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Not far from the Confederation Bridge on the Prince Edward Island side of that engineering marvel a scenic backroad leads to the cozy town of Cape Traverse and two of the best antique shops in all of Canada’s Maritime Provinces: Ice Boat Rarities and Antiques and, its sister shop, Island Uniquities and Antiques, which is just a few hundred yards away down PEI Route 10. Both shops are housed in 19th century buildings — one an old church and another a former masonic lodge — that have been masterfully restored and updated by owners Larry and Jane Dugdale.
The exceptional assortment of antiques, curios, artwork and furniture on offer started as a personal collection of the owners that eventually morphed into the well-organized groupings that seem intentionally curated for visual delight. The Ice Boat building features the former church’s simply designed but stunning original red, blue, green and yellow stained glass windows, which cast a warm, luminous glow throughout the place. These shops deserve to be called galleries as much as anything else.
If you’re into stylish old or reclaimed furniture, these shops have you covered; automotive and industrial neon, check; vintage toys, thermometers, oil cans, model boats, duck decoys, postcards and ephemera, tools or farm implements, check to all that too — and a great deal more! Of particular note is the collection of whimsical painted wood sculptures and other artworks by noted PEI folk artist, Kerras Jeffery, who sadly passed away last year at way too young of an age after battling a long illness. The Ice Boat Rarities shop serves as almost a museum of some of his brightly colored pieces and the shop also features a marvelous cloud-painting by Jeffery on the ceiling of its largest room.
In addition, the staff in both places are super friendly and helpful and the prices are about the fairest I’ve seen for antique shops anywhere. These places are definitely worth a visit if you find yourself nearby.
More information about these terrific shops can be found at their respective Facebook pages here: Iceboat Rarities and Island Uniquities. More about Kerras Jeffery and his art is available on the Backroad Folkart blog here, which was formerly written by him and is now maintained by one of his relatives.
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A truly wonderful collection of antiques, I see several that I would love to own! ❤️
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Wow! Those pictures took me back! I wonder if 50 years from now someone will post pictures of things we are using now and people of the next generation will also say, “Wow! That took me back!”
Anneli, I’ve sometimes wondered the same thing and which of the things we use now those might be. 🙂
I feel the beginnings of a science fiction plot coming on.
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Oh, Too bad missed these in 2014 when visiting PEI. Just as well, I might have wanted to stuff something in the car. I hope to go back.
I know that feeling! 🙂
An amazing find! Terrific find! 🙂
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How utterly fascinating, Brett. I just love vintage ‘everything’! I smiled when I saw, “Shipper of potatoes and turnips”. Is it just me, or is there something innately charming about it? Thank you for a wonderful post, Brett. Cher xo
Hi, Cher, I picked up on that as well — it is charming, perhaps because of the reference to turnips, which don’t seem to be as popular as I expect they used to be. 🙂
Hi Brett, Ah, you saw that as well. That must be it. I do recall my grandmother always having turnips on the table whenever we had supper (dinner) at her house. I didn’t quite care for them, so I would ask if someone could please pass the ‘turnsnips’. It was always used as an excuse for me to be silly (as I never ate them, and not that I necessarily needed an excuse). 😉
That’s a funny story, Cher. 🙂
🙂 *A true one at that, Brett!*
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Great post. Vmm
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
We have yet to get to PEI, but think we will when we go back to explore the other half of Nova Scotia. We were silly to think we could see all of it in one week, and once we arrived focused on Halifax and Cape Breton.
Nova Scotia goes off in three distinct directions and there’s a lot of ground to cover in any direction in a week.
Yes. I think one trip will just be the south end.
We loved PEI, but I am sorry to say we missed this. Maybe next time. 🙂
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That looks a really great place to visit. And what an incredible bridge!!
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My husband and I are no longer able to go into antique shops because it’s too, too tempting to buy. Maybe if we think of them as museums instead?
Liz, that’s a good way to approach them. I like that idea.
So much fun stuff. I am in love with the little Mountie!!!!
He’s pretty cool! 🙂
Some fabulous goodies !
Chris, definitely so! 🙂
Nice!
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Meeting Amanda, Susan and Larry was the introduction to island life in PEI. They were a terrific representation of hospitality. You were very informative and shared your beloved memories of Kerras Jeffries with us!
Thank you all for being who you are!
Carole and Mark Deschaine
Amherstburg, On
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