300 Years Of Antiques & Design At Lowery Enterprises' First Show

VERONA, N.Y.

:Jim and Jody Lowery have been antique dealers for almost 30 years; they have exhibited in shows all around the country. But when they talked it over, they decided that what was really needed was another show. "Another show!" you may be thinking - but not just any show, rather one that acknowledges the need to engage, inform and educate the not-yet-collecting crowd of younger people, who, with an idea of what they like, have no knowledge of what is good and valuable in antiques.

As Jody said, "Within every time period there is good, better and best. If we don't educate and attract the younger people who are working, have disposable incomes and are seriously interested in having 'good' things, then we are not doing our job - both as dealers and as parents." (Jim and Jody have 26-year-old twins.)

Their answer was to establish a new show - not in New York City, New Jersey or New England, but rather in Verona, N.Y. - five hours from New York City, five hours from Philadelphia, five hours from Ohio and Boston, and less than five hours from Canada; as Jim says, "Five hours from everywhere!" They chose the Turning Stone Resort as the ideal location, and the dealers at this show of 50-plus booths agreed. "It was an incredibly easy show to set up and the space is great," said John Roth from Milne, Ohio. "And its a lot closer for me than Nashville or Texas, where I also show," he added.

As part of their educational emphasis, at the center of the large arena space the Lowerys set up the Tyler coverlet collection. This special exhibit, on loan from the New York Jefferson County Historical Society, offered showgoers an opportunity to see both the historic coverlets and individual booths with different periods of furniture and even a video presentation on the coverlet exhibit.

There were many dealers from Syracuse and central New York towns with items as diverse as an amber dragon, hand carved from a solid block of cherry-colored amber ($2,200), in the booth of Fury B. Gilad, Madison and a Robert Venturi-like table at the Modernist booth of Paul Birchmeyer, Syracuse. His son Rich was tending the booth as his father was "in the City, at Triple Pier, but we decided we wanted to try Modernism on this crowd; its not something they know much about, but its all about education," he added, echoing the Lowery's premise. The Birchmeyers' booth garnered much attention and, possibly, a $6,000 Dunbar sofa will be sold to a customer who was off to Florida.

Paul confirmed that he would be back again next year; in fact all the dealers contacted after the show said that they would be back. Lowery said he has already be approached by a New Hampshire dealer who wants to come next year, and the promoters have booked the space for the first week in November.

During the Friday night preview, despite light attendance, several sold tags appeared on some larger items like a large cupboard in Roth's booth. It was Nineteenth Century and in old paint. He also had a Lancaster, Penn., dry sink with painted decorations that had been in a private collection for the last 35 years with a price of $3,900. He thought the star at his booth was a Pennsylvania crock bench with square nails, built in the 1840s or 1850s; it had its original paint and was in very good condition. Priced at $3,650 it had four shelves that Roth had filled with Shaker boxes and period crocks.

Across the way, David and Becky Griffiths, Forestport, N.Y., reported that although, "the crowd was light throughout the weekend, we made sales such as an early hooked rug $585, a walnut corner stand $695, a painted youth rocker $295 and a few other smaller items." In particular, they had a shopper who was intently focused on a stoneware jug with Albany glaze (he particularly liked the "mistakes" where pot touched pot and left a mark in the glaze, and finger prints where the potter held the jug were evident). The Girffins' also a had a cherrywood, one drawer stand with cubbyhole interior and inlay around the keyhole, and other cherry and mahogany furniture from Baltimore.

First-time exhibitor Adrian Morris had a pair for French wooden artist mannequins sitting next to each other. One appeared to be male and the other female, with jointed appendages, and an old patina, they could be purchased for $2,250 for the larger or $1,950 for the smaller. Also in wood, burl treen to be exact, was a wonderful bowl marked as American burl, circa 1830-50, for $3,850.

Erik Wohl came to Verona from Promfret Center, Conn., with many large items. A tobacco store American Indian, circa 1940s, hand carved in pine, stood out. In its original surface it was so exact in detail that under the feather headdress at the back of the head individual feathers were delicately carved hanging down its back. Also at Wohl's was a large wall piece is from the middle of the Nineteenth Century (1840-1850) with all square-nailed-construction, frame and drawers. It retains its original grain painted surface and all of the drawers have their original cast-iron pulls. There are 32 drawers total, and he thought it might have been from a country store, made to hold bolts of cloth or textiles.

Across the wide aisle from Wohl was the booth of Jerry and Leona Milne from Ontario, Canada. They had traditional Canadian items like an large dog sled and lovely model sailing boat, but their sack back Windsor rocker, probably from New England, circa 1815, was special. It had early, two-tone grain painting in excellent condition, and was marked at $1,450.

From antique Americana, vintage jewelry, Oriental rugs, 1950s clothing, antique paintings and Modern furniture and accessories, to a high style Massachusetts, circa 1750-75, Chippendale highboy for $26,885, there was something to appeal to anyone who crossed the threshold at the Turning Stone arena.

Jim hinted that - to continue with their educational emphasis - he "had a museum on board for next year," but will reveal those plans as the date draws nearer.

For information, 315-638-1329 or www.loweryenterprises.com.