Greenwich Antiques Show Breaks Gate Record

GREENWICH, CONN.

:"We spent most of Friday afternoon and part of last night up on the roof [of the Greenwich Civic Center] moving the gravel around and plugging the leaks," said Derek Johnson as the Greenwich Antiques Show prepared to open to the public. The result of the efforts of promoters brothers Brent and Derek Johnson resulted in a leak-free roof and a dry opening on Saturday morning, October 15.

"There were huge issues regarding water everywhere," said the brothers, "not only did we have to contend with the roof leaks, but the parking lot was underwater. The town of Greenwich came over and pumped more than 220,000 gallons of water out of the lot and by 10 am Saturday morning everything was in order."

The weather, after eight-plus consecutive days of rain preceding the show, broke with the overcast morning skies finally letting the sun through to dry things out. The break in the weather brought out a pent-up crowd of housebound shoppers, resulting in a 20 percent increase in the gate over last year. Representatives of The Kiwanis, who benefit from the show, related that this was "the largest gate they could remember" and they also saw "a record number of customers return to the show on Sunday" to complete purchases.

Management reported numerous sales including two secretary desks moving from the booth of Butte's Antiques, Macon, Ga., and a sideboard from the booth of Ontario dealer Sharon McClean. "Saturday we saw primarily lots of smalls selling, but also a few pieces of furniture," said Derek Johnson. "Sunday was a stronger furniture day."

"We had a delivery service on hand and they transported quite a few pieces to Greenwich, a couple to Fairfield, and they also made deliveries into New York going to Katonah, Bedford and Mount Vernon," said Derek Johnson.

This show has continued to evolve during the three years that it has been under the management of the brothers Johnson and this event was the best looking show to date. It has adopted a more formal look overall, and also increased the levels of the merchandise offered. At the same time, the show has also retained much of its original character with a sprinkling of country still available.

"We have tried to get a representation of a lot of different areas within the marketplace and it has resulted in a stronger success ratting for the show," said Derek Johnson. "It's hard to please everyone, but we do try and get the right dealers so that there will be something for everyone at the show."

Buffalo dealer Dana Tillou offered a prime selection of early American furniture along with a good assortment of art. Highlighting the booth was a Massachusetts serpentine front, slantlid desk and above it hung what the dealer termed the "largest Sidney Bracket painting ever found." The handsome scene depicted a fox hunt with numerous hounds interspersed throughout the foreground and two red-jacketed riders in the hunt.

As in years past, Donald Heller occupied the front booth with a stellar selection that this year included a Chippendale mahogany bonnet-top highboy from the Salem region of Massachusetts. At the forefront of the booth was a long, six-legged Shaker drop leaf harvest table attributed to the Hancock Shaker Village that was surrounded by six ladder back chairs from the New Lebanon Shaker community. Heller also offered two important four-drawer chests including a diminutive Chippendale chest in cherry with blocked ends and a reverse serpentine front.

A second major Americana dealer was added to the show this year, aiding in the more polished and formal look. The other, relatively new to the show circuit as an independent, was Stonington, Conn., dealer Roberto Freitas. Among the furniture offered was a Massachusetts Queen Anne bonnet-top walnut highboy, circa 1760, with graceful proportions that was also believed to have been from the Salem area.

Among the accessories offered from the booth was a Federal inlaid mahogany shelf clock of Massachusetts origin. A portrait of Cicero Hinds by itinerant painter Ammi Phillips, 1825, was another standout in the booth. According to the dealer, the painting was done in the Orange County region of New York and it carried a provenance of Judy Lenett.

Essex Antiquarians presented a flashy booth filled with Regency and Sheraton workstands, tables and chests. The dealer also offered an unusual family portrait executed in a primitive manner, a pair of 20-light nickel plated brass chandeliers that were attracting attention and a wonderful gilt mirror with the frame in the form of two cornucopias that wrapped around the circumference ending top center with an eagle perched above. Dealer Rick Bevilacqua commented that sales from his booth included an English peat bucket in mahogany, a Regency stand and a set of 100 English leather bound books of poetry.

J&M Antiques of East Amherst, N.Y., specializes in original oil burning student's lamps and the highlight of its booth this time around was a rare miniature double posted Manhattan double lamp with twist pattern green shades. "This is only the second one we have ever seen," commented the dealer, who also offered several other regular size examples.

Coming to the show from Knoxville Tenn., was Manor House Antiques, who specialize in quality decorative smalls such as boxes, tea caddies, porcelains and silver. Highlighting the booth was a great selection of tea caddies including a tent-top tortoise shell example, circa 1790 that was at the top end of the spectrum priced at $6,995, while just one step down was a small and unusually shaped tortoise shell example, circa 1810, that as marked $5,795.

Porcelains in the booth included several rare Cornelius Pron's "Dr's visit to the Emperor" plates including a large 12-inch example that was marked $14,500. A selection of smaller plates and a soup were also available.

Orientalia was also prevalent at the show with China Trader Antiques, Marion, Mass., putting together an impressive display. The dealers, who specialize in Sixteenth to Nineteenth Century wares from China, Japan, Korea and Tibet, offered a Nineteenth Century Paktong bowl from the Hubei Province.

Philadelphia dealer David Salkin was another of the dealers offering Orientalia with a rare Eighteenth Century half-round table featured in the stand. The table, made of elm, was from the Shanxi Province and was ornately carved. Also offered was a horseshoe back armchair from the Henan Province that also dated to the late Eighteenth Century.

The Greenwich Antiques Show, under the management of B&D Johnson, will return to the Civic Center again in March.