Chappaqua Antiques Show: 38 Years And Counting

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y.

:The New Castle Historical Society-sponsored Chappaqua Antiques Show occurred on November 5-6 at West Orchard Elementary School. This event takes into account the wide range of tastes of its repeat and new customers who attend this long-running Westchester County show for its top-drawer furniture, art work, Oriental carpets, silver, quilts, jewelry and clothing provided by more than 50 dealers, primarily from the tri-state area.

Some treasures from this show, now in its 38th year, included a late Nineteenth Century copper running horse weathervane, an 1850 pine cupboard from Lancaster County, a pair of late Eighteenth Century creamware French lamps and an early Tang dynasty pottery horse with saddle.

The New Castle Historical Society had its own heirlooms at a booth titled "Gold in your Attic." Here, local residents donated or consigned the objects prior to the show.

Besides antiques, the NCHS volunteers, numbering more than 150, supplied gourmet food, including lunch, and music: concert flamenco guitarist Ron Soodalter entertained patrons and vendors alike. The entire show is a volunteer effort and the largest fundraiser for the New Castle Historical Society, which provides educational and communitywide programs, and maintains Greeley House, the historic home of presidential candidate and publisher Horace Greeley.

This year, the Chappaqua Show added a new feature that, like the show in general, was given extensive coverage in local and national media: an "Ask an Expert" panel of specialists who imparted their professional knowledge to attendees: Mike McRee of the Caravan Connection, Inc, Bedford Hills, N.Y., gave tips on buying and caring for Oriental carpets; Ellen Genauer from Genauer/Gold, New York City, spoke about decorating rooms and starting collections; and Scott Nightingale of Restoration Antiques, Inc, Chappaqua, showed a rapt audience how to treat and maintain wooden furniture.

Next year, the 2006 Chappaqua Antiques Show will be conducted on November 4 and 5. For information, 914-238-4666 or www.newcastlehistoricalsociety.org.