Antiques at the Armory

NEW YORK CITY

:"Wow, biggest opening gate ever here at the armory," the security guard