We chatted with Scott Davis, co-owner (with his wife, Rae) of the Rhode Island Antiques Mall (www.riantiquesmall.com), a group shop in Pawtucket, with some 200 dealers. The shop has caught the attention of collectors and dealers alike because of its high caliber of antiques. In weekly bulletins to his dealers, Davis (who also runs a marketing consulting business) tracks the types of objects that are selling and are being requested by clients. The trends he and his dealers are noticing include:

Good Country: “Everything from grain bins to carved wood butter molds is selling really well, as long as it’s a good example of a country item,” says Davis. “We are actively trying to get more country dealers in here. But forget about your average junky country stuff.”

Architectural Antiques: “Architectural elements such as brackets and corbels, garden statuary, iron gates—all those objects seem to be gone the day after they arrive,” notes Davis.

Pastoral Landscapes: “Turn-of-the-century paintings, say from 1875 to 1925, are in demand,” says Davis. “The pastoral scenes with cows and sheep seem especially popular, as do turn-of-the-century seascapes.”

Vintage Fabric: “If the fabric is by the bolt, so you have enough to do something with it, it sells quickly,” says Davis.

1950s Retro: “Younger collectors really like the familiar and useful stuff,” says Davis. “For example, they will buy a 1950s pitcher and use it, instead of buying a new equivalent—it’s the ultimate form of green for them, I think.”