Cross River Winter Antiques Show Breaks Attendance Records

Cross River, N.Y.

:On March 2, just under 1,000 people attended the 70-booth Cross River Winter Antiques Show in Westchester County. The record-breaking attendance pleased the John Jay High School Parent-Teachers Organization (PTO), the beneficiary of the event, according to the show's manager, Vivien Cord of Cord Shows Ltd.

The show featured appraisals by Andrea and William Jenack of William J. Jenack Appraisers and Auctioneers, Chester, N.Y. Scheduled to leave by 3 pm, the Jenacks extended their stay as they worked their way through appraising close to 200 items. They generously donated their proceeds to the PTO as well.

Some of the more interesting antiques brought in to be evaluated included a Georg Jensen sterling arm ring #55 designed in the Art Deco style by Harold Nielsen, circa 1945, valued at $850; a Georg Jensen sterling bird design brooch with lapis lazuli, circa 1945, valued at $500; a Tiffany & Co. child's nursery rhyme three-piece flatware set with a Jack and Jill handled spoon, Little Red Riding Hood handled knife and a Little Bo Peep handled fork, monogrammed, circa 1890s, valued at $500; and a Tiffany & Co. child's plate and napkin ring with a decorated band of children playing and carrying the American flag, monogrammed, circa 1890s, valued at $1,500.

The Jenacks valued a large Tiffany Studios bronze inkwell in the grapevine pattern, lined in green slag glass with original patina, at $1,000. A large Victorian Austrian Teplitz bust of a woman with a ruffled fashion bonnet, measuring approximately 18 inches, was deemed to be worth $1,500; and an exceptional large Etruscan design gold pendant/hair locket centering a hand painted oval porcelain surrounded by rose-cut diamonds, circa 1860, was valued at $2,500.

Most of the antiques dealers were satisfied with the show and the nonstop crowd. Sally Wistman, offering vintage textiles, lighting and furniture, noted that it was not quite as good as last year; however, the jewelry dealers all did well, according to the Darvicks, the Edens and the Vatells.

New to the show, William and Kathleen Hutchinson presented a booth of very unusual furniture, folk art and Americana. They sold a green painted folk art shelf and a beautiful all-original blanket chest, among other things. Lisa Miller of Zach-N-Alix, Ltd of Cross River, N.Y., known for her decorating skills, as always, rented two booths so that each could have its own theme. Miller did a preshow mailing, which brought in her customers, and she sold nonstop from her cottage furniture collection and 1950s decorator items.

Connie Brown, doing business as Connie Bs of Norwalk, Conn., had a good show with vintage textiles, quilts and furniture. Paula Cohen of Your Grandma Had It, Brooklyn, N.Y., joked about having brought hard-to-sell art pottery along with her more popular pieces, and it was the three hard-to-sell pieces that sold first.

Cord noted that, as always, this show seemed exciting. The merchandise was fun and well presented and fairly priced, she said.

The sixth Cross River Winter Antiques Show will return again on the first Sunday in March 2009. Cord Shows' next event is the 2nd Vintage Clothing, Accessories, Textiles and Jewelry Show in Danbury, Conn., on April 5 and 6. For information, www.CordShows.com or 914-273-4667.