ABOUT US
Matt Jackson’s passion for collecting antiques started at the young age of seven. Since then, he has spent almost 60 years curating one of the most extensive and high-quality private antique collections on the North Shore. Matt Jackson Antiques, previously known as Ye Olde Lantern Antiques, has been in the business of providing outstanding historical treasures to the local community for over 45 years. Now, we are thrilled to showcase Matt's impressive life’s work in this online gallery to offer more accessibility to our customers and to reach an even wider community of antique enthusiasts.
Working at the historical Beauport Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts as a teenager transformed Matt’s childhood interest in old bottles and coins into a lifelong passion for antiquities. He was given the unique opportunity to clean the museum’s incredibly rare 18th century Irish Waterford chandelier, and after a month of meticulous attention to detail, he was eager for his next challenge. He then went on to open his first antique shop under the name “Ye Olde Lantern Antiques” in 1974 in the old equestrian countryside of Hamilton, MA.
Matt often describes how lucky he feels to have found a career that makes him feel like he’s on a treasure hunt each day; there's nothing better than that! His business has taken him all over the world in search of the best of the best. For example, he spent many hours sorting through hundreds of maps in the glove compartment while searching for 18-19th century faience across Germany and France. One of the pinnacles of his lifelong career was being able to broker a Rodin sculpture, and subsequently traveling to the Rodin Museum in Paris to have a private tour with the curator. He also had the unique pleasure of brokering a Fitz Henry Lane painting, which was a wonderful tie to the rich local history of the Cape Ann area.
Matt strives for quality, and he’s never had a problem finding it in the beautiful rambling estates of the North Shore. Several of his pieces can now be found on display in museums, such as the only known emerald green Sandwich Glass tray in the world (as shown in the second picture), which Matt sold out of his first shop and is now sitting in the Sandwich Glass Museum in Massachusetts. While he’s had the joy of encountering some outstanding pieces like the ones mentioned above, hearing and being a part of the rich history surrounding even the most unassuming of objects can be just as gratifying for him. He notes that it’s important to try to pass the stories along with the items whenever possible to preserve the history and deeper meaning they may possess.
Over the years, Matt Jackson Antiques has been showcased in numerous shops and antique shows across New England, several of them his own. Currently, you can find him in person at Salt Marsh Antiques in Rowley, MA, and select seasonal shows. You can follow along for updates on our social media pages, linked in the header and footer of this website, or contact us with any further questions you might have. Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page to see if your question has been answered already. We are thrilled to showcase Matt’s collection in this online gallery, and hope to help you find exactly what you’re looking for!