Antiques at Oleott Square,
Bernardsville, N.J.
By Nancy Vozar
NEWTOWN, PENN. - Despite a six-inch snowfall the day before, 48
dealers from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and
New York took part in the one-day Heart of Bucks Antique Show on
Saturday, February 8, at the George School. It was fitting that
this show was conducted at a turn-of-the-century, Quaker-founded
institute of learning, since a number of "educational" antiques
were witnessed in several dealer booths.
Early in the show in the booth Helen and Larry Bryan of H&L
Antiques, Princeton, N.J., a gentleman who volunteers his time to
teach school children about early American life, seeking antiques
to help give his history presentations a visual, hands-on
approach, purchased a grease lamp and a Colonial fireplace
candleholder. Other items they reported selling were a mule
chest, a candlestand, a quilt with a whimsical design, some
toleware and treenware.
Directly across the aisle was Robert Simpson, Mahwah, N.J. Among
his offering of stoneware was a West Troy, N.Y., script crock
with mathematical calculations in cobalt blue. What "added" to
its charm was the fact that there appeared to be an errant
decimal. In defense of the maker, perhaps this was an example of
Nineteenth Century New Math. Later in the afternoon, this unusual
crock found a new home. Other items to sell in Simpson's booth
were a blue and white coverlet, a hooked rug in a geometric
design, a paint decorated dressing table, a Windsor fan back
chair, an early trade sign, a green painted bench and a stoneware
crock with a large tulip decoration. At the closing of the show a
dry sink was also added to this list.
A European education was also in store for shoppers. On the
opposite side of the hall, somewhat removed from the strong
presence of country and Americana, was a booth where showgoers
could imagine themselves strolling down the Parisian boulevards
of the Impressionists, or hear Gershwin's An American in
Paris ringing in their ears. They could even test their
recollection of high school French by trying to read street signs
and plaques, all in the booth of first-time show participant
Janice Bonk, Richboro, Penn.
Among her eye-catching arrangements were collections of
enamelware and agricultural prize signs from the 1920s and 1930s.
Regarding her agricultural signs, Bonk said, "This is the French
version of our 4-H clubs." Having a good show, she added, "I'll
be back!"
Only a couple of booths down the aisle one was an elaborate
necklace and matching pair of earrings, made of 14-karat and
18-karat gold, platinum, diamonds and pearls with an asking price
of $12,750. The seller was Verde Antiques, Manahawkin, N.J., and
Ginny Verde was happy to model these gems. Ginny's husband Ray, a
dealer in rare books, was proud to show us a gem in his
collection - a fore-edge painted book, entitled Enoch
Arden and written by Alfred Tennyson. The painting on the
edges of the closed pages, travel related, resembled Venice. Ray
explained that this example was a cut above others he has owned
because it was "highly detailed, of exceptional quality and the
painting is related to the content of the book."
Antiques in Yardley, Yardley, Pa.
Denise Accinno of Christopher's Antiques, Richboro, Penn., is a
participant at both the November and the February Heart of Bucks
shows. Her offerings included Limoges, Royal Bonn, Nippon,
majolica, Herend and mulberry transfer ware. When asked how the
show was for her, without pausing she said, "Terrific! I think
the secret to my success is that there aren't too many other
dealers here who specialize in what I carry."
And what better way to complete the perfect table setting than
with the right sterling silver flatware. Wendy Pierce Evans and
her mother Barbara from Silver Thyme, Ltd, Princeton, N.J., share
an appreciation and knowledge for the pieces that they display,
including a case filled with Tiffany.
Even the most fastidious shopper was sure to find the right
pattern glass goblet at the booth of Foley Carrow Art and
Antiques, Ewing, N.J. Breck Carrow mentioned how his wife Paula
Foley mixes and matches different pieces for the sake of variety
and visual interest when she has a dinner party.
Even a dealer who specializes in Flow Blue, Staffordshire and
children's china added an instructional element to her booth.
