Thomas & Julia
Barringer, Stockton, N.J.
Story W.A. Demers, photos by R. Scudder Smith and W.A.
Demers
WESTPORT, CONN. - The 39th annual Southport-Westport Antiques
Show, presented by the Near & Far Aid Association, Inc, and
the Antiques Council sailed into the 2003 season with a
well-attended preview party (750-800) at the Fairfield County
Hunt Club on April 24. The show closed on Sunday, April 27, with
the show committee reporting substantial gates on Friday and
Sunday, and disappointing crowd numbers on Saturday due to rainy
weather.
The Southport-Westport show remains a first-class event - one
dealer places it in the top three shows north of New York City in
terms of quality - and for many in this well-to-do part of
Fairfield County, the show is the true harbinger of spring, full
of inspiration for home decorative arts enthusiasts. The question
raised by some is whether serious antiques selling goes on and,
of course, there is a range of opinions among the 67 dealers who
participated -- about a dozen of them new to the event or
returning after a hiatus.
One dealer said the gate was so bad that "one could roller skate
down the aisles most of the time," another dealer characterized
the crowd numbers as "soft at best," and yet another said, "I
think, generally, that the gate was off, and no, people weren't
buying freely. On the other hand, there were new faces at the
preview party, especially decorators from New York who haven't
been there for years, and who were seriously buying."
The show's 2003 theme -- "From Far to Near via Wind and Sail" --
with its image of sails furled toward a new destination was
indeed apt, for in 2004 the show will be moving to Greens Farms
Academy in Westport and changing its date to the third week in
June. As with any change, the news caused some grumbling in the
"ship's" hold by some dealers but no mutiny.
It is not just that the venue and show dates are changing, but
next year's show will also be going head-to-head with the Wilton
Outdoor Antiques Marketplace, a June staple that draws many of
the same dealers and buyers.
Southport-Westport show organizers said that the conflict with
Wilton was inevitable since that was the only date they could get
the academy. The reason for moving from the Hunt Club is
primarily financial, organizers said, adding that they are rising
to the challenge of maximizing the charity's financial
contri-butions. A benefit for the Near & Far Aid Association,
a community-based charitable organization that has been active
since 1946, the show is a key fundraiser. Near & Far
distributed more than $840,000 to 70 agencies last year, more
than $600,000 of which went to accredited Fairfield County
organizations.
"Because we're a charity, 100 percent of our proceeds go to the
charity," said Caren Hart Nelson, co-chair of the show. "Our
costs for using the Hunt Club have gone up, and although we've a
great relationship with them over the years, we've had to move
on. Change is never easy."
One dealer who specializes in American furniture said that while
Greens Farms Academy may be an excellent venue for an antiques
show, the fact that the date will be pushed beyond the
traditional show season -- September to May for the brown
furniture trade - is a concern. "Typically, the industry standard
is that fine furniture does not sell at shows in the summer
months since people are often preoccupied with second homes,
children out of school, family vacations, summer weddings and
outdoor activities," said the dealer.
Nelson countered, "For this area, after May 31, it's a summer
community, and we will attract that crowd and capture a new
audience."
The Southport-Westport Antiques Show liaison, Karen DiSaia of
Oriental Rugs, Ltd, Old Lyme, Conn., was very upbeat about the
changes in store for the three-day show. She said she understands
other dealers' concerns that this is the final year of holding
the show at the Hunt Club and in the last week of April.
"Though there is concern about the change of date to the third
weekend in June, the Antiques Council has embraced the challenge
of creating the best early summer show in years," she said. "It
will be in a wonderful new location, which is only about a mile
from the Hunt Club. It will be a smaller show and we feel that
the new energy will only serve to enhance the 40th year of the
show."
Echoing this thought was Marybeth Keene of Wayne Pratt, Inc,
Woodbury, Conn., who said that while she may have been wavering
before, Saturday's torrential rain quickly pushed her into the
camp eager to leave the muddy paddocks, ever-roost-ing birds and
Port-o-lets of the Hunt Club behind. "We'll have to wait and see
what next year will bring, but I have faith in the committee and
Near & Far to organize a destination show that will draw
people," she said.
Jeffrey Cooley of Old Lyme, Conn., agreed that change of venue
will be a challenge. "But clearly it is the right financial move,
and perhaps a little 'reinvention' will be good for the show," he
said. "The date is the greatest problem, as it conflicts with
Wilton, Father's Day and, in general, people's minds are far from
home decorating or collecting in June when golf courses and
summer homes and kids call."
In addition to the preview party, special programs for this
year's show included a Designers' Choice House Tour on Friday
featuring five homes and a Saturday Night Spaces, a cocktail
event on April 26, that pitted four architect/designers and their
creative skills against one another under a 90-minute time
constraint to transform an empty space on the show floor into
unique vignettes using selected antiques and accessories from the
dealers' booths. "This was a terrific idea," said Keene of Wayne
Pratt. "It was very clever and drew a lot of young people."
"We were trying to show that antiques are fun, and that you can
use them in your home," said show co-chair Nelson.
