According to Dave Hewett of the Maine Antique Digest (MAD), the $222,400 total price tag (including buyer's premium...Northeast charges a 15% premium on the first $50,000 of the winning bid, and 10% of the remaining balance above $50,000... we'll let you do the math!) is the highest price ever paid for a J.H. Davis lot.
"The previous record price for a single J.H. Davis painting appears to be $90,500, for a double portrait at a Sotheby's sale of January 29, 1994," Hewett reported for MAD.
Second highest lot of the sale (we think; this editor didn't stay until the VERY end of Sunday's sale, but close), a Hall family of CT, Chippendale cherry secretary attributed to Eliphalet Chapin, with provenance, which brought $90,000 (without the 15% premium).
We'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. We have to admit, we could have killed for the entire room pictured on Page 62 of the catalog...around 14 lots pictured....over $117,000 (not including premium) and we missed a couple of lots...This sale was mind-boggling!!!
Then Nan Gurley's Americana Celebration was added to the schedule, and last year The New England Antiques & Collectibles Festival, and Holiday Collectibles shows were added to the mix. This year two new shows took their places in the busy Antiques Week schedule. The new shows were Start of Manchester Antiques Show and The Bedford Pickers Market. Along with the shows both Richard Withington, Inc. and Northeast Auctions held auctions. Is it any wonder that New Hampshire is the place to be for antiques enthusiasts during this week!
The first of the Manchester shows named appropriately Start of Manchester Antique Show & Sale ran Monday through Wednesday at the JFK Coliseum. Promoters Kay and Bill Puchstein are new to Antiques Week in New Hampshire, but are well known and respected promoters with a track record of successful shows.
Monday's show opened at 12 noon with a long waiting line at the door. Dealers reported a large first day crowd, and even more importantly, a buying crowd judging from the folks walking around with purchases. Many dealers reported strong sales of smalls, and some also were very pleased with their furniture sales.
On Tuesday morning the show was quieter. The opening day rush had abated, and the crowds had gone on to the next show to open - Nan Gurley's Americana Celebration in nearby Deerfield, NH. Regardless, there were still customers around, and many dealers reported continuing sales.
Several dealers told me that it was their first time doing any shows in New England. Buck McCool of Missouri said it was his first trip to New England except for a honeymoon in Boston. He confided it had been his dream to come to Antiques Week and do this show. He hoped to see some of the sights of the region before returning home. Buck reported a good show, and was pleased with his sales.
Toby Chittum of Charlie Horse Antiques, Virginia exhibited a painting of a black child dated 1893 by Carrie Jackson. It had previously hung in two private museums. She reported a good show so far, and planned on staying on in the area after the show closed to check out the other shows. Toby was only one of many dealers who praised the Puchsteins for doing a terrific job producing this show.
A beautiful early quilt caught my eye hanging on the wall of North Carolina dealer Elizabeth Wojcik's booth. The quilt pattern consisted of a circle motif, each circle pieced from tiny pieces of fabric. The needlework was exceptional. Wojcik was also pleased with the show thus far.
Beth Pulsipher of Prairie Home Antiques in Schoolcraft, Missouri felt that for a first year show it had gone very well. Although her sales had not been spectacular, Beth said she would like to do the show again. She said it is hard to judge a new show from only one attempt. She mentioned one complaint, which she had heard from several customers which was that for those unfamiliar with the city, the site of the show was difficult to find. However, Beth thought that Kay Puchstein had done a wonderful job promoting the show, and the show was going very well for a new show
Not everyone was happy at this show. One dealer reported no sales all day on Tuesday, but things did pick up for her again on Wednesday. Some others reported that after expenses they didn't expect to make much profit, but they still felt that for a first time show it was a success, and planned to come back next year.
Although this was a beautiful and colorful show, and all the displays were lovely, one booth was voted by dealer and customer ballots to be the "best" display. That honor went to Hoffman's 1780 Cape Antiques of Belmont, NH. This display was extremely effective. The booth's background of a red paneled wall with a fireplace set off their display of exceptional early furnishings. A particularly eye catching piece was an early pewter cupboard stocked with a nice assortment of pewter.
Gloria Hoffman reported a very good show selling both smalls and furniture. So far she had sold a 18th century bowfront chest, a country sofa covered with homespun, and a portrait along with other items. Hoffman also had received a call from the owner of a group shop she exhibits in telling her she had sold several pieces of furniture at the shop due to the increased traffic of customers during Antiques Week.
