: The June Bridgehampton Summer Antique Show was conducted at the
Community House on June 19-20. Produced by South Bay Auctions,
Inc, there were about 35 dealers with a wide range of antiques
from American formal and country to English and European to Asian
and rugs.
The show's history includes about 15 years under the management
of local dealers Morgan MacWhinnie and Jean Lauer. South Bay
Auctions took over about five years ago, continuing the long
tradition of offering a very wide variety of antiques from
dealers who are primarily in the greater New York area
South Bay Auctions, Inc has been an auction company for more than
20 years. It is headquartered in East Mo-riches, a little west of
Bridgehampton, or, as it is often referred to in the area, "West
of the bridge," a bridge over the Shinnecock Canal that has come
to symbolize the separation between the Hamptons and the rest of
the world. This is largely due to the driving and roads in the
area, as east of the bridge there are mostly two lanes, slow
traffic, stoplights, etc, and west of it, there are four lanes,
divided roadways and no lights, so driving is faster.
Isette Talpe and Henry Broggi began their business while still
teaching school in Bridgehampton. Broggi said his school once had
a charity auction and he was drafted into becoming the
auctioneer. He liked doing it and seemed to be good getting the
stuff sold. Talpe had been involved with antiques since the late
1960s, first as a collector for her own home then as a dealer
doing shows, including Hartford and some for Russell Carrell.
Together they took the next step, opening their own auction
house, which has been very successful.
R.S. Kissam, Northport, N.Y.
As often happens with any successful business, they were able
to look at other avenues, and when the Bridgehampton shows were
offered, they took over. Now their son, Jean Paul Napoli, has
joined them and is working to eventually take charge of the
business.
Bridgehampton Community House was built in 1921 and dedicated in
1923 as a facility to fill the local needs for a meeting place,
according to Julie Greene, state archivist on Long Island
collections. It is used for meetings, exhibits, sales and
antiques shows. South Bay has two in the building, using the main
floor and a lower level to accommodate about 22 exhibiting
dealers.
Guarding the entrance was a pair of cast stone lions priced at
$4,000. Just behind them was Portsmouth, R.I.-based Web and Jill
and Wilson's LooLoo Design, with an extensive collection of
Nineteenth Century door hardware. Wilson has recently released
his book, a price guide on early hardware; copies were available
at the show.
Jim Campbell was offering a collection for an antique bedroom,
including a mahogany bed, a Federal period chest of drawers with
glove box drawers, some early rugs and coverlets. William
Grotheer had some early Chinese export dishes, which were housed
in small tables of Chippendale style along with an extensive
collection of small antiques from his shop. Grotheer and Campbell
are from Huntington, N.Y., and work together along with R.S.
(Toby) Kissam of Northport, N.Y., as volunteers producing one
show each in the winter in their home area of Greenlawn,
Northport and Lloyd Harbor. Kissam was also set up here with his
specialty, early maps and nautical charts, especially of the
area.
Patricia Barger, Fairfield, Conn., can be found at better shows
throughout the East. She offered a Duncan Phyfe-style sofa in
excellent condition, a mahogany Chippendale secretary desk, a
Governor Winthrop-style desk and her specialty, several tall-case
clocks. Sally Orent, Ltd, Bayshore, N.Y., had a large assortment
of Oriental accessories. Brooklyn, N.Y., dealer Victoria's
Antique Quilts was there, with quilts, and Giovanelli Fine Arts,
New York City, had fine art.
Show co-founder Jean Lauer had a small display with a showcase
filled with early porcelain in addition to some furniture. Morgan
MacWhinnie, the other co-founder, is primarily a furniture dealer
offering American furniture from colonial to Revolutionary
periods. He had a particularly sweet child's chair, circa 1775,
in old paint with a splint seat and priced at $850.
South Bay Auctions' display at the show.
Probably the single most exciting piece at the show was an
Alexander Calder bronze sculpture from 1968. According to dealer
Dean Yoder, "Calder actually did the sculptures in the 1940s and
early 1950s, a total of 18 mobiles. He put them away for some
years, then in 1968, he took them all to a foundry in upstate New
York where they were cast in bronze, only six of each, all numbered
and signed for authentication. Our piece, 'A Woman Seated,' is five
pieces carefully balanced to sit gracefully and we have the full
history and authentication." Yoder had it priced at $195,000 and
entered into an agreement to sell it at this show.
South Bay Auctions had two exhibits on the lower level. The first
was of antiques for sale at the show and it included a hutch
table, which sold, and other early American furniture. The second
display was a preview of the July 3 auction that was to be
conducted at its East Moriches Gallery.
South Bay Auctions' next show is again at the Bridgehampton
Community House, Route 27, also known as Montauk Highway,
Friday-Sunday, August 13-15. For information, 631-878-2909 or .
