Antiques: Palatine home goes back in time
Don't ask Donna Finegan to explain the compulsion to decorate her home with furniture from the 17th or 18th century.
This pre-Revolutionary War period was not the most luxurious or comfortable time in our history, as anyone realizes when they sit for a while on a wooden bench in Finegan's Palatine house.
"It speaks to me for some reason on a personal, intimate level," she said.
"My husband asks me why. It's almost a physical attachment, a longing for it. I love American history."
She also collects fabulous clothing that wealthier people wore in similar time periods, even though she has to keep her treasures boxed to protect them from the Finegan cats.
"Clothing is very intimate," she said. "It ties to their daily lives and historic times. These are survivors, works of art. Each was done by hand."
Finegan is co-chairwoman of the Fall Fox Valley Antiques show, which will be in St. Charles Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18.
One of the most stunning rooms in her house is the living room, which our 21st century eyes might think looks more like a kitchen with its rough table and benches and fireplace surround decorated with a black kettle and pots.
"They did not have couches," she said. "The main room was for eating; some people used theirs for sleeping."
Most members of the family would sit on a bench or stool, she explains.
The single oak chair - which would have been used by the head of the house unless a guest were present - is Finegan's oldest piece. She thinks it was made in 1590 or 1600 in England.
The items she sells online at Donnafineganantiques.com and at shows are not as old as her personal collections.
The painted furniture and small items like firkins (wooden buckets with lids for $325 and up) and carriers for utensils were made in the mid 1800s. And the clothing dates from the late 18th through the 19th century.
She also writes for other addicts at thepowderedwigs.blogspot.com.
Her husband, Scott, sneaks away to his room with the computer, television and comfortable chair, and Donna Finegan admits she is "a little bit of an oddity in the Midwest."
But she insists she has antique dealer friends in the East who decorate this way, too.
The kitchen of the 1916 farmhouse shows old furniture and a cabinet full of antique tankards, horn cups and wooden plates or treenware.
She's not very proud of the rather nondescript stove, refrigerator and microwave, which are probably only 30 years old.
And if you are an overnight guest at her home you will sleep in a press bed, the late 17th century's version of a Murphy bed that can fold against the wall when not in use.
Finegan's favorite piece is a simple wooden chair in the master bedroom.
It is from England and belonged to the Winterthur museum in Delaware. Its date, 1670, is part of the design on the chair's back.
"It's from the Pilgrim century," she said, with obvious love in her voice.
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>What: Fall Fox Valley Antique Sho</b>w</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>When</b>: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where:</b> Kane County Fairgrounds, Randall Road between North Avenue (Route 64) and Roosevelt Road (Route 38), St. Charles.</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Admission:</b> $8 (discount coupons available online); parking free.</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Etc:</b> 5-minute antique schools or mini lectures will be held throughout the weekend.</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Sponsor:</b> Chicago Suburban Antique Dealers Association</p> <p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Information:</b> <a href="http://foxvalleyantiqueshow.com" target="new">foxvalleyantiqueshow.com</a> or <a href="http://csada.com" target="new">csada.com</a></p>