Some dealers were less sanguine about events that seem tangential
to actually selling antiques. Said one: "I think the future of
the show will be based on the participation of decorators and
their interests, not as a show of antiquarians."
The quality of the show itself, however, was summed up by Jeff
Bridgman of Historic York County, Penn., as offering "much that
appeals to the discriminating high-country collector."
"It was a stunning and interesting show," agreed Cooley. "The new
layout was a great success and the innovative programs
worthwhile." Cooley said that he sold a "lovely watercolor by
Fidelia Bridges [1834-1923] to a delightful, thoughtful
collector."
Among the show's new dealers, Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems,
Woodbury, Conn., who specialize in Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Century Scandinavian and northern European antiques, brought a
Nineteenth Century Finnish step back cupboard dated 1844, in
original paint and with a replacement lock on the door. They also
showed a Nineteenth Century Finnish Rocco rust painted two-door
armoire and a Nineteenth Century Finnish painted document box
circa 1837. Smalls included copper molds and wooden cheese molds,
baskets and bowls.
Quester Gallery, Stonington and Greenwich, Conn.
Also at the Southport-Westport show for the first time were
Melinda and Lazlo Zongor, Bedford, Penn., who deal primarily in
coverlets and other early American textiles. Highlights of the
Zongors' offerings included a coverlet by the New York weaver
James Cunningham featuring George Washington on horseback and the
New York state seal in the corner block. The rare red and white
version on display was perhaps one of only two others that are
known to exist.
"Among other things, I was pleased to sell several copies of my
book, Coverlets and the Spirit of America," said Melinda
Zongor. "Since this was our first time at this show, our
material, coverlets, is new to this audience. We were gratified
by the genuine and strong interest in them."
Their first time exhibiting at Southport-Westport, Stuart and
Audrey Peckner of N.P. Trent, West Palm Beach, Fla., deemed it a
"successful show," considering the economy and the fact that they
were exhibiting continental furniture. "We sold on opening an
important Charles X formal étagère as well as a Directoire dining
table," said Stuart Peckner. "I was impressed with how hard the
council and committee worked to try and create a selling
atmosphere."
"Considering the markets over the past 24 months, the gate was
not thrilling but was on par with many other antiques shows,"
said Charles and Rebekah Clark, Woodbury, Conn. "People seem to
be taking their time considering purchases. We anticipate
follow-up sales in the coming weeks." The Clarks believe that
price points seem to be the current preoccupation.
"People expect prices to be lower in the current economic
condition even though costs -- inventory, booth rent, fuel,
labor, materials, etc -- have risen," they said. Bringing a
Regency sinumbra to the show along with a classical bookcase
secretary and other American furniture and accessories of the
classical period, the Clarks sold lighting to a customer who had
purchased lighting from them last year.
Bridgman observed that even if the gates seemed smaller, "I find
that the people who come are serious - both last year and this
year." What differed this year, added Bridgman, was that last
year he sold almost entirely flags. "This year I sold across the
board," he said. "I sold many flags, but folk art, furniture and
a great Amish quilt contributed to half or more of my sales. I
was extremely pleased, and I definitely topped last year's
sales."
Bridgman sold a very unusual, late Nineteenth Century, cast-iron
caribou head with an ornate oval back plate that was decorated
with grape vines. "It had white paint with an exceptional
surface," said Bridgman. "I also sold a wonderful, yellow paint
decorated flour chest with a lift-top lid over two doors. I am
particularly fond of this form, which is uniquely Pennsylvania."
A large green majolica lizard coolly eyed visitors at the booth
of Charles L. Washburne, Chappaqua, N.Y., and a larger-than-life
grasshopper poised for a leap beyond the glass case that
contained him and hundreds of other colorful majolica pieces. The
lizard was later to be seen basking in the spotlight of the
Saturday Night Spaces designed competition as evidenced by the
tag affixed to his tail.
Like the lizard, a graceful Chinese Tan dynasty horse from the
Eighth Century was marked with a tag at Vallin Galleries, Wilton,
Conn., during the preview party, indicating that it would figure
into the Saturday Night Spaces design-off. Peter Rosenburg,
owner, said he has been bringing his Chinese and Asian art and
antiques to the Southport-Westport show for eight to ten years.
Other highlights in his booth were a Japanese painting on paper
of China geese done in the Nineteenth Century, a Chinese lady's
Ming dragon court robe of the late Fourteenth Century embroidered
with fanciful golden dragons against a bright red cloth, and an
extremely rare Chinese export bureau in elm burl with rosewood
and ivory inlay, circa 1820. A globelike Chinese perfumer with
internal gimbal crafted of pure silver in the Eighth Century was
so delicate that it had to be opened carefully lest it became
deformed.
Anyone wanting to conduct some quick research on just about
anything displayed at the show could duck into F. Russack Books,
Inc, Danville, N.H. Owner Rick Russack, who said it was his fifth
year at the show, pointed out an interesting find, a book
published in 1955 titled Susan's Teeth And Much About
Scrimshaw. "This is a very rare book," said Russack, "I've
only seen one other." The book, privately published by Everett
Crosby, provides details about and depicts the whale's teeth
carved by sailors.
