Bright, Big, Bountiful…York Earns An A+

York, Penn.

:Americana collectors who have never attended the Original York Antiques Show will find themselves in for a surprise when they finally walk through the doors of this highly regarded event. It ranks among the finest shows of its type in the country. It is bright, big, bountiful, but forget about the "B" words: this show earns an A+.

Amazingly, this enormously popular semiannual show posted its 152nd appearance, opening for a three-day run on Friday, January 30. Is it old school? Definitely. Is it attracting crowds? You bet. But are the dealers selling? Yes, they are.

The show, begun in 1934 by Mabel Renner, then taken over by Paul Ettline in the 1950s and purchased by Melvin "Butch" Arion in 1996, retains its old school roots in regard to merchandise and quality. Its new school approach, instilled by Arion, is reflected in the attractive displays, thoughtful use of the facility and the gratification the promoter exudes.

Over the past decade this show has been totally transformed by Butch. Hardly the schoolyard bully from The Little Rascals that shares his nickname, Arion is a gentle giant who speaks through his actions. And those are focused on through a positive spin and appearance for this show.

"We had 50 dealers when we started here," recalled Arion, "and we built it up from that day on," he said in his soft-spoken manner, although with a tone of well-deserved pride. Arion's demeanor challenges dealers to step up to the plate, to actively participate in making the show a success — he encourages them to save great things for the show — and to come to the venue prepared to do business.

In these days of economic contemplation and with numerous highly regarded antiques shows dropping by the wayside, the Original York Show continues to excel. Arion's hard work has paid off in spades. "I'm really proud of it," said Arion, "and the dealers have supported me 100 percent."

True, this show is Pennsylvanian in nature, but what does that really equate to? In a nutshell, it means that the antiques are bright, colorful, exuberant, fancy and fun.

Want a great paint decorated blanket box, chest, table, bench or a dower chest? When was the last time that anyone had an opportunity to look at, touch, feel, turn over and become intimate with any one of seven exquisite painted dower chests, 46 blanket boxes, nine blanket chests, ten painted chests of drawers, or 56 paint decorated cupboards — all within a hundred yards of each other? And those were just the examples in paint; there were lots more in natural and original finishes.

Colorful redware, quilts, ceramics, iron, folky accessories, weathervanes, toys, paintings and more smalls than one can shake a stick at were also offered. There is good reason that this show has emerged at the top of the heap for country Americana.

Dr Richard Warbasse made the trip to the show from the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Making his way into the foyer of Memorial Hall at the York Fairgrounds at 4 am on Friday, he began a line that some six hours later, as the show opened, would fill the lobby.

Buyers raced into the show, and sold tags began appearing right away. Warbasse, a collector of "country and fine American furniture," was quick to motion to several dealers as he passed by their booths, selecting and snapping up, among other items, a nice Chippendale chair and a blue painted table.

First-time exhibitors Cheryl and Paul Scott got the show off to a quick start with several sales, including a large harbor scene painting. A nice gamecock weathervane, a Chippendale table with shaped top, a tiger maple tall chest and a superbly executed carving of an English setter were also on view.

New Oxford, Penn., dealer Kelly Kinzle's double-booth, one of but a couple in the show, housed an extra-large Eighteenth Century kas that measured nearly 8 feet high. With double doors and four drawers below, it was in virtually untouched condition, according to the dealer, with the exception of brasses, still retaining the rare original shoe feet. On another wall was a stunning York County blanket box in bright yellow paint with pinwheel decoration emblazoned across the front. "It is one of six known examples and it came out of a local farm sale about 20 years ago," stated the dealer. Above it hung a monumental David Ellinger theorem depicting a basket of flowers that several at the show referred to as the "best."

Known for his "back room" — a small walled-off area in the rear of his booth — Kinzle had several great items that could not be properly displayed, including a large patriotic themed hooked rug and a wonderful painting of a wagon from the Union Traction Company being drawn by two majestic horses.

Greg Kramer, Robesonia, Penn., occupied a booth at the entrance to the show and featured several examples of painted furniture that were setting a standard for the show. Displayed was a chest of drawers in the subtly exquisite painted decoration of the Soap Hollow, Penn., makers. In red with yellow highlights, the three-over-four-drawer chest was further decorated with stenciled hearts and rosettes, vines with birds and potted flowers. The chest also featured the initials "MB" and was dated 1870. A broken arch top corner cupboard of Berks County origin in outstanding red and black grained paint was also featured. Accessories included a boldly glazed Shenandoah Valley redware jar, a Connecticut stoneware gemmel double-jug with cobalt human figures, a carved and paint decorated Schimmel rooster and a nice selection of chalk figures.

Two horse weathervanes, one wooden and one copper, were displayed at Jim Grievo's stand, positioned above a brightly painted yellow dome top box that rested on a wonderful Pennsylvania blanket box with painted panels with floral decoration flanking a large central heart.

Furniture of a formal nature was displayed by James Lowery, Baldwinsville, N.Y., including a Federal inlaid sideboard from the Maryland region, circa 1780, a Chippendale tea table from the coastal North Carolina area and a Chippendale side table from Pennsylvania.

Political items, especially costumes and campaign mementos, were popular in the booth of American Memories. A little girl's red, white and blue campaign dress made of bunting for one of Woodrow Wilson's campaigns was attracting interest, as was a full-sized man's Uncle Sam suit consisting of pants, coat, hat and bowtie.

Merchandise in the booth of Warwick, N.J., dealer Chuck White included an eye-catching two-drawer blanket chest in super grain paint, topped by a large leaping stag weathervane. A game board in vibrant green, yellow and red hung on the rear wall, near an impressive ram weathervane with weathered gilt surface and zinc head.

Around the corner, another exceptional weathervane was on view, a large cow in the booth of Raccoon Creek Antiques LLC, Oley, Penn. A nice Morgan stoneware crock with vertical loop handles and cobalt watch spring decoration was offered, along with two unusual top hat-form hatboxes with good wallpaper covering. Painted furniture in the booth included a Pennsylvania cupboard in the original red paint and a nice one-drawer stand in bold yellow paint with smoke decoration.

A cigar store Indian maiden was featured at Thurston Nichols, Breinigsville, Penn., along with a pair of monumental stone urns on bases, a pair of apothecary chests and two interesting hooked rugs with dog compositions. A classical bronze fountain figure was also offered, featuring a young girl playing a flute with frogs gathered about her feet.

An unusual crib quilt featuring a farmstead scene complete with 26 animals ranging from roosters to cats and dogs being fed by family members was at Jewett-Berdan, New Castle, Maine. Selling moments after the show opened, the rare textile was flanked on the rear wall of the booth by a pair of paint decorated sleds and hung over a smoke decorated white blanket box on turned feet. An early cow weathervane and a medium-sized leaping stag weathervane were also displayed.

Massachusetts dealers Hilary and Paulette Nolan were on hand with a good selection of early folky material, including an unusual Queen Anne round-top tap table with widely splayed legs ending in button feet. In an old red finish, the table was displayed in front of an early figure of an egret, possibly a confidence decoy. A selection of traditional early American furniture was also offered, with a pair of banister back side chairs flanking a nice four-drawer Chippendale chest in good finish.

Colorful coverlets were displayed by Trish Herr, while husband Don showed off the stellar collection of pewter that he had on hand.

The Original 153rd Semi-Annual York Antiques Show will take place September 4–6 with 96 exhibitors at the York Convention and Expo Center's Memorial Hall East. For information, 302-875-5326, 302-542-3286 (cell) or www.theoriginalyorkantiquesshow.com .