David Drummond, Lititz, Pa.
Pier 92.
Story and photos by W.A. Demers and Carol Sims
January 25-26
On Pier 90 Miriam Arno Assion, Assion20, Newtown, Penn., had just
celebrated her first year as a dealer, although she was
previously associated with David Rago auctions. As the new kid on
the block, only the second weekend of the was an option. The
first weekend or the choice of doing both weekends (with new
merchandise and on a different pier) was reserved for dealers who
have been with Stella Show Mgmt. Co. from the beginning.
Assion specializes in European pottery of the Twentieth Century
and prefers to buy her ceramics in Europe. "Our merchandise is
fresh to the market," said Assion. On a weekend when many of her
peers were not having such a great show, Assion was selling
Denbach, Boch Frères, Métenier, Royal Copenhagen, Villerory and
Boch, Amphora and others. She attributes part of her success to
the informative tags on the merchandise, the broad range as well
as the depth of the collection she presents -- usually at least
three or four pieces from each pottery -- and the expensive
museum-quality showcases and lighting. "For us the pier show is a
huge part of our business," said Assion, who only does shows. She
is waiting to hear about a spot on the pier for March, and would
jump at the chance to participate.
Other findings on Pier 90 included a great selection of vintage
barware, clocks, radios, lighters and cigarette cases, and
Bakelite jewelry at Full Circle Antiques, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
For larger furniture-sized radios, Vintage Radios, Huntington,
N.Y., offered several. Their huge 1937 Zenith Radio had an
impressive Deco design. Cross Century Antiques, Sudbury, Mass.,
brought a 1940s juke box that needed some restoration but was
nonetheless turning heads with its illuminated Deco case.
Last Century Ltd, Holicong, Penn., brought about a dozen table
lamps from the 1950s and 60s among other things. Longbrook
Antiques, Stratford, Conn., brought an interesting Jefferson Lamp
Co. table lamp circa 1928 with reverse painted rose blossoms, and
a filigree lampshade banding that had the look of a trellis.
Emerging from the heavier Arts and Crafts aesthetic, the lamp had
a delicate, more feminine design and coloration.
Vintage fashion was scattered around the pier, with perhaps less
in evidence than at Triple Pier. There were still plenty of
interesting finds for both men and women. Browsing the show one
could find hats, dresses, belts, shoes, scarves, etc. Impulse
buying was fueling the many jewelry dealers on Pier 90, too.
There were several levels of jewelry, from high-end designer
pieces to costume baubles and bangles. Kenneth Buckly,
Winchester, Mass., had several vintage pipes and a Nineteenth
Century tabletop wooden pipe rack that could hold ten
thin-stemmed pipes.
WellSpring Antiques, Co, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., brought British
optical instruments from the mid to late Nineteenth Century. A
former industrial designer, antiques dealer Allen Abramson said,
"I look upon them as sculptures. What they do seems very
straightforward and honest." He displayed several types of early
brass microscopes and a pair of brass binoculars.
Even though he is officially retired from his design career,
Abramson could not resist designing antiques display cases for
himself and fellow dealers. They are replicas of vintage cases
with modern advantages. He selected scratch resistant acrylic
instead of glass, and they are foldable cases that do not take up
much room when they are transported.
Joseph Cantaro, Bayside, N.Y., brought a framed Folies Bergère
poster and several leaded glass lamps. R. Hollingshead Antiques,
Villanova, Penn., specializes in silver, but also brought a few
sets of china. The dealer had an unusual decorative majolica
plate with a voluminous crab at center. Linda Schramm Antiques,
New Milford, Conn., brought a large circa 1920s Weller frog in
matt green that measures 81/2 inches tall. Golden Oldies,
Flushing, N.Y., crammed its space with faux bamboo tables,
commodes, chests, armoires and chairs. This was accessorized with
a few textiles, and ceramic pieces. Lisa and Steve Fisch Antiques
of Wappinger Falls, N.Y., brought architectural elements, Arts
and Crafts windows with colored glass and a front door minus the
hardware in old paint with a leaded glass floral design on top.
Joseph Cantara, Bayside, N.Y. PIer 90.
White Orchard Antiques, Malvern, Penn., brought a service for 12
in the Lenox Essix Maroon pattern. It was displayed with gold
plated flatware, gold rimmed wine glasses and cordials, gold salt
and peppers, and a magnificent pair of Nineteenth Century Chinese
export bowls on pedestals, circa 1920s with gold accents of
course. This brought people into the booth. "Display is
everything. You have got to give people ideas on how things can
look," said Howard Roberts. Roberts has been doing all the pier
shows for 15 years. After the show he said, "I sold a lot of
decoratives - silver plate items, tabletop, art...Sunday was a
good day for me." Even though he was showing on the second
weekend, Roberts would not mind seeing January go to a
"one-weekend deal."
