Carol Wojktun, Preston,
Conn.
By Tom O'Hara
GUILFORD, CONN. - Show manager Trisha McElroy conducted the 34th
annual Guilford Antiques Show and Sale March 8-9, a benefit event
for the Hyland House, in the Adams Middle School gymnasium.
Hyland House, a two-story saltbox, was constructed in this
coastal village circa 1690-1710. In 1916 it was purchased and
restored by the Dorothy Whitfield Historic Society, which has
operated it as a museum of early Colonial life and architecture
since 1918. Open to the public in the summer, some weekends and
by appointment, it is also the site of old-fashioned cooking
reenactments, especially for the town's fourth graders.
The show has become the primary fundraising event for the
organization, supplemented by membership fees and donations. This
year's event was again successful in its support. Some 40
dealers, most from New England -- with a few representatives from
nearby New York -- set up shop in room settings throughout the
gym, including side rooms and halls. At the entrance, the Dorothy
Whitfield Historic Society members had an unusual exhibit and
sale of artifacts and flowers.
The quality of antiques offerings was excellent. Jan & John
Maggs, Conway, Mass. dealers, brought a pair of 200-year-old
banister back side chairs and a Hepplewhite drop leaf dining
table. The accessories in their booth also were a period before
1800.
Among the furniture pieces brought by Carol Wojktun was a
collection of four fanback Windsor chairs in black paint, priced
at $2,000; a farm table; a mule chest; and a tilt-top tea table,
which she sold for approximately $1,500. She also had period
accessories, including English pearlware dishes and pewter.
Wojktun, from Preston, Conn., is a software engineer full-time
but never misses shopping the big New England shows and exhibits
at several, including Forbes & Turner's Hartford show.
Early Spring Farm Antiques, Vineyard Haven, Mass.
Just across the aisle, Haneberg's from East Lyme, Conn., had
early furniture, including a mahogany Chippendale swing leg table
that served as a display for dishes from China, including some
Canton and Rose Medallion.
New England House Antiques, Wethersfield, Conn., offered a more
country and primitive look, including a grain painted hutch.
Pomfret, Conn., dealer Eric Wohl showed both primitive furniture
and some more formal pieces.
Lorraine German has been collecting early textiles for most of
her adult life and now shows many in her booth. Together with
husband Steve, trading as Mad River Antiques, they sold a wide
variety of antiques: a black walnut drop leaf table for $1,100; a
pair of tiger maples chairs, Sheraton period, New England, for
$500; a sea chest at $575 and, of course, some of the textiles.
Philip Roberge, East Haddam, Conn., offered several paintings,
including a pair of portraits from the early Nineteenth Century.
Some dealers seem to be able to offer great collections of early
small objects. 1843 House Antiques is one such business, run by
Natalie Werner of Springfield, Mass. Her offerings included early
kitchen paraphernalia, small tools, sewing equipment and more.
Kathy Tarr, Victorian Rose, also offers small antiques but from
the middle to late 1800s.
One booth looking like an early Nineteenth Century keeping room
belonged to Karen and Daniel Olson of Newburgh, N.Y. Another
kitchen setting could be found in Jim Murphy's booth. Antiques
are Murphy's second job; his primary occupation is newsman for a
Connecticut television station.
Jim Murphy of J&J Murphy's Antiques, Newtown, Conn.
Ester Gilbert Antiques offered a hired man's rope bed made into a
comfortable-looking sofa. Summer Hill Antiques, Cranston, R.I.,
had a charming patio or garden setting that included iron folding
chairs and table with some accessories. Lawton Fine Arts
represented formal items with a dining room featuring a set of
Chippendale chairs, a Duncan Phyfe-style table, dishes, stemware
and silver services. Lawton is a partnership of Kristin Donlan,
Marcia Kalajian and Marcia Wrubel from nearby Madison, Conn.
Lewis Scranton has participated in the show for all of its 34
years. His taste runs to early American-made furniture and
accessories accented with some more formal accessories. He grew
up in Guilford and at one time was a member of the board of the
event's sponsoring organization. Now residing a few towns away,
doing this show was, for him, literally coming home again.
Kirt Crump, Madison, Conn., had a tall-case clock with a very
curious crown detail. The top of the clock was decorated with
what appears to be clock main springs. West Simsbury, Conn.,
dealers Mary and Ken Vincent had an early brass candelabrum,
circa 1800, priced at $3,800.
The show is held in early March. For information, 603-778-8842.