The Hoffman's also found this show to be a good place to buy. Mr. Hoffman purchased a Carver chair at this show, and as we all know, Pilgrim period furniture is not something one finds for sale every day. Both dealers and customers that I spoke with thought this was a very buyable show. There were items that were affordable for the average and even beginning collector; however, some ''big name'' dealers from other shows also shopped this show, and several of them made purchases.
Promoter Kay Puchstein was happy with her first Start of Manchester show. She said that with a new show such as Start of Manchester, she would consider it a success if she breaks even on the first year. The Puchstein's were very happy with the opening day crowd. Kay joked that promoters of a new show dream of having only a few people in line at the opening, but when she saw the line she was happy! Kay added she was willing to listen to her dealers, and what they wanted for this show in the future.
Wednesday was opening day for two shows: Barn Star Productions' Midweek in Manchester opened in the morning, and Apple Hill's Riverside at 2 pm. I arrived at the Sheraton Wayfarer in Bedford a half-hour prior to the 9a.m. opening. Already two large lines had formed; one at the door to the pavilion, and one before the door leading to the inside dealers. The first customer to arrive was Marilyn Simons, a dealer, from Wayzata, MN. She and her friends had been waiting since 6 am for the show to open. I spoke to another woman waiting in line who had attended all of the shows so far. She was making good use for her time by knitting as she waited. So far she had knitted through the auctions, and the waiting lines for the shows.
Promptly at 9 am, the doors opened and promoter Frank Gaglio welcomed the crowd to the 5th annual Midweek in Manchester Antiques Show, and the crowd surged forward.
The first booth I entered was that of N.Y. dealer Madeleine Killen where I took a photo of a three dimensional Horse Head Livery sign. Next I stopped in the booth of Gloria Greenwald of New Jersey. I remembered from last year that she had some nice painted pieces, and I wasn't disappointed with this year's offerings. A Connecticut Valley Queen Anne tea table c. 1730 - 40 in mustard paint over mulberry caught my eye here.
As I continued on through the pavilion, a wonderful Waldoboro hooked rug drew me into the booth of Elaine Buck Antiques of Pennsylvania. This was one of the nicest Waldoboro style rugs I have ever seen. The rug showed three orange birds on a flower- ing branch with a nest of eggs. The strong colors and design along with first class workmanship made this circa 1880 rug well worth its $4,200 price.
Another display that I found intriguing was that of Stephen and Carol Huber of Old Saybrooke, CT. The Huber's specialize in girlhood samplers and embroideries. The walls of their booth and the wall across from their booth were lined with examples of samplers, mourning pictures, and other rare needlework. The fact that many of these pieces were done by very young girls is particularly fascinating. This was the Huber's first time exhibiting at Midweek, and they certainly did credit to an already outstanding show.
By now it was a half-hour into the show, and many booths were sporting red sold tags such as the one on the Mammy doll in the booth of American Antiques & Folk Art of Wernersville, PA. Next I stopped by the booth of Lisa and Barry McAllister who were back again at Midweek. Lisa has authored two books on yellowware pottery, and always has some wonderful pieces. However, I resisted loosening my purse strings for some great pieces of mocha, and contented myself with looking.
There was a lot of folk art at this show. One piece was a small stand made completely from red Prince Albert and Velvet tobacco tins! Another piece of interesting folk art was a fiddle in the display of David R. Geiger Antiques. This unique piece featured a metal body with a wooden neck. It was made by an old man in a hospital in Colorado, and has been in the same family for the last 50 years.
A piece of folk art that I found quite humorous was a hooked rug in the booth of Elliot and Grace Snyder Antiques. The rug showed firemen assisting a woman with her possessions including a bird cage while the house in the background was in flames. The verse under the picture said: ''too many firemen do converge & the house is lost in a fiery splurge!"
Moving on to the inside dealers I stopped at the display of some other newcomers to Midweek, Jerome and Selma Blum of Lisbon, CT, nationally known dealers and specialists in mochaware, Queen Anne furniture, early brass, and ironware. Their dis- play was wonderful, and their presence at Midweek further enhanced an already stellar line up of quality dealers. One could not miss the out- standing exhibit compiled by Clifford and Gayle Wallach entitled Tramp Art: One Notch At A Time. Clifford Wallach was also present to discuss the subject and sell and sign his book by the same name. This display contained some of the finest and most unusual pieces of this art form I have ever seen. There were several pieces of furniture in addition to boxes, frames, and other smalls. Watch for an article on Wallach's book, and the increasing interest in this interesting art form in a future issue of the Gavel.
