A carved gilt figure,
possibly John Brown, with mid-Nineteenth Century flag rail at
Peter Curran Antiques and Appraisals.
By W.A. Demers
GOSHEN, CONN. - Blustery winds blew into the building on preview
night, but this year's edition of the Litchfield County Antiques
Show at the Goshen Fairgrounds on May 17-18 featured none of the
shocking Saturday morning snowfall that greeted showgoers the
previous year.
"It was still cold on Saturday morning this year," reported Karen
DiSaia, liaison for the Antiques Council and show manager, "but
it warmed up by 2 pm."
More important, the wintry gusts failed to seriously disturb the
balance of this show that has come to represent one that indeed
offers something for everyone. As the Saturday chill was
dispelled by a warming sun and bright blue skies over Litchfield,
weekend antiquers could count on finding a diverse representation
of merchandise among the 40 dealers set up in two adjoining
buildings at the fairgrounds.
The annual fundraiser, in its fourth year, benefits Greenwoods
Counseling Services, Inc, which provides personalized and
confidential counseling, support and guidance to people living
and working in Litchfield County.
As he did last year, Peter Tillou again provided a lively
walk-through tour of the show prior to the 6:30 pm preview
opening. "Peter was wonderful, and did a very even-handed job of
highlighting each of the dealer's booths," said DiSaia. Tillou
acknowledged that his now wide-ranging interest and expertise in
antiques began at the age of 12, "with one field leading to
another."
Other special events during the weekend included a special loan
exhibit of dealers' favorite pieces from their personal
collections, a discussion on Saturday with Tillou and David
Schorsch on "The Universal Experience of Folk Art," and a series
of booth chats Saturday and Sunday that examined topics such as
English long-case clocks, the Anglo-Indian tradition in colonial
trade, slip and glazed American redware and Seventeenth and
Eighteenth Century Delft tiles.
The booth of Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Litchfield, Conn., greeted
visitors in the smaller of the two adjoining exhibition areas.
Among items on display was a "Portrait of a Young Boy with a
Whip," an oil on canvas by G.B. Baldwin, 1841 that had been
deaccessioned from the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Tillou also
showed American Indian beaded work, including a sinew-sewn
beadwork Sioux vest, circa 1880-90, and a Chippewa bandolier
beadwork bag with pictorial images of birds, great Lakes, circa
1890.
Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Litchfield, Conn., displayed "Portrait
of a Young Boy with a Whip" by G.B. Baldwin, 1841, oil on
canvas, deaccessioned from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Getting keen interest at Thomas Schwenke, Woodbury, Conn., was a
George III mahogany architect's desk or table with two drawers,
side leaves and a marvelous hinged top that could achieve a
seemingly endless series of height and angle permutations.
Stephan H. Garner of Yarmouthport, Mass., had among the items in
his booth a Georgian mahogany two-pedestal dining table and a set
of eight William IV mahogany dining chairs with carved top rails
and reed saber legs from England, circa 1840.
A solid selection of American furniture was displayed at
first-time show dealers John and Robin Sittig of
Shawnee-on-Delaware, Penn., including a Pennsylvania original
stenciled child's rocking chair, circa 1860, and a whimsical
spinning wheel rocking chair in original surface, circa 1900.
Also at the Litchfield show for the first time, McTeigue and
McClelland Jewelers, Great Barrington, Mass., offered an Art Deco
platinum diamond and emerald bracelet and an Edwardian platinum
diamond and cabochon sapphire bracelet among other items. "We
were really quite happy with the attendance -- especially at our
booth," said Ellen Ring. "We made sales at the opening on Friday
night, as well as both Saturday and Sunday and felt the show was
well attended." Ring said they sold Art Nouveau pins and a 1940s
yellow and white gold bracelet. "We are still working on my
favorite, a stunning Edwardian platinum and diamond pendant and a
platinum and diamond engagement ring," said Ring. Ring added that
the only drawback was that, due to the security issues dealing
with jewelry, they were unable to attend the dealer dinners and
socialize with the other dealers. "We certainly need to figure
out a way to change that for the future so that we can mingle,
which is part of the fun," said Ring.
"High quality, beautiful show," said Elaine LaRoche of Passports,
Salisbury, Conn. The fact that she was the only garden dealer at
the show put her in the catbird seat and she clearly enjoyed that
perspective. Outdoors enthusiasts could find everything from a
Nineteenth Century gated arbor of wrought iron from New York
state, a mid-Twentieth Century American cast stone statue of
Venus, cast-iron urns, to stone putti and a variety of
architectural elements. "We sold a large -- almost six-foot-long
-- birdhouse made and signed by J. Leach in the form of a replica
of an existing admiral's house in Annapolis, Md.," said LaRoche.
Majolica hounds could find a treasure trove of the colorful
pottery at the booth of Charles L. Washburne Antiques, Chappaqua,
N.Y. "The setting is incredible," offered Washburne, who said he
was making new good contacts as well as seeing old customers at
the show. Two yellow oyster plates from England, circa 1870, a
pair of TCBW Moore cobalt covered urns, also from England, circa
1865, and a rare plate from France featuring frogs, circa 1880,
were among the lively examples being shown.
At Litchfield for the second year, Cunha-St John Antiques, Essex,
Mass., said they first heard of the show from other council
members and fit it into their 12 shows a year schedule. They had
brought a fine China Trade paint decorated, brass bound leather,
carved camphor wood trunk with court scenes on a light red
background, circa 1825-50. Also getting a great deal of interest
was a George III mahogany porter's chair from England, circa
1760.
A corner cupboard from Hackensack, N.J., circa 1790-1810, and a
mahogany and bird's-eye maple Boston chest of drawers, circa
1810, were among the furniture shown in the booth of Saje
American of Short Hills, N.J. Also on view were an oil on canvas
of the Mary Powell, signed "Anderson 1917," and a pair of
iron ember tongs from England, circa 1760.
Christine Crossman Vining, Marblehead, Mass.
Joan R. Brownstein, Rye Beach, N.H., offered American furniture,
highlighted by a pair of paint decorated arrow back Windsor side
chairs featuring townscapes from Worcester, Mass., similar to
chairs in the American Folk Art Museum, circa 1810-1825, in "as
found" condition. Schoolgirl items, including a watercolor and
pen on paper drawing, were also on view.
Terry and Angela Brinton of Racine, Wisc., brought Nineteenth
Century furniture and accessories, including an all-original
Buddy L bus that exhibited no restoration, retained its original
labels and was just missing a door handle. The generously sized
toy was sturdily built and could be steered by means of two
outside mounted "spare" wheels. This was the Brintons' first year
at the show. Angela Brinton said she was impressed by the turnout
on preview night and by the guided tour given by Tillou to
familiarize early buyers with the dealers. "We thought the Friday
night crowd was large, knowledgeable and enthusiastic," said
Brinton. "Peter Tillou's tour was very helpful to us." She said
the most interesting item they sold was a whale's ear, which went
to a woman who lives on the coast and collects whaling items.
DiSaia said she remains upbeat about the show despite the fact
that it attracted moderate attendance. "Even the dealers who
didn't do particularly well attributed it to the economy, not the
show and said they will be back next year," she said.
