antiques

antiques

April 19, 2012Feature Story

Fostering Flea

Photo by Maureen Post Once a year in May, Milwaukee native and New York resident josh krajnak travels home for two reasons – family time and the Elkhorn antique Flea Market. “I don’t know which is higher on his priority list,” jokes Richard Krajnak, Josh’s father and a flea market vendor. A buyer and seller of vintage items from the 1930s to the 1980s, Josh Krajnak scoops up knickknacks, accessories and furniture to ship back and sell at Ugly Luggage, a vintage shop he co-owns in Brooklyn. His purchases are tailored to an affluent and burgeoning market in New York,…

May 27, 2008Feature Story

Thrill of the Hunt

photos by David Bader Alfred Bader was a struggling Milwaukee chemist on a New York business trip when he purchased his first old master painting. Bader knew more about phytochemicals than fine art, but he liked the painting and the dealer was willing to let him pay in 16 monthly installments of $50. Only later did Bader discover that Man Surprised, the portrait of Adriaen Brouwer, had been painted by 17th century Flemish artist Joos van Craesbeeck (the dealer had credited another artist). It had been a good investment. Back in Milwaukee, Bader built a successful corporation, the Aldrich Chemical…