: - There are two factors that measure the success of an outdoor
show. The first one is uncontrollable, the weather. The second is
controllable, the level of antiques offered by the exhibitors.
Let's consider the first as it pertains to Antiques at Hildene,
the September 27 outdoor show, or flea market as they were once
called back in the days of Russell Carrell, Betty Forbes, Fran
Phipps and a host of other managers. Dark clouds threatened
during a portion of the day, but for the most part it was sunny
day, nice and warm, on the meadowland section of the Hildene
estate.
Enter the wind, and it certainly did make its presence known,
especially to those who did not firmly anchor the tent flaps. In
one case a dealer had driven iron rods well into the ground and
secured his tent pins to them with duck tape. Some dealers did not
show pictures and samplers for fear of them blowing off the hooks,
and others displayed large platters and plates flat on tables
rather than on the conventional stands. Several pieces of glass or
china fell victim to a wind gust, but most of the dealers coped
with the conditions and took the necessary safeguards.
Now the controllable portion, the dealers and their inventories.
There were lots of nice things there to buy including period
furniture such a set of Queen Anne chairs in cherry wood, a New
England tall chest in maple, an early slant front desk and any
number of tavern tables. There was an ample amount of stoneware,
a selection of doorstops including a rare lighthouse example and
glass from many periods.
According to Linda Turner of Forbes and Turner Antiques Shows,
most of the dealers did business. "After the show I received
about ten emails from exhibitors who wanted to tell me they had
good sales at Hildene, and I have never heard from that many
before," Linda said. She called Hildene a "typical outdoor show"
and noted the gate was steady all day. The show benefited, of
course, from the VADA Show in town the same day and shared part
of that audience.
Hildene in the fall has about 60 exhibitors, "but that number is
much greater for the Hildene show in the summer," Linda said. The
summer show alternates with the Dorset outdoor market that was
staged this year, so 2004 will have two Hildene shows on the
calendar.
According to management, Hildene went very well. "You know when
we are planning an outdoor show, we always pray for no rain. This
time I forgot to include the wind," Linda said.
