Long Lines Of Buyers Open New Hope Antiques Show

NEW HOPE, PENN.

:A scribe once quipped, "No shade, no shine, no fruits, no flowers, no butterflies, November!" Of course, had this writer known about Mancuso's New Hope Autumn Antiques Show, then the 11th month might have had a more positive association for him.

Savvy patrons snapped up merchandise on November 12 and 13 at this Bucks County, Penn., show, which also helps benefit the New Hope Historical Society.

"This is the longest line we've seen at the opening of this show in a few years now," noted promoter David Mancuso, who manages this event along with his brother Peter. He added, "It's a show with spark."

The "spark" for Staffordshire specialist Sheila Ferguson was goats, birds and a rare pair of 1880 Staffordshire cats (approximately 15 inches tall), which all found new homes. Even before this Chestnut Hill, Penn., dealer made these sales, she said, "It's a pleasure to do this show with these promoters and porters."

A rare and tall pair of 1860s roosters in her booth drew admiring looks, and Ferguson said that a customer had asked her carpenter to redesign her kitchen to better showcase this impressive fowl. Explaining her customer's rationale, Ferguson added, "For every 1,000 pair of dogs, they only made one pair of roosters. They are highly sought after and have great style. Look at what good condition they are in."

Mallards fit the bill for one patron in the booth of Malchione Sporting Collectibles, Kennett Square, Penn., where an 1896 pair of mallards from Detroit sold for $3,500.

"This is number two of only about two dozen ever made," noted John Malchione as he displayed a rare circa 1910 George Lawrence fishing creel that sells for about $5,000. The rare items continued with a circa 1880-1890 winged port-starboard masthead lantern with its original burner, $895, and a circa 1862 E.S. Richie compass, with four patent dates, and a rare pair of early Twentieth Century canvasbacks by Evans Decoy Company, Ladysmith, Wis., $1,695. Also noted was an early Twentieth Century, complete and signed, cased sextant with micrometer, and an 1863 sporting rifle with a 24-inch barrel that was manufactured by Ball & Williams.

First-time exhibitor Michael Locati, who has a shop in Maple Glen, Penn., sold two Pollard prints, "The New London Royal Mail" and "The Red Rover Southampton Coach," along with a circa 1820 tiger maple and cherry chest on Saturday. Front and center in Locati's booth was a circa 1830, 6-foot-long pine harvest table that was offered for $2,800. Offsetting this table was a Pennsylvania two-part corner cupboard and a paint decorated jelly cupboard. A set of chairs included four birdcage Windsor chairs, and there was an 1887 Russell Smith oil painting of a Native American and canoe.

Exhibitor Roger Winter showcased the perfect piece for family gatherings this holiday season - a rare, circa 1800-1820, American two-pedestal dining room table in Spanish mahogany. Patrons were also welcomed by a circa 1725 George II walnut chest-on-chest constructed with a Cavetto molded cornice with canted pilasters and a bottom drawer inlaid with sunburst feather banding on drawer fronts. This local Solebury, Penn., dealer also showed a circa 1820 Huber Wigan inlaid mahogany tall case clock, and a circa 1825 New England bird's-eye and tiger maple server/chest with mahogany rope twist columns and bow front drawers set above turnip feet. Porcelains included an early Nineteenth Century Imari charger that was 181/2 inches deep and a rare, circa 1820, English pearlware punch bowl in a Chinese style.

Speaking of pearlware, Winter's neighbor, Campbell and Campbell, Basking Ridge, N.J., who specialize in early glass, porcelain and pottery, displayed a circa 1800 pearlware tea service front and center in its booth. This service for eight was in perfect condition.

For dealer Brian Gage, a lectern in the form of an eagle soared out of his booth at the very start of the show. Both carved and gilded, this American piece dated to the 1840s. Several of Gage's other sales included a pair of 1880s Chippendale-style sofas that were covered in crewelwork, a Chippendale armchair, a barometer and a tortoise-shell tea caddy.

Jonas Ewing and his dad, Richard, from Bethlehem, Penn., sold a painted blanket chest, two drop leaf tables, one maple and the other cherry, along with several pieces of pottery. And what better place than Bucks County to sell a Bucks County oil on canvas work of a stagecoach scene? Several of their other furnishings included an early Nineteenth Century dough box table, a circa 1840 three-drawer stand, a mid-Nineteenth Century wall cupboard of New Jersey origin and a circa 1840, four-drawer, cherrywood chest.

Mancuso Show Management's next antiques show at the Eagle Fire Hall in New Hope is scheduled for January 14 and 15. The tenth annual Books at the 25th Street Armory show is scheduled for January 27 and 28, and on February 4 and 5, Mancuso will run the Lawrenceville/Princeton Antiques Show at the National Guard Armory, Lawrenceville, N.J.

For information, 215-862-5828 or www.MancusoShows.com.