it didn’t matter. My father loved to admire, appreciate, and understand things he collected – whether it was an antique farm implement or interesting whale oil lamp lighting. He liked it more than he wanted to make money on it.” – Edward Roberts, son
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Pair of Rookwood Pottery Art Deco Style Ceramic Candlesticks, 2019
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Danish Modern Jo Hammerborg for Fog & Mørup "Zero" PVC Pendant Light, 1972
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Outdoor Aluminum Octagonal Modular Picnic Table and Seating
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Christian Dior Faux Pearl and Crystal Drop Earrings
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Mikimoto Five Pearl Quartz Wristwatch with Mother of Pearl Dial
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
14K Star Charm Ring
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Pastel Drawing of Lake Landscape, Late 19th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Offset Lithograph After Bernard Buffet "Bouquet"
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Diamond Huggie Earrings with 10K Accents
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
William J. Greenwood Landscape Watercolor Painting, 1971
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Landscape Pastel Painting Of Pastoral Sunset, Early 20th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Engraving After Wale and Gwynn of the Dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, London
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
BVLGARI Stainless Steel Quartz Wristwatch
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Coach Enameled Metal Daisy Purse Charms Keychains
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Chinese Reverse Glass Painting of Tiger and Cub
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Thomas Whelan Benton Serigraph "Red Mountain," 1981
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Hollywood Glam Table Lamp Featuring Chrome and Glass
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Artmaster Studios Large-Scale Embellished Serigraph of Mallard Ducks
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth New York Yankees Matted and Framed Displays
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Gwen Doppler Stylized Floral Acrylic Painting "Striped Vase"
How did your collector parents influence you and your siblings?
My father’s collecting strongly influenced and inspired our family. My brother David is a furniture designer and maker here in Mt. Sterling. My sister is an interior designer in Louisville, and my son Alex is a furniture designer in Louisville.
Did you spend much time in the shop as a child?
Yes, and it was very fun. He had friendships that ranged from people who picked stuff at yard sales to thrift shop owners – a wide range and variety of acquaintances. It made it a lot of fun to spend time in the shop where he would meet people and shoot the breeze. Every now and then I’d learn something about an object or item that I didn’t know before.
Which items stand out for you in particular?
I happen to love sugar desks, sugar chests, and sugar boxes. These items were used to store sugar in the South in the early 19th century. Sugar was kept under lock and key because it was so valuable. These boxes were often made out of expensive wood with beautiful inlays, and I’ve always been drawn to them.