The showdown is underway. Who will be crowned the Sexiest Man in the Antique Biz? From the list that once numbered close to 20, the readers have voted and now it is down to three: David Pacic, Ron Robles, and Roger Renick. The contest began in August of 2007 and after a year with a lot of twists and turns and acramonious starts, the three final nominees have been announced. Since all of these hunks are drop dead gorgeous, the votes are likely to fall on partisan lines: Not Republican or Democratic, but by Advertising, Country and Spanish Revival fans. David Pacic, Big Blue, with his shiny grey hair and piercing blue eyes, captured attention at last August’s All-American Show when he offered a giant greyhound dog sign that once hung in front of a bus station. He was affectionately nicknamed “Big Blue.” He offers showstopping porcelain and tin signs at several local antique shows, including the All-American and Calendar Del Mar Shows. Ron Robles, a consistent favorite, is omnipresent in the antique show circuit. The specialist in country furniture and distressed decorative items is a dealer at Country Village Antiques in Glendora, and is the manager at the recently-relocated Novotny’s. Roger Renick is the most recent addition to the list. He captured the attention of fans at last year’s Golden California Show. The owner of Roger Renick Fine Arts & Antiques in Pasadena recently completed a book on his specialty. Entitled “Monterey: Furnishings of California’s Spanish Revival,” the book was co-authored by Michael Trotter, and published by Schiffer Books. His store is stocked with Spanish Revival and early California decorative arts, including Monterey furniture, plein air paintings, lighting, and Santos. The winner will officially be announced in the November issue to coincide with the presidential election.
