Antiques and Art

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When we began our business in 1988, we called ourselves 'Pumpkin Hollow Antiques', exploiting the colorful name that history and folklore have bestowed on the section of Conway where we live and work. For years this name served us well, but, as our business grew and we grew up with it, we increasingly found ourselves exhibiting at shows with dealers whose given names were an essential part of their business identities. One day two fellow dealers confessed to us that, since they were unsure of our names, they usually referred to us as "those pumpkin people". The time had come for a new name.

But this story isn't about that 'corporate' name change, but about a more subtle one that has crept into our affairs. Although my given name is 'John', we increasingly find it being transformed into 'Jon' -- in advertisements, in show reviews, in mailings from other dealers and promoters, and, yes, even on checks. I outgrew 'Johnny' many years ago, and in my sixty-four years I've been called 'Jack' only twice. Yet in the last decade, my first name has begun to mutate into that of my partner and spouse. I sometimes wonder how long it will be before we're known as "Jan and Jan".

I asked our friend, well-known Maine dealer Jon Magoun, if he thought that one cause of the given name confusion might be the common beginnings of his and my surnames. Jon appeared pensive for a moment, then answered, slyly, "I don't know about that -- but I do know that real men don't need the H."

The question still remains, but it will have to wait until later. It's time for lunch, and I wouldn't want my quiche to get cold.

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Click HERE to visit the J&J Maggs Antiques home page.