Heartland Antiques Show, Seven Hours Only

Richmond, Ind.

:It was one day, just seven hours long, and the antiques sold in room settings, open booths and some were just set out for the perusal of a couple thousand visitors. Started by Jennifer Sabin 18 years ago, Heartland Antiques Show was conducted June 7 with about 150 exhibits from dealers gathered predominantly from the nation's "Heartland," but with some representation throughout the country.

The site was Wayne County Fairgrounds on the outskirts of Richmond, a college town on the Ohio border, just off Interstate 70. The show was kept to one day only because, as Sabin declared, "That creates the excitement, come now and do it now !"

Sabin began the show as an alternative to the nearby Fairhaven Ohio Antiques Market, which is an outdoor affair on the town's main street. Her plan was to offer a weatherproof alternative, indoor facilities to some dealers and shoppers and another selling venue for the visiting hunters of antiquities.

Two large buildings are divided into measured spaces for the dealers; some contract for walls, some bring their own and others refrain, preferring to have the economy and ease of setup without the walls, just the antiques. Whichever way, the place was chockfull of great early Americana, folk art, furniture and household accessories.

Betty Berdan and Mike Newsom's collection of early Americana was on display in one building. Newsom & Berdan Antiques, Hallowell, Maine, has been known for its collection for many years, some excellent examples of everyday objects made with skill and devotion by Americans who wanted to have a special cover for their bed or a shelf for things in the pantry. There was a small table made from native woods with slender turned legs, inlays and veneers and a shaped top.

Period Antiques of Scottsburg, Ind., was just down an aisle with a collection that included a score or more of painted pantry boxes. Their offerings included many objects in their original paint. Owners Tom and Rose Cheap are longtime collectors. Tom is native to Indiana, where Nineteenth Century pieces were utilitarian and painted for their protection; Rose is a Mainer, where often the paint was applied to imitate some more valuable wood, such as mahogany. Together, their collection is alive with color and function from earlier times.

Architectural elements were booth decorations for Forreston, Ill., dealer Jason Sword, but they were for sale as well. His collection also featured early garden ornaments, painted furniture and household accessories.

Hind and Loyd was the partnership of Kathy Hind from Bothell, Wash., and Sheridan Loyd, St Joseph, Mo. Their collections are often similar and so very compatible to be exhibited together with such pieces as painted tables, Nineteenth Century art, handmade tools, vessels and work-related articles in their original finishes. Hind has been a regular shopper at various shows in the East and Midwest, gathering inventory for shows in the far West. Loyd has been exhibiting from Maine to the Mississippi for many years with her own distinctive collection, including some exceptional early American furniture.

There were exhibits comprising wonderful small things, such as the shelves of Jack and Pat Adamson. There were jugs and candlesticks, paintings and boxes, a showcase filled with Staffordshire dogs and tiny whiskey jugs. The Zoor, Ohio, dealers and collectors even had some soft paste teapots next to an early lock box.

The Swopes' display consisted of decoys, and their sales were lively as their collection is well known and a popular stop for shoppers. Carroll and David have been traveling from their home in Canton, Ohio, to sales and shows in the East to find more whenever the time allows. Their inventory for the show also included assorted early metal works for the kitchen, circa 1750–1800, including several copper teapots, baskets, redware and tole ware. To lure the sportsmen, there was some early fishing tackle and tackle boxes.

Cid Paden was thrilled to have a pair of German dolls, which he said were carved from wood and decorated with gesso, dressed and in very good condition, showing only minor wear. He was even happier when they sold during the show from his exhibit, Mapleside Antiques of Titusville, Penn.

Many more dealers in the show feature the early American country ideas of style, function and design. Tennessee dealer A Primitive Homeplace built a log cabinlike exhibition to offer early painted furniture and accessories. Craig Illa, Palmyra, Mo., was offering an early pie safe in original finish with the tins showing just enough rust to prove their authenticity.

A full room setting was the plan executed by Sharon and Claude Baker from Hamilton, Ohio. A hutch table with a set of plank seat chairs, an oculist's trade sign, several weathervanes and more folk art were all offered from their collection. Latcham House, Waterville, Ohio, was also showing a room setting complete with the fireplace and a muzzle loader long gun hanging from it. The other pieces were several different forms of early storage, including a blanket chest and several blanket boxes, most in original painted surfaces.

The show offered a large selection of country; all seemed ready for use, in very good condition. Next year's show will take place the first Saturday of June, but Sabin will present a smaller version on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in this same location. For information, 843-686-2447 or e-mail sabin@islc.net.