Debbie Schrum, Granville, Ohio
:The new relationship between Jenkins Management and
Country Home magazine added to the enthusiasm for the 26th year of this Nashville show, now called Country Home Antiquing Festival at the Tailgate Antique Show.
Fiddlers Inn on February 13–16 was filled to capacity, with 175 exhibit rooms packed to such an extent that many dealers created new partnerships just to be able to have a space to show their collections.
Steve Jenkins, owner of Jenkins Management, was very pleased with the results of this most recent gathering. He said, "The space was sold out, all the display rooms were booked and we even filled in a few last-minute cancellations from the waiting list. The attendance was the best gate we've had since the 1990s, even with the light snow Wednesday morning."
City Mouse-Country Mouse is the partnership of Inez Allen and Nan Conlan from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Jerry Tebbano of Dutch Hollow Antiques in Aurora, Ohio, has been doing the show for a few years and sells good quantities of his stoneware collection each time. He said it is also an excellent opportunity to find some special pieces to add to either his collection or inventory.
A newcomer to the show was Terry Cormier. Trading as Hope Antiques from Wickford, R.I., he specializes in early American primitive and folk art objects. His collection at the show included a Nineteenth Century masthead of a woman in Bavarian costume — which found a new home — a stack of small wooden boxes in great paint decoration and color and an early Shaker candlestand in excellent condition.
Also fairly new to the show was Dennis Christenson of Unadilla, N.Y. Christenson has been collecting, as he says, "Whatever appeals to me. I find if I really like something, I can sell it to someone else, so I am comfortable buying what I like." His exhibit included several early quilts, a brass bed, a green painted pie safe, several early electric light fixtures and even a late Nineteenth Century love seat.
Mary Wilmarth, Pearland and Buckingham Antiques, both in Burleson, Texas.
West Branch Antiques was offering a collection of hooked rugs — its specialty. The Delhi, N.Y., dealer had early sales, including two that were of exceptionally high value, and the owner, Martin Webster, said his other sales included numerous small objects and early advertising paraphernalia.
Connie Marks travels a great deal to maintain a rigorous show schedule. The week before Nashville, she was in Richmond, Va., with her collection of textiles. In Nashville, this Rocky Point, N.C., dealer was showing textiles and also a large collection of vintage clothing. Sales were "profitable, even though the snow Wednesday may have slowed our start," she said.
Magoun Bros, South Paris, Maine, was there, as always, with all kinds of things from Maine, including a moose head and several early canoes. Jon Magoun said his sales were great, with a large variety of antique objects finding new homes.
Marie Miller American Quilts, Dorset, Vt.
City Mouse-Country Mouse was selling its collection, which included a large quantity of English antiques. The owners, Inez Allen and Nan Conlan, have been traveling to the British Isles a couple times each year to shop the big markets for antiques, large and small, which they offer in their shop and at shows. Of particular note were their collections of silhouettes, early brass candlesticks and English oil paintings.
Offering a collection with a very Western influence are Rick and Dwan Mabrey from Raleigh, N.C. Their exhibit was decorated with hot colors and some cowboy gear, along with country-style furniture. Look for them again in the fall show.
Rick and Dwan Mabrey, Raleigh, N.C.
Country Home had just begun its new sponsorship of this longstanding Jenkins show, but Steve believed its influence was helpful in adding to the increased interest in the show. "There were more dealers and more visitors," he said, "and they came here looking for something to take back home, not just looking. There were real buyers again, and most of our dealers were going home happy and satisfied, too."
He added, "Music Valley in the tent at the adjoining parking lot also had great sales with a full house and that helps, to have the two shows both doing well."
The fall show will be Thursday–Sunday, October 30–November 2. Look at www.tailgateantiqueshow.com or call 317-598-0012 for more details.
