Antique Row

The story

Antique Row is the informal name for the stretch of Pine Street that has housed antiques dealers for well over a century. Located in the Washington Square West neighborhood, the street is one of Philadelphia's most architecturally intact historic blocks — the Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses that line it are themselves antiques, providing a fitting setting for their contents.

The district extends roughly from 9th Street west to Broad Street, with the highest concentration of dealers between 11th and 15th Streets. Side streets — particularly 12th, 13th, and 15th — also have dealers. It's a neighborhood designed for leisurely browsing rather than quick shopping, and most dealers welcome knowledgeable conversation about their stock.

What the Dealers Specialize In

Philadelphia has a particularly strong tradition in American Federal and Chippendale furniture — pieces made in the city during its 18th and early 19th century peak. Several dealers on Pine Street specialize in exactly this material. Beyond furniture, you'll find fine American folk art, Pennsylvania German decorative arts, silver and Sheffield plate, estate jewelry, maps and prints, and architectural salvage from demolished Philadelphia buildings.

Auction Houses

Freeman's, established in 1805, is the oldest auction house in America and holds regular sales of American and European antiques, art, and jewelry. Their preview days are open to the public and worth attending even without buying — the exhibitions are genuinely educational.