Antiques in Vermont - Manchester Wraps It Up

MANCHESTER CENTER, VT. - The capstone of Antiques in Vermont week is the one-day show by the same name that springs up in Riley Rink at Hunter Park under the watchful management of Phyllis Carlson and Tim Stevenson. This year's show opened on October 2 with 76 dealers.

The Manchester show, however, did not have the day to itself as in the past. This year, Newcastle, Maine, show promoter Paul Davis revived a former event at the luxe Equinox Resort Hotel in Manchester Village. About 40 dealers exhibited a variety of merchandise ranging from formal and country to primitive and decorative, according to Davis. The show, which is not reviewed here, will undoubtedly lend critical mass to the whole Vermont Antiques Week going forward. Davis reported that his inaugural show had an "average" turnout, not over the top, but he pointed out that 40 to 60 percent of the sales were to hotel guests, who, paying about $350 per night with a five-night minimum, are just the kind of clientele one would want at a high-end antiques show.

New to the Riley Rink show, Greene, Maine, dealers Lew Alessio and Jim Shaffer of Plenty and Grace Be To This Place brought their eclectic, often dramatic sensibility of "country and sophisticated antiques" to the show. "We sold reasonably well, given the economy and that it was our first time at the show. Phyllis and Tim are such good people and careful promoters," they said. "We sold an unusual double quilt rack immediately, then several smalls, including early books, a marquetry box and an early store counter platform for cheese in original green paint."

The most fun moment for Alessio and Shaffer came when a boy, about 7 years of age, from 30 feet away spotted the Victorian opera helmet and shield they had on display with other whimsical headgear. "Wow!" he called out. "We tried the helmet on him and it fit perfectly," said the dealers. "Please, please, can I have them, please?" the boy entreated. Alessio and Shaffer said, "Mom and dad bought them for his Halloween costume, but he did not take them off. He spent the next couple of hours bravely protecting all the lords and ladies at the antiques show from the dragons and monsters lurking behind the pewter cupboards and under drop leaf tables for sale on the floor. He could not have been happier, and we were once again reminded that we are not just dealers in antiques. We are dealers in dreams."

Another dealer new to show was Mary de Buhr, coming all the way from Downers Grove, Ill., with a range of early American antiques. Many people might question why she would travel such a long distance to do just one show - and a one-day show at that. "The opportunity to buy and sell is important to me, but so is presentation," she explained. "I like to have a different room setting at each show, one that feels comfortable enough to live in, if only for a day."

De Buhr reported that the show was a success for her. She sold a paint decorated step back cupboard early in the morning. "It was one of those meant-to-be, feel good experiences for both the buyer and seller," said de Buhr. "Because we were delivering the cupboard on our way home across New York, it remained in the booth and drew attention and admiring long looks and comments all day."

Another significant sale was a signed and dated all wool patchwork quilt. "It was brown on one side and a mix of vibrant reds, blues, greens, browns and salmon on the quilt top and in excellent condition," said de Buhr. Another significant sale was a 91/2-foot-long red bench and a chair along with some smalls. "This was my first time to exhibit at Riley Rink and I hope to return next year. I love one day shows."

The Manchester event was the first time Jeff and Cathy Amon, specialists in American country antiques from Jamestown, Penn., had done this show, or any show in Vermont for that matter. "Tim and Phyllis are to be commended for the manner in which they manage the show and how they meet the needs of both the dealers and the buying public," said the Amons. "The show was, by far, the smoothest we have ever done."

The Amons sold mostly smalls to both dealers and collectors and each sale was to a new customer. "As far as our larger items are concerned, we had a lot of interest in our early Nineteenth Century New England chest and a strong dealer callback concerning our mid Nineteenth Century painted hutch table. We were pleased with the results of the show and are already looking forward to returning next year."

Well-situated at the show's entrance, book dealer Rick Russack, Danville, N.H., was well stocked with new titles and his usual inventory of reference books. "The show was very good for me," reported Russack. "I've done the show for 5 to 6 years and it is always worth the effort. I sold a book on American silver, priced at a little under $1,000. I sold a group of scarce books on American furniture to a couple with a second home in Manchester - a very good sale. And the day was steady for me. It's a well-run show, easy to do, with people coming in all day and customers carrying stuff out all day long. So, all in all, a very pleasant day."

"We had a very good show and always enjoy doing Tim and Phyllis' show at the Riley Rink," said Tom Jewett of Jewett-Berdan Antiques, Newcastle, Maine. "It's an easy, no pressure show to do with a good group of hard working dealers, and you never know what may show up there for a great antique treasure, it's just a great time to be in Vermont. We sold well this time with a great Philadelphia sampler selling right off the bat. It was in the original frame and glass and backboard, and had many special details on it, including a wonderful folky cat. We also sold a tavern table, portrait, several pieces of burl, doll and many other country smalls."

Buyers and sellers of country primitives, Barry and Nancy Yodis of Quakerstown, Penn., arrived with a New England farm table with breadboard ends from the mid to late 1800s and a paint decorated wall box, circa late 1700s from Vermont, among other items. "The promoters make it as pleasant as possible to do the show from set up to pack out," the dealers said. "As far as the show, we were quite pleased with sales. Sold was an early blanket chest over two drawers in mustard green paint with snipe hinges, an early six-board blanket chest in red wash with all of the moldings in place and snipe hinges, eight-drawer spice box in attic surface, early Maine tabletop wooden candlestand in original surface and other smalls."

George Allen and Gordon Wyckoff of Raccoon Creek at Oley Forge, Oley, Penn., characterized the weekend as "always a fun thing...the show has something for every type of buyer - from the sophisticated buyer to the beginning collector. The dealers added that they always enjoy meeting the people, and discussing their collections. "Sales were very good, with primitive items seeming to grab the crowd more than the Pennsylvania-type antiques - something you would anticipate in Vermont," said Wyckoff. "We did sell a set of paint decorated country Sheraton chairs, however, that were of Pennsylvania origin."

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