Meet the Vendor
Brian Clore, owner of Pip & Olive, showcases Mid-Century Modern furnishings, lighting and decor in booth 51B at The Hill Antique Market. He also offers a fun collection of vintage cocktail wares—everything from beverage sets to bar tools and how-to mixology books.
The Hill Antique Market: Pip & Olive, what a great biz name! How did you choose it?
Clore: I named my business after a favorite uncle and aunt. They were avid auction attendees and collected antiques well into their later years. Their treasures included Uncle Pip’s large carnival glass collection and Aunt Olive’s flow blue china, along with furniture and glassware. Although my taste in collectables is very different from theirs, I certainly credit them, along with my parents and grandparents, for my love of auctions, estate sales, garage sales and “the hunt” in general. Also, how can you not love the names Pip and Olive?
THAM: Do you specialize in particular merchandise?
Clore: My booth is almost exclusively Mid-Century Modern (MCM). In my younger years, I collected some Art Deco pieces and I may sprinkle some of those in the mix. I love MCM furniture, lighting and art, and I’m fond of anything relating to cocktail culture—from beverage sets to bar tools and vintage cocktail books.
THAM: What’s one thing we should know about MCM wares and how to recognize them?
Clore: MCM inspired many designers to utilize novel materials such as plastic, vinyl, plywood, steel, Lucite and acrylics, adding alternatives to exclusively wood furnishings. It was a time for experimentation which spilled over into the art world as well.
THAM: How do you choose particular pieces to sell?
Clore: I curate my booth with items that move me to purchase them and, as a picker, I will spend hours to uncover that unique or special piece. I find them to be some combination of beautiful, functional, nostalgic or quirky but all speak to me. I recognize and know many of the items but also love discovering things that I have never seen before and learning about them.
THAM: When did you first develop an interest in antiques?
Clore: I was surrounded by relatives who loved antiquing, and I credit them with my passion for collecting. My Baby Boomer status undoubtedly influences my love of MCM. I grew up in a small town in Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati, where there was an auction every weekend. Visiting Cincinnati as a kid, I was inspired by the architecture of Union Terminal, The Netherland Plaza hotel and the history of Rookwood Pottery. Both sides of the river had some great vintage and thrift stores where I purchased some of my earliest treasures.
THAM: Do you have a personal collection?
Clore: I have a nice collection of pottery pieces from Rookwood, Fulper and Teco, and my husband and I have a Drexel Declaration bedroom set (passed down from my in-laws). We also love modern furniture classics and art, which is reflected in our home after 35 years of collecting together.
THAM: What do you enjoy most about being a vendor?
Clore: I just began selling this year, and I really enjoy meeting the other vendors at the mall and learning about their passion and collections. It is also interesting to learn what people are looking for based on what sells in the booth, which helps me to curate the collection.
THAM: What’s your favorite feature of The Hill Antique Market?
Clore: The investment in and transformation of the warehouse building is amazing. I love that the market is open seven days a week and that it offers more than just a shopping experience by offering Wine Down Wednesdays at Oliva on the Hill and lunch at Oliva Café.
Clore retired as an executive in women’s footwear in 2019, after more than 30 years in the industry. His husband and a business partner own Centro Modern Furnishings in the CWE. Follow Clore on Instagram.
All booth images ©2021 Brian Clore.
