Antler Hill Village and Antiquing

On our second day at Biltmore we visited Antler Hill Farm and Village.  The farm reflects the estate's agricultural past, and the village is where The Biltmore Legacy [an exhibition hall that opened in 2010] is located. 

The current exhibition is The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad, and was well worth visiting. At one of the exhibits I learned George, Edith and Cornelia narrowly escaped perishing on the Titanic. They had made plans to return to Biltmore on the Titanic, and had sent their luggage on board the Titanic with one of their servants, who was a second class passenger. For an unknown reason George Vanderbilt canceled their plans to sail on the Titanic one week before the voyage.  Tragically, his servant perished on the Titanic.

The exhibition displays many of the collections the Vanderbilts attained during their world-wide travels.  An informative video about the family was also shown.

The village also has a restaurant, playground, and gift shop.  In front of the restaurant are bronze statues of Cornelia and Cedric - the top dog at Biltmore.  He was the first of a long line of St. Bernards owned by the Vanderbilts.

Sadly, George Vanderbilt died of complications from an appendectomy in 1914 at the age of 52.

On a more uplifting subject, when we left Biltmore, we decided to do some antiquing.  I remembered a series of antique stores on Swannanoa River Road that my girlfriends and I visited in 2012, so we went there.  

I only made one purchase - a vintage Chinese tea set in a wicker travel basket.  I've eyed them on E-bay for a very long time thinking they'd make a great visual for a tea presentation, but they're often pricey, and with shipping fees were always more than I wanted to pay.   Imagine my delight when I spotted one for $28 in excellent condition!  I love the fish hook closure.

When we were done antiquing we stopped at Olive Garden for dinner.  On our way back to our hotel I spotted a Ross Discount Store. There are none in my area, and I'm always reading about the great purchases my friend, Angela, at Tea With Friends blog finds there, so I asked my hubby if  I could go in for a quick look.  

I was 'tickled pink' to find a Gracie China teacup in the Lucy's Love pattern.  At least three of my blogging friends have featured it on their blogs at Valentine's Day.  It was just $5.99, so it didn't take me long to decide if I wanted it.  Now  I'm all set to sip tea in a themed teacup on Valentine's Day 2016!

I spotted a TJ Maxx across the parking lot, and since I seemed to be on a roll, I popped in there too!  I didn't leave empty handed.  I found a Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz luncheon plate in the clearance section for $3.  I purchased a cup and saucer a couple of years ago at an outdoor antique market, so this plate will make a trio.  Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage blog has an entire set of these lovely dishes.

All in all it was a very good day!  We headed for home early the next morning.

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Today I'm joining Lavender Cottage for Mosiac Monday