Barbara Hepburn of Hermitage Antiques, Harrison, Maine, deals in
Americana with her husband Harry. They have been doing the show
for a long time, back when it was "Americana on the Piers." Even
with one pier still focused on Americana (Pier 92 where they were
set up) the broader array of merchandise at the show has
attracted a broader customer base. "They were more interested in
the decorative pieces and the smalls," said Barbara. The Hepburns
offer period clocks and clock repair along with country antiques
and folk art. They brought three tall clocks ranging from $5,000
to $20,000, a wonderful Shaker dresser, and a hand colored 1860
engraving of Frederic Church's painting of the Alps. For smalls
they had a collection of Eskimo ivory carvings including earlier
unsigned pieces and later signed pieces.
"Up until 9/11 the Americana Pier Show in January was phenomenal
for people like myself who sell Americana," said Harry Hepburn,
who has been a full-time dealer since 1971. "I don't have last
year to compare with, but this year I'm way off. I don't think
they had the Americana enthusiasm there. I think the second
weekend got lost among all of the other things happening in New
York. It is certainly not the fault of the management -
Irene and that crowd, James -are unbelievably attentive."
Erik D. Wohl, Pomfret Center, Conn., brought early American art
and furnishings as well as two faceless Amish dolls. Quean
Antiques, Toronto, Canada had a "Canadians Welcome" sign along
with a red and white striped wood carved barber pole. Marc Witus,
Gladstone, N.J., brought a selection of coverlets. T.J. Asarino
brought a remarkably handsome pharmaceutical cabinet, clocks, and
a ship's model. Never Bird Antiques, Surry, Va., drew shoppers
into its display with two large early portraits of a man and
woman. Also offered were samplers and many other folk portraits.
David Drummond, Lititz, Penn., had a colorful booth with country
white furniture with red upholstery, a floral carpet, and a great
sign in worn paint, "APPLES WHOLESALE & RETAIL." Judith and
James Milne, New York City, brought a carnival ring toss with
five black cats as targets (undoubtedly meant to bring the rubes
bad luck). The cats were labeled Puss in Boots, Taffy, Pickle
Puss, Frisky and Purry.
Tom O'Hara, Easter Hill Antiques, Sharon, Conn., brought a forged
iron weathervane, circa 1680, in the design of a lion rampant.
"It has been authenticated by an iron expert," said O'Hara
pointing out the rough pebbly surface indicative of a forged
piece. "It was most likely used on a government building," he
continued.
Clifford Wallach, Brooklyn, N.Y., a specialist in tramp art,
brought frames, a stool, boxes, decorative objects and a cabinet
with a two-door leaded glass front. A Bird in Hand, Short Hills,
N.J., brought sporting art of leaping fish and flying ducks and
stoneware jugs and crocks. Michele Fox had quilts and other
textiles, including four salesman's samples of ladies' knitted
fashions from the 1940s. Village Braider, Plymouth, Mass.,
offered dozens of paintings, paint decorated furniture, lamps and
smalls. Poverty Hollow, Redding Ridge, Conn., had a wood mantle
in old white paint, fire screens, tools and andirons, as well as
a large country cupboard, landscapes and still lifes, formal
furniture and crystal.
Rick MacLennan of Collins and MacLennan, Cobalt, Conn., had an
eclectic booth that got kudos from the show managers. He brought
a hooked rug with Masonic designs, early portraits (three of
which sold), chests, advertising signs, glass and a heavy brass
or bronze sign for The New York Palace that was cast off by Leona
Helmsley.
The Village Braider, Plymouth, Mass. Pier 92.
MacLennan, a veteran of 34 years on Wall Street, enjoyed
bantering with "bright and witty New Yorkers." He had good sales,
and much interest, including a folk museum that is seeking to
acquire a cast-iron witch designed as a rooftop snow guard.
"Saturday was a great day. I sold a lot of pieces. There was a
continual flow of traffic through my booth. Sunday started out
slow. After everyone got their Dean and Deluca coffee the rest of
the day picked up."
MacLennan loves just about everything he sells. An airport sign
picturing a biplane was no exception. When a potential customer
was asking the price MacLennan relayed, "I really love that
piece. I wouldn't mind keeping that for my own collection...
$1,100." The disgruntled customer muttered "Yeah, you really
must love it." Another shopper, upon hearing the exchange
said, "I love it, too. I'll take it!" No haggling.
With an irrepressible enthusiasm MacLennan is convinced "that
there isn't a better time to be in this business than now. Most
antiques customers are 55 to 70 years old. That part of the
population is about to explode. It is going to be great
for another 20 years."
