Daphne Mruz, Saratoga
Springs, N.Y.
By Tom O'Hara
RHINEBECK, N.Y. - New York State between the Hudson River and the
New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont has
historically been isolated by the river on the west and the
Taconic Mountains on the east, as well as Seventeenth and
Eighteenth Century politics creating a separate environment from
its neighbors. The geography made travel difficult and politics
made the people not want to mix. As such, the economic flow from
that 50-mile-wide by 200- mile-long strip was usually south to
New York City.
This history continues today making it an area for New York City
people to travel north for weekend homes, vacations or just
outings. And that makes it a natural for antiques shows.
Rhinebeck in Dutchess County is about 100 miles north of the city
and has been host to many very popular antiques shows at the
county fairgrounds. The Rhinebeck Antiques Fair has been at full
capacity for many years with no facility for any more dealers to
enter.
John and Tina Bruno, owners of Flamingo Promotions, have been
producing shows in New York and New England for some time and
last year had a show in neighboring Hyde Park in early May. Not
long after that show they decided to use the facility again, but
on the same dates as the original Rhinebeck show, May 23-25.
Olcutt Square Antiques, Basking Ridge, N.J.
Finding enough dealers was easy. So many had been told the other
show was full, dealers were anxious to offer their antiques in
that market. The facility, St James Church Hall and outdoors on
the Great Lawn, was cooperative and easy to find; ten miles south
of Rhinebeck and across from Vanderbilt's mansion on Route 9. And
the promoters made no excuses for it, calling it "." Not
necessarily original, but it worked.
Tina devoted time to finding dealers with quality antiques for
this event. It was not to be a flea market or low-end antiques.
Granted it was not as pretty as an indoor event, but the antiques
for a first-time show were good.
Bill and Kay Pachstein were in practically the first booth at the
entry. Both lovers of early American painted furniture, their 20-
by 20-foot tent was full at the Friday opening. During the winter
months they produce shows in Florida, perhaps to buy antiques as
much as anything else, but they are natives of Ohio where they
developed their taste in antiques. On display were numerous early
wooden buckets and firkins in milk (aka buttermilk) paint.
Rebecca and Robert Nicholas came up from Atlanta with a tent full
of primitive furniture and architectural pieces. Susan Bates,
Townsend, Mass., offered mostly textiles, while Chimney Corner
Antiques, Newburyport, Mass., showed small objects. Daphne Mruz
(ask her how to pronounce it) came down from Saratoga Springs
with an early iron chandelier, ten lights, which sold early and
an early Jacobean carved blanket chest.
Only in the business for a year, Platypus Antiques came up from
Dix Hills, Long Island. Owner David Nelz had a pair of birdcage
Windsor side chairs in yellow paint, a Queen Anne tea table and
many small accessories from the Seventeenth and Eighteenth
Centuries. Steve and Lisa Fisch, on the other hand, had a big
rental truck filled with furniture of several periods. They sold
an Art Deco bedroom suite, a Shakerlike early corner cupboard and
a French dresser, each of serious value.
Lynda Ziegler, Epping, N.H.
Jessica Pack and Glen Lucia, Chapel Hill, N.C., dealt in small
items, especially colorful dishes including majolica. So did
Marvin and Leslie Wies of Baltimore. There were three small
stands in Lynda Ziegler's tent; a spider legged candle stand, a
Hepplewhite stand with two drawers and a French Louis XVI sewing
stand.
Inside the church hall Geoff Jackson from England, now living in
Pennsylvania, had his transfer ware and English porcelain dishes.
Susan Curran-Wright, Garner, N.C., offered textiles and pillows
covered in vintage textiles. Bob Hartman, Burke, Va., had a good
supply of early country furniture including an interesting tall
cupboard, two six-light doors on top, two drawers and panel doors
below.
Tina has already booked the event for next May and hopes to
expand with more dealers of good antiques. She and John also
produce many Long Island shows and two in New Hampshire during
Antiques Week. New England Antiques Festival is at the Hopkington
(N.H.) Fairgrounds, August 1-3, and Start of Manchester at the
JFK Ice Rink, August 5-6. They can be reached at 631-261-4590;
email: flamingoshows@aol.com; website: flamingoshows.com.
