New Exhibitor at NHADA Show during Antiques Week in NH

The New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association is pleased to welcome new exhibitor Corey Daniels of Wells, Maine to the 45th Annual NHADA show.  Known as a dealer with “a great eye” and many years of experience, he is a welcome addition to the list of fine exhibitors.

Corey has been a dealer for over 30 years.  He grew up in Albany NY, and started collecting primitive things from old barns at an early age. His father inherited a collection of early American Antiques, which sparked the interest of Corey’s mother, who began collecting.  She often went in search of them with Corey in tow.

Corey’s artistic side eventually led him to the Boston Museum School, where he spent 2 years in the early 1970’s.  While he was there, he and his roommate would locate old buildings that were slated for demolition; they would rescue architectural objects to furnish their apartment.  After he returned home to Albany, he went to work for a builder, and eventually had his own painting business.  A collectibles dealer who lived two doors up invited Corey along to flea market forays on weekends.  Cory started to notice other things he liked, and he quickly developed an interest in American antiques.  He accumulated so much that eventually, he had to have a yard sale.  Taking in twice his weekly salary convinced him that he was on to something good.    He met with the usual objections from family members who were skeptics about the antiques business until he purchased a cupboard and placed it on the front porch where it quickly sold for a handsome profit.  They were convinced.
 
Corey happily credits some of the dealers he met along the way with contributing to his education. He remembers the first time he stopped in at John Sideli’s shop in Malden Bridge, NY.  For Corey, it was an epiphany.  He can still vividly remember the objects he saw that day, including redware, painted objects and furniture.  He spent a few years learning from John, who had a strong influence on Corey’s appreciation of form, surface and color.  When Corey started to attend events such as the Winter Antique Show, it motivated him to do shows on his own.

When asked about other influences on his career, he includes dealers such as George Gravert on Charles Street in Boston.  George would combine anything he liked, any origin or combination of things, with great presentation, and he was a trend setter.  Other early customers included Roger Bacon and John Walton.  He has many great stories to tell about the early days and how these well-known dealers influenced him.  Corey says the death of Roger Bacon changed the focus of what people were collecting, and it took time for the market to adjust.

Adjust is exactly what Corey did.  He carries such a wide range of merchandise, and is always in pursuit of the unusual and the extraordinary. When asked to define what he buys, Corey says he is definitely not a formula buyer, and prefers the one of a kind item.  It is not necessary for him to have a “point of reference” to decide whether to make a bold purchase; his instinct is automatic.   In furniture, he looks for the cabinet maker’s exuberance.  It really has to cut a line or have a great profile.  The more individual and untouched, the better.  To Corey, good furniture and folk art are singular and speak for themselves.

Corey Daniels is a great find. To enter his shop is to immerse one’s self in a beautifully arranged mixture of objects.  A 1993 magazine article on Corey labeled him a “freed” man, and it shows in the unselfconscious way he buys and arranges things.  He enjoys being ahead of the trends, and looking at objects in a new way.  He is a cutting edge dealer who enjoys his work, and it shows. His inclusion in the NHADA show is the perfect compliment to the tradition of fresh to the market objects this show is famous for.
 
Corey’s shop is located on Route One, 1.6 miles north of the Wells exit off the Maine Turnpike.  The large barn is filled with items of American, Continental, and Chinese origin, and includes architectural, mahogany, old painted items, garden, and a good selection of frames.  Open 7 days in season, it is best to call ahead in winter.  Phone (207)-646-5301 or (603)-498-2678 or email Corey at cdaniels@maine.rr.com.

New England’s Premiere Show takes place on August  8, 9, and 10, 2002 at   the Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn.  There are 65 outstanding dealers.  The facility is air-conditioned and has ample parking.  There will be an on-site shipper and VISA/MC will be available.  The Show Hours are Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM-8:00 PM and Saturday 10:00-4:00 PM.  Admission is $10.00 on Thursday and $8.00 Friday and Saturday.  There are 65 outstanding dealers.  For further details, please call 603-585-9199 or visit www.nhada.org.  The New Hampshire Antique Show is sponsored by THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUES DEALERS’ ASSOCIATION, a non-profit organization that promotes the antique business in New Hampshire 365 days per year.