The Great Danbury Antiques Fair

DANBURY, CONN.

:"In the spring we had 61 exhibitors and this time we have half that number, a sign of the times," Vivien Cord said at her Great Danbury Antiques Fair over the October 22-23 weekend. Staged in the comfortable Danbury Police Activities League Building on Hayestown Road, the show drew an audience of about 700 people over the two days, "and a number of the exhibitors had very good shows," Vivien said.

The building is very well suited for an antiques show with doors at each corner and across the front. Bob Baker of Poverty Hollow Enterprises had a large booth at the front of the show and commented on the "easy load in and out. I just backed my trailer right up to the front door and moved things in," he said.

"I turned down a few dealers who wanted to do the show because I did not want it to get too top heavy in certain areas, especially jewelry," Vivien Cord said. As a result the show did offer variety, from a large selection of quilts to many racks filled with early maps. Anthony King Antiques from Stuttgart, Germany, was in the country to do the Atlantique City Show, but stayed on to do a couple more shows while here. He showed a selection of early cast iron decorated Christmas tree stands, along with a collection of holiday ornaments including a host of Santas.

Furniture included a large dining table and a set of six side chairs, all in oak, the specialty of Reclaimed Memories of Denville, N.J., along with a selection of Depression glass. A few booths away vintage European posters were stacked and posted by Vintage Poster Art of New Jersey, Monroe, N.J.

According to Vivien Cord, the majority of the visitors came from out of the area, citing Boston, Poughkeepsie, Stormville, Ridgefield, Albany, Scarsdale, and Wilton listed as home base. "This show has potential, the location is fine, and we will be right back here in the spring, April 1-2," Vivien said.