Sinenberg Garden Antiques Show Is A Spring Tradition In Hamptons

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.

:Fifteen years later and still popular with the customers, Jean Sinenberg's 15th annual Hamptons Spring Garden, Antiques and Interior Design Show and Sale was held at the Bridgehampton Community House June 2-4.

The show has become a seasonal tradition in the Hamptons. To the exhibitors it is their first of the season, offering their early wares to the public in a vacationlike setting. Area antiques shopkeepers wait for the visitor traffic generated by this event for their big spring in sales and for Jean it is the first of her half dozen Hamptons show each summer.

Featuring room settings in the historic building there were about a third of the dealers in elegant room settings while customers enjoyed refreshments during the First Night reception, Thursday, June 1. In past years the grounds were also used with several small tents but last year the local authorities decided against that arrangement. Jean negotiated for an even larger space in a tent about a hundred yards away behind the Presbyterian Church with better parking and a shuttle bus running between the two locations. This tent then became the weekend home for the remaining two thirds of her exhibitors and their widely varied merchandise.

Threatening weather early Friday morning seemed to reduce the crowds but according to the dealers interviewed after the show, while sales were not record breaking they were happy with the results. Pamela Lerner said her business "fared well" with sales that were "mostly art." The Bellport, Long Island, dealer was offering an aluminum statue of a nymph on a stand, which Pamela said came from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel's original decorations. Priced at $22,000, it has not yet sold but she did feel there were some prospects from the show.

There was a novelty whale sign that Cincinnati, Ohio, dealer Scott Estepp helped to find a new home for about $1,850. Estepp said he also sold an early patio set, circa 1920, and a pair of metal mesh lawn chairs for $3,800. Decorator items offered and sold included an early clock face, a set of leather chairs and several folk art items.

"Mostly garden related furniture from early in the Twentieth Century" was the answer Westfield N.J., dealer Linda Elmore gave when asked after the show about her sales. She added that some lighting and a few unusual early decorative items also have new owners, including a Nineteenth Century steering wheel and a saddle form or foundation for a Western saddle.

Bob Baker of Poverty Hollow Antiques in Redding Ridge, Conn., said he "did great, sold lots of smalls." He frequently travels to England to shop the major fairs there such as Swinderby and Newark for his merchandise. Most recently he traveled in a small group tour organized by another antiques dealer, Laura Haller from White Plains, N.Y.

Susan Oostdyk, Andover, N.J., was selling well right from the opening of the show with a metal framed bedstead finding a new owner in the first moments. Susan collects and trades in early bed linens, predominantly French linens but also some from central Europe. Selling the bed early in the show pleased her for the financial reasons but she then had to reorganize her weekend display.

Architectural salvaging is the principal method of obtaining antiques for Matthew White's business, called Recycling the Past. With a very large shop and storage in Barnegat, N.J., and a website he does shows for the direct selling but also for the exposure. He said the show went well with selling on the weekend and more people finding out about his business. His standout exhibit was a pair of terra cotta lions about 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall, which his crews removed from a building in Newark, N.J. The structure was from 1890 and while the lions did not sell at the show, he has prospects for them, priced at $10,750 each.

Pennsylvania was represented by Wilson Roth Antiques from Lewisburg. Its style was folk art and turn of the century household accessories. Sales included a large sign, Casey's Store, for $400 and some early lighting and garden furniture. According to John Wilson, one of the business owners, they "...did good in spite of the weather." He added the opening was slow but the people who came were there to acquire for their homes and collections.

Marianne Stikas from New York City and Cort Talmage, West Hempstead, Long Island, were sharing an oversized space in the big tent. Their style is for later decorator pieces and some early antiques. Offerings this month included several architectural elements, which appeared to have served as part of columns, dried plants pressed into large frames and some letters from signs spelling out the word "Garden," 2 feet high and about 8 feet long.

The overall style for the show was definitely gardens and the decorating in garden motifs, which is apropos in the Hamptons for this is an area known for second homes and their gardens. Jean produces another show at this location July 14-16 but the name is simply the 15th annual Hamptons Summer Antiques & Garden Show and Sale. In addition there is a one day outdoor show at Mulford Farm in East Hampton three times each summer. She also produces a Modernism show at the Bridgehampton Community House July 6-9. For information, www.hamptonsantiques.com or 631-537-0333.