Over 3,000 Celebrate 4th Of July At Antiques In A Church Yard

South Salem, N.Y.

:For the 16th consecutive Independence Day celebration, Vivien Cord drew more than 3,000 visitors to her sold-out, 120-dealer show, Antiques in a Church Yard on July 4. This site, Stevens Memorial Church, has been sold out of exhibitor spaces for the last 14 shows, with reliably high attendance, such as last year when 3,400 people attended and there was no rain in the forecast. According to Cord, "We might have topped that if there was no rain around this year. As it was, we got very lucky, for the light rain stopped in the early morning and we never got any more during the show."

Sales for the dealers were excellent, as it seems the show has become a part of the July 4th celebration for many area residents. Two brothers who have been setting up their displays at this show for several years, Tom and Rick Pirozzoli, both reported excellent sales. According to Tom, from Goshen, N.H., it was as if there was a contest between them, with each selling many pieces from his collection. Rick, trading as Sport Hill Antiques in Woodbury, Conn., was also pleased with his sales, which included a good deal of furniture.

Cord's partner and business associate, Ed McClure, recounted a bit of the history of the show. For the first year, 1993, there were 16 dealers. The next show had about 40. Since then, it has been a full house, with 120 every year in committed spaces. He added, "This gives us a great many repeat dealers, with many, perhaps as many as 100, that have done it a dozen or more times. For those dealers, the show is something of a reunion with other dealers and repeat customers."

"We did good, sold a little of everything, some jewelry, some china and even a set of Meissen [dishes]," said Ridgefield, Conn., dealer Arlene Kimerling. She and husband, Bob, have been doing shows for nearly 30 years with a variety of antiques, mostly small things for the dining table.

Coming from Titusville, Penn., for the one-day event, Tom Varney and Cid Paden of Mapleside Antiques said it was the best selling show they have ever had. Paden added, "I should probably check the records when I say that, but our sales were terrific. There were a couple Art Deco pieces, early primitive furniture, including a step back cupboard, and lots of smalls. One piece we sold, a wall hanging of a deer, came back because the lady said it wouldn't work where she wanted it, but we still did great."

With a full-time job teaching school, Steven Balser is only available for shows in the summer. This has been one of his selections for several years now with his collection of early furniture and accessories. As he shopped in Brimfield, Mass., the following week, Balser said, "I did well, some furniture some smalls. It was good for me."

The Perfect Thing is a collection assembled by Brenda Perrone for the show each year. From nearby Pound Ridge, N.Y., she had some small items from midcentury, including Bakelite, tin and plastic kitchen kitsch, early toys, later textiles and old games. Her sales are always counted in volume, for her collection features moderately priced antiques and collectibles.

Early transfer ware was selling well for Dora Connolly of Emmitsburg, Md. Art glass, pottery and small wall hangings were the mainstay for bb blackbird, the business of New Yorker Janice Vrana. Stone Cottage Antiques, Newtown, Conn., was showing a rare child's stove complete with the pots and cookers that were made to fit it. A child could use this stove without fire by placing it over the family stove and using the draft of heat.

Father and son team of Erhart and Craig Hennemann, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., were there with their early dishes and a large collection of cloisonné. Craig said, "The show couldn't have been better." Sales included several pieces from the Chinese Cultural Revolution, an early cloisonné vase, a Rosenthal jar and several pieces of English royal memorabilia.

Offering her collection of early iron apparatus from France was Claire Schlesser. This New Yorker offers early lighting, kitchen tools and cooking utensils and some objects made simply as early iron decorative art.

Some exhibits were fun objects, such as Dennis Christianson's New York baseball player. Made from old motor vehicle license plates welded or pinned together, the batter appeared to be trying to check his swing. The price was $1,500 from this Unadilla, N.Y., dealer.

Another of the many dealers who sold well was Connie Brown from nearby Wilton, Conn., where she has an open shop. Her specialty is early textiles, especially quilts. In addition, there was a large selection of shabby chic furniture, all of which sold at the show. Also with open shops, Cottage Treasures from Chester, N.J., was selling furniture well. Their selection includes Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century American and some Irish furniture.

Cord Shows accepted sponsorship from Cappelli Sales and Marketing, a real estate firm in Westchester County. This relationship allowed Cord the extra revenue for more advertising, assisting in building the attendance for the sixth year in a row.

Cord Shows Ltd has shows throughout the year. The next is Katonah, N.Y., at Lasdon Park on Labor Day, September 1, followed by the Putnam County Antiques fair in Patterson, N.Y., September 21. For information, www.cordshows.com or 914-273-4667.