I left Midweek and headed for the 2 pm opening of Apple Hill Promotion's Riverside Antiques Show at its new location at the Executive Health and Sports Center at the Manchester Airport. I arrived about a half-hour prior to the opening, and already the parking lots were filling up, and a large line had formed. Shortly after I entered the show, promoter Sharon Kace announced that the show would open about 10 minutes early because the crowd outside was getting too large for the waiting area. So I hurried to get some photos before the crowd entered.
The first booth I stopped at was Pine Tree Hill Antiques, Willmington, VT. A great iron weathervane from the early 1800s caught my eye as well as a great display of trade signs and architectural pieces. Next I spotted a collection of folk art bone-carved pieces in the display of Sanctuary Antique Center, Marion, IA. The pieces were carved by Conrad Grasshoff between 1848 - 1927. The pieces included a model house complete with people, and furnishings, a train with train station, track, etc. This exhibit excited quite a bit of interest. One customer was marveling over the things people did back before TV took over their leisure time!
I always check out the booth of Comfort Fish expecting to find something unique. This year it was a swan bench from a carnival ride. This booth also was strong on garden and architecture items, and a half-hour into the show also had several red sold tags.
The booth of New York dealer Mario Pollo featured a large model of an ocean liner. Boats in general were hot items at Antiques Week this year. Model boats, pond boats, and even some full size boats were plentiful throughout the shows.
Just as I checked my watch, I saw a folk art clock in the booth of Jason Samuel Antiques of Milford, NH. Around the face of this interesting piece was printed: ''The Hands That Rule The World''.
How true! I left the show to return Thursday afternoon when I had more time! I spoke to some customers as they were leaving the show. They praised the beautiful displays, and the quality merchandise. Several mentioned that they liked the new location; however, some mentioned the heat. However, one man who had attended prior Riverside shows said he thought the old location at the NH State Armory would have been as hot or hotter.
Since there had been some complaints about the heat, when I returned to Riverside on Thursday I spoke first to Frank Case, one of the show's promoters. Frank told me that the problem was now under control; he had not realized that the louvers in the roof had been shut, keeping the heat from escaping from the building.
Customers and collectors of early glass couldn't help being pleased by the great selection at Riverside. There were several booths devoted to glass, from whale oil and camphor lamps to early blown glass. This show also had some wonderful displays devoted to early textiles. Rocky Mountain Quilts had a colorful display of quilts sure to please the collector, or just a customer looking for a special room accent.
Once again, Riverside produced a beautiful show with diverse merchan- dise. The show's 85 dealers and the promoters put together a great show with a wonderful selection, along with plenty of "finds" to be made.
By Thursday, as the week built to its climax, the 41st NH Antique Dealer's show, this reporter was hard pressed to keep up to her schedule - "the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak!" However, many people didn't seem to have a problem keeping up the pace. A new record for the "time" spent waiting in line for the dealer's show was set this year! In previous years, people were known to begin their wait in the wee hours, but this year the young man who was first in line begin his wait at 9 p.m. Wednesday night!
When the door opens at 10 am at this show, those inside get well out of the way of the stampede. I found a safe position behind the ticket table where I could safely get a photo of the entering crowd (only to find out later this film didn't develop properly).
Once again this was a beautiful show with a great selection of merchandise. There was formal furniture to painted country, Shaker to Adirondack, along with oil paintings, flow blue, Stafford- shire, early textiles, tramp art, rare books and prints, oriental carpets, and unusual architectural pieces; every- thing of the high caliber that this show is know for.
Some of the pieces that caught my eye on my first trip around the show included a birch and maple Shaker rocker with mushroom posts from Canterbury, NH in the booth of Suzanne Courier and Robert Wilkins. These dealers always bring some Shaker pieces to this show. I admired a 13 ½" oval finger lap box with an interesting surface from New Lebanon, NY, circa 1850.
Russ and Karen Goldberger had a wonderful 50-drawer doctor's apothe- cary chest in their booth as well as a great braided rug with hooked center containing a star. This rug didn't last long once the doors opened.
Ruth Troiani of Avon, CT., had a late 17th Century Turner's cupboard. This piece was constructed without a jointed frame, and using a lathe power- ed by a foot treadle. This piece had been pictured in "Oak Furniture: the British Tradition" by Victor Chinnery.
One of the nicest cupboards I've seen in a while was in the booth of Newsom & Berdan of Hallowell, ME. A stepback in blue paint it had already sold when I walked by at 10:10 a.m. I was quite taken with another interest- ing piece in this booth; a small work- box with the brushes, roller, and metal stencils used to apply grain painting and other decorative finishes on walls and furniture. Dating from about 1830, this piece still had its key.