Furniture, ceramics, Chinese export, folk art, Eskimo and Indian
art were also among the many categories covered at Russack's
booth.
DiSaia of Oriental Rugs Ltd, brought a large selection of antique
oriental carpets, among them a 3-foot 5-inch by 2-foot 2-inch
antique Daghestan prayer rug, circa 1880, that had been
beautifully preserved and a 7-foot by 12-foot Sennehkurd/Malayer,
circa 1930, that was woven with a rare combination of colors -
shades of coral, green, yellow and light blue.
She sold an antique Gendge Kazak, which was "perhaps one of the
most interesting I have ever had. It had brilliant color in
diagonal stripes and was in fabulous condition. It sold to
someone who just loved it and found a spot for it." DiSaia also
sold a very small, but interesting Anatolian Yastic, "again to
someone who just loved it and bought it. No taking it home to try
it. That is a rare thing in this market."
At Southport-Westport for her fourth year, Norma Chick of Autumn
Pond Antiques, Woodbury, Conn., filled her booth with furniture,
delftware, paintings and folk art. A "Portrait of a Young Girl
with Her Doll," American, circa 1930, gazed wistfully amid an
exuberant collection of vanes, including a J. Fiske trotting
horse from the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, an
American scroll and arrow, circa 1860, a copper rooster, a
gamecock and an Ethan Allen horse vane.
While pundits have labeled the ostrich as the "national bird" of
France following the cross-Atlantic chill between the United
States and its gallic ally, a more heroic French Nineteenth
Century cast-iron eagle stretched its wings on a rocky outcrop at
The Finnegan Gallery, Chicago. Chockfull of American, French and
English garden furniture, architectural items and accessories,
Finnegan also displayed a pair of turn-of-the-century French
wrought iron tables with marble tops and an unusual pair of
French faux bois "standing mushrooms" fashioned in the 1920s in
the rustic style of the late Nineteenth Century.
Fine early silver and period furniture were represented at
Anthony Scornavacco, Gem Lake, Minn., including a French step
back cupboard, circa 1790, an English three-part dining table,
circa 1800, shown with a set of ten English Regency chairs, and
an old Sheffield plated candelabra suite comprising four
candlesticks and a pair of candelabra arms, circ 1820. A large
Belgian tapestry, circa 1700, hung on the booth's center wall.
There was much to meet the discerning eye at Wayne Pratt, Inc,
Woodbury, Conn., including a Boston block front kneehole bureau
table, circa 1760-80, that, according to Pratt, exhibited a
wonderful surface and original brasses. A rare Chippendale carved
cherry bonnet-top desk and bookcase, attributed to Benjamin
Buckham (1737-1773) or Samuel Loomis (1784-1814) was also on
display. "We sold a couple of tall pieces and chest of drawers,"
reported Keene. "A lot of our clients were there, and we met new
people at the show and preview."
American furniture and accessories up to circa 1820 is the focus
of Janice F. Strauss American Antiques, South Salem, N.Y., and
that was evident by the American tall chest in ruddy maple and
Boston Queen Anne desk on display. The tall chest, probably South
Shore, Mass., circa 1770, featured six graduated drawers, the top
one simulating three. Its center carved fan disguised a secret
wooden lock. The desk, circa 1735-50, made of mahogany and the
interior featuring the protruding and stepped ends typical of the
William and Mary period, exhibited serpentine shaping
incorporated into both the vertical and horizontal dividers along
with blocked drawers. A seven-year Southport-Westport show
veteran, Strauss also brought an American teakettle with the
maker's name on the handle -- John W. Schlosser, a coppersmith
born in 1785.
Cecelia B. Williams, New Market, Md.
Attending the show for their second year, Kathleen and Roger
Haller of Silver Plus, New York City, specialize in English
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century silver. Among the wide array of
items on display were several silver antique pieces by Hester
Bateman, whose hallmark was simple but elegant bright cut
decoration. The display case showed a Bateman goblet made in
1779, a cream boat fashioned in 1785, a cream jug crafted in 1786
and a caster created in 1787.
Steve Shapiro of SAJE Americana, Short Hills, N.J., said he has
been a Southport-Westport show dealer for the past seven years
and is very sorry that the show is moving to a new venue and will
take place in June next year. "It forces us to choose," he said,
referring to the conflicting Wilton outdoor show. Shapiro was
showing a bird's-eye maple and mahogany four-drawer Hepplewhite
chest with an inlaid top edge and inlaid band above the high
flared French feet.
Above a Maine dressing table, circa 1820, in original paint and
stencil was an oil on canvas likeness of little Mary Barker from
Portland, Maine, who, 8 years old when her portrait was painted
in 1844, posed with an accordion and flowers. Shapiro quipped
that the girl's nose was turned up from the smell of the cheeses
wafting from a luxuriously provisioned hors d'oeuvres table next
to his booth during the preview party.
