Events | February 27, 2013

Architectural Artifacts to Host Auction

CHICAGO — In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the nation’s largest and most fascinating antique store, Architectural Artifacts, Inc., 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave, is staging a 2000 plus-lot, three-day auction on Friday, April 5th, Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th, beginning at 10 a.m. The one-of-a-kind items have been carefully selected from over 10,000 elegant and intriguing treasures in the gallery. The three-day auction extravaganza will include items from carved fireplaces to antique saloon bars to vintage chandeliers to fun, frivolous and funky items, ranging in price from $5 to $100,000. The festive event will also include entertainment, a variety of food and wine.


Founded by Stuart Grannen, Architectural Artifacts, Inc. has been collecting, displaying and selling antiques and artifacts from around the world since 1987. Located within Chicago’s historic Ravenswood neighborhood, the 80,000-square-foot building/showroom dates from the early 1900’s (originally the Boye Knitting Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of knitting needles).

The nation’s leading treasurologist, Stuart Grannen has been playing lost and found with high quality antiques and architectural elements for over 45 years. He regularly travels the world to find terracotta tiles, stained-glass doors, Frank Lloyd Wright windows and once even acquired the 22-foot-tall columns from the old Chicago Mercantile Exchange. 


This three day auction will be called by two of the area’s leading auctioneering services. Donley Auction Services is internationally recognized among collectibles' experts with over 40 years of experience and knowledge in the field of appraising, buying and selling antiques. A family owned business in Valparaiso, Indiana, Kraft Auction Services is a full service auction company. President Jonathan Kraft brings brings a wealth of knowledge in selling antiques, collectibles, personal property, and collector automobiles, and specialty sales.


Architectural Artifacts, Inc. is an airy and open store that also regularly hosts private events in its Atrium, which is perfect for romantic nuptials, fundraisers and unique corporate events. The Atrium can accommodate up to 350 seated dinner guests.  In addition to the showroom and indoor galleries, Architectural Artifacts, Inc. also has a courtyard filled with massive stone columns, statuary, gazebos and other large-scale works of art.  


Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Architectural Artifacts, Inc. is a world of lost treasures from original fireplace mantels, stained and beveled glass, period lighting, garden furnishings, cast and wrought iron, gargoyles and griffins, carved stone, church artifacts, decorative tile, American and European furniture, and industrial furnishings. For more information, visit www.architecturalartifacts.com or call (773) 348-0622.