Antiques & Design Show At Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

NORWALK, CONN.

:The first floor of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum was all dressed up over the October 29-30 weekend when antiques dealers moved in to present the 28th annual Antiques & Design Show. The event opened with a preview party on Friday evening and about 125 patrons and the exhibitors enjoyed a sit-down dinner surrounded by booths filled with antique furniture and accessories.

"It was one of the best shows we have ever had here; it went great and we are already planning for the 2006 event," Marjorie St Aubyn, museum director, said. The show will again be on the last weekend of October, opening with a gala preview on Friday evening. At this point, just about all of the dealers have expressed an interest in returning.

One of the largest booths in the show was filled to capacity by Bob Baker of Redding Ridge, Conn. "It took me two days to set this up," he said, and every flat surface, including the shelves in a pine dresser, was taken by glassware or pottery. English porcelain and Staffordshire figures filled the English dresser, circa 1810. A worktable with three drawers, also of English origin, circa 1900, was stacked with cake stands. Among the paintings in the booth was a pair of oils on board, framed and measuring 6 by 9 inches, one by William Joseph King, born 1857, "Stepping Stones," and the other "Rustic Bridge" by Joseph Horlor (1809-1887).

From nearby Greens Farms, Conn., Ferndale Antiques offered hundreds of items including a fine selection of walking sticks, some with wood carved handles, some in silver and a number of scrimshaw. Corkscrews, nut crackers and all manner of small brass objects filled the large booth that fit neatly into one of the front room corners of the mansion. "The show was good for me as I have a number of clients in the area," Bill McGrath said.

The first booth on the left upon entering the mansion was home for Wilson's Main Line Antiques of Strafford, Penn. Here a large selection of English furniture included a Georgian butler's secretary, 86 inches high, circa 1800; an Edwardian chest on chest, serpentine front, in burl walnut; and a Queen Anne leather wing chair with rolled wings, circa 1900.

Also from the area was Stamford dealer Baner Saradjian with an English George III sideboard in satinwood, 47 inches wide. Among the art offered was a 141/2 by 191/2 watercolor, "Field of Flowers," by Henry Webster Rice (1853-1934).

An American punched carver side chair with ball and claw feet, Eighteenth Century, was shown by Deacon's Horse, Stamford, and attracting attention at the front of the booth was a pristine lift-top jewelry box mounted on a custom frame. This piece was of mahogany and satinwood and dated circa 1830-40.

One of the local dealers, Connie Brown Antiques Quilts, needed only three quilts to cover the wall space in her booth, but the bulk of her inventory was in four or five stacks of quilts on the floor. The variety and color combinations seemed endless, with Log Cabins, stars of all sizes, Bear Claw and baskets mixed in with the many designs.

From East Quoque, N.Y., Nicholas DiBenedetto offer a number of American stands, one drawer, dating circa 1850. One of the strong points of this booth was, however, the large collection of cast iron doorstops displayed. An Old Salty in original paint stood next to a large schooner, while cats, horses, ducks and dogs all mingled about on the floor among a grouping of large and small baskets of flowers.

Grace Packer mentioned that her booth location was changed, and some last minute arranging had to be done, but in the end it all worked out and her silver and china were well-viewed at the end of an aisle. There she displayed a cased set of French silver flatware, a Gorham tea and coffee service on its original tray, and several sets of dinnerware including one by Limoges, gold border with floral center and ready to feed an even dozen.

An English mahogany bureau, circa 1900, with urn and vine inlay, was shown against the back wall in the booth of Pierce Archer Antiques of Nesconset, N.Y. An English campaign chest in mahogany dated circa 1840, and pieces of Staffordshire included several soldiers, one on horseback.

Funds raised at the show will go toward the continuing restoration of the mansion, located at 295 West Avenue. For more information about the mansion, 203-838-9799 or lockwoodmathewsmansion.org.