Sunny Lenzner, Newtown, Penn., offered a group of educational
boards, with movable tiles, that were used as a tool to teach
children, of the precomputer era, the three R's - reading,
writing and arithmetic.
Game boards were displayed on the wall of Antiques at Olcott
Square, Bernardsville, N.J., located at the entrance of the show.
All in old paint, the grouping comprised a Parcheesi board, a
folding game board with checkers and backgammon and a New England
Nineteenth Century game board. Collections of weathervanes were
also artistically arranged on another wall. A colorful figural
tin weathervane, "Sailor's Wife," complemented several equestrian
examples. Other items included a pine lift-top desk, pine harvest
table, four half spindle back chairs with plank seats, an 1850s
Seth Thomas mini Empire clock and an Ingraham shelf clock.
With one individual staffing the gate and the other their booth,
show promoters Ellen Katona and Bob Lutz, Greenwich, N.J.,
remained active throughout the day. Happy with the one-day format
that is now in its second year, Ellen said that it creates a
sense of urgency with the buying crowd. She commented, "We have
been pleasantly busy all day." Displayed in their booth was a
cobbler's bench, four Old Hickory chairs, an old wagon
advertising "Goodwill Soap," a New York sampler made by Catherine
Grumbell in 1834, a collection of doorstops and a hooked rug.
Commenting on the show's attendance, Jim Woodruff, Chester, N.J.,
felt that there was "a satisfactory crowd, with a good amount of
both dealers and collectors shopping throughout the date. The
opportunity was there for participants to make sales." And sales
he made.
Among the items to leave his booth during the course of the show
were a New England chest in original paint, a foot warmer, a crib
quilt and at the conclusion of the show, a crib coverlet. Adding
to the country look in his booth was a jam cupboard, circa 1880,
in a red milk paint; a grain painted dough box; an 1880s cradle
made of poplar wood in original surface; an 1890s mortised and
pegged wood box in original grain paint; and a salesman's sample
cross buck and saw.
Showing a strong presence at the show as a consortium of dealers
from Antiques in Yardley, with merchandise from Lynne
Oppenheimer, Linda Grier and Rose Gallo. Their antiques comprised
two large booths at the entrance of the show.
Some of the furniture they exhibited included a mid-to-late
Nineteenth Century small-size cupboard with old red and green
paint; a Lancaster, Penn., Nineteenth Century work table in old
red paint; a circa 1840 red drop leaf table; a one-drawer stand;
a painted blanket chest; and a pine two-drawer table with pegged
and dovetailed construction. Decorative items noted were early
baskets, yellowware, quilts, pewter, a pair of flintlock pistols,
a Nineteenth Century dome-topped wallpaper covered document box,
a Nineteenth Century tole spice box with original stenciling,
push-up candlesticks, a Nineteenth Century turned bowl with
original paint and a collection of sewing items.
Robert Simpson, Mahwah, N.J.
Directly across the aisle was River Edge Farm, Bridgewater, N.J.
Always offering fine pewter, brass and hand forged iron
implements, their booth was also furnished with an early
Pennsylvania hutch table, with shoe feet in chestnut wood and a
poplar top; a three-drawer cherry stand; a selection of redware;
yellowware; tin sconces; a game board; and a croup of stone
fruit. Some of their sales included a chest of drawers, a large
pine mirror and early iron.
Thomas Wolfe was wrong. There was one antique at the show that
proved "you can go home again." Seen in the booth of
Distinctives, Doylestown, Penn., was an old lidded bucket
inscribed, "shingle nails" and a hand penned address on the top,
"George School, Bucks County, George School, Pennsylvania."
Apparently the original owner was so proud of being affiliated
with the George School he repeated the name twice!
The next show managed by Ellen Katona and Bob Lutz is the Old Red
Mill Antiques Show held in Clinton, N.J., on May 4. For
information, 856-459-2229.