Melinda & Laszlo Zongor of Bedford, PA, displayed some lovely coverlets, plus had a large loom set up in their booth. Both the loom and their cow whirligig sold early in the show.
Cheryl and Paul Scott had a weather- vane in a banner motif as well as a running horse weathervane. When I returned to their booth five minutes after the doors opened, the horse vane has sold as well as a nice hooked rug, and a few other pieces! This show is a place where fast decisions are required -- you don't get a second chance, so buy fast or lose it.
After leaving the NHADA show, I talked to another dealer about what makes this show so special. True it has fine merchandise, but there are dealers in some of the other shows whose merchandise is equally fine. Perhaps the exclusivity of the show adds to its prestige, or maybe 41 years of existence gives it a mystique and a patina that the newer shows have yet to match?
At long last, Friday arrived, and the last of the show openings, The Bedford Pickers Market; Barn Star's newest production in a one-day show format using the same facilities at the Wayfarer that Midweek used earlier. This show featured all fresh dealers and merchandise that had not been at any of the other shows earlier in the week.
Gaglio had his work cut out for him to come up with fresh dealers with quality merchandise for this show; however, he did a good job. This show was the only Manchester show that had an early buyer's admission prior to the general admission at 11 a.m.; there was a good turnout for this 9 a.m. opening.
I decided to check out the inside dealers first. The first display I stopped at was that of Betty G. Williams. Betty's booth had some nice pieces of yellow ware, and I purchased a nice wall pocket. Moving on, I came to the booth of Male Antique Décor of CT. This booth displayed vintage golf items, equestrian items, as well as fishing equipment. Everything for the sports- man (or woman) who collects vintage sporting equipment.
One of the inside dealers was Dan Boardman, the son of Joann and Jack Boardman, well known dealers who set up at Midweek. Dan and his wife Jamie had a very nice selection of country furniture and smalls. I was very tempt- ed by a beautifully made wooden snuff box which opened at each end to hold a different kind of snuff, but I wasn't sure how I would explain to my husband my need for a snuff box.
In the pavilion I stopped to inspect the stoneware in the booth shared by Warren F. Hartmann and Ernie Graf Americana. These gentleman had put together a great display of cobalt decorated stoneware for this show. Once again I regret to say this photo was on the film that didn't come out.
I found this show to be of fairly high quality - some merchandise was exceptional and certainly would not have been out of place in any of the earlier shows. However, there were also pieces that wouldn't have been found at a higher end show.
This was definitely a show where both dealers and collectors could afford to buy. As I was chatting outside the pavilion with promoter Frank Gaglio, we noticed Midweek dealers Lucinda and Mike Seward of Pittsford, VT, carrying their purchases to a site just by the door to get them ready for loading. The Sewards had great luck shopping the show, and had a huge pile of items. As we watched, people stopped by their pile mistaking it for a dealer display!
Gaglio was very pleased with the outcome of both of his shows, Midweek and the Picker's Market. He told me this year's Midweek show was the best to date, and that the Bedford Pickers Market was a definite go for next year.
Once again Antiques Week in New Hampshire was an outstanding event.
Its reputation among antique lovers is growing along with the schedule
of events. The spin-off business from the shows is increasing the sales
in many area shops as well as giving a boost to the general economy. Once
again kudos to all participants: auctioneers, promoters, dealers, and of
course, the customers.
"Biggest" and "Best Yet!" were just a few of the many positive adjectives used by both dealers and customers at Nan Gurley's Americana Celebration show on Tuesday, August 4th.
There was a HUGE crowd waiting to get in for the "early two hour buy" at 8 am. Some of those who chose not to participate in the early buy appeared frustrated by 9:30 am, as lined up at the gate, they watched one happy customer after another leaving the show with many bundles, packages and in some cases, trucks loaded with furniture already purchased prior to the 10 am general admission. Hopefully next year these frustrated folks will spring for the extra $5 to get into the early buy - Hey, its only $10!!!
However, there was still tons of great stuff to be found in Deerfield at 10 am, and as the crowds rushed into the fairground's buildings, many dealers quickly sported red sold tags through- out their booths. Not to be outdone, we watched in amazement as one dealer set up "outside" quickly sold what appeared to be at least half the furniture in his tented booth in less than an hour!!!
Congratulations to promoter Nan Gurley for bringing in the usual top notch dealers (there appeared to be twice the number from last year), along with working out all the "kinks" of the past couple of years. Way to go, Nan! For those of you absent, this was a show not to be missed!!! for both the participating dealers and collectors alike. MANY happy faces all around.