In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with longtime friend and full-time antique dealer Laura Saville for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it really means to make a living in antiques.
Laura has spends all her time buying, selling, filling booths, working shows, and constantly moving inventory. Inspired by early memories of her grandfather’s Milwaukee saloon to a career at Nordstrom that sharpened her eye for curation and merchandising, Laura explains how every chapter of her life quietly prepared her for this work.
Together, Matt and Laura talk about the rhythm of the antiques business, the reality of selling full time, how dealers decide what to hold and what to let go, and why shows like Liberty feel so special. They also reflect on how the trade is changing, why younger dealers are entering the field, and why it is never too late to start if you truly love it.
This episode is part storytelling, part shop talk, and part encouragement for anyone curious about life as a full-time antique dealer.
Chapters
00:00 | Introducing Laura Saville
02:20 | Knowing Each Other Through Shows and the Trade
05:50 | Always Buying Always Selling
09:40 | Filling Booths and Keeping Inventory Moving
13:25 | No Antiques Growing Up, Except Grandpa
17:45 | Grandpa's Milwaukee Saloon and the Worner Bottle
22:10 | From Nordstrom to Full-Time Antique Dealer
26:30 | Curating, Presentation, and Retail Instincts
31:10 | What to Sell, What to Hold Back
35:40 | Liberty, Shows, and the Energy of the Field
40:05 | Is Being an Antique Dealer Still a Job
44:30 | Younger Dealers and Finding Your Way In
49:20 | It’s Never Too Late to Go Full Time
53:30 | Closing Thoughts on Loving the Work
Where to Find Laura Saville
Laura Saville is based in North Carolina. You can find her regular booth at The Antique Marketplace, located at 6428 Burnt Poplar Rd, Greensboro, NC 27409. Laura’s booth is the first booth to the left behind the counter.
More information: https://antiquemarketplacegso.com
Laura also regularly sets up at regional antiques shows, including:
The Tarheel Antiques Festival
April 10–11, 2026
226 North Lloyd’s Dairy Rd, Efland, NC 27243
https://www.tarheelantiquesfestival.com
Liberty Antique Festival
April 24–25, 2026 (final Liberty show)
2855 Pike Farm Rd, Staley, NC 27355
Laura’s booth: M5
https://www.libertyantiquesfestival.com
Fishersville Antiques Expo
May 8–9, 2026
227 Expo Rd, Fishersville, VA 22939
Inside the first building
https://www.heritagepromotions.net
Do you know a folk artist or have a picking story worth sharing? Reach out to the show:
houseoffolkart@gmail.com
(919) 410 8002
Leave your name and where you are from and you might hear yourself on a future episode.
Follow @houseoffolkart for more stories, adventures, and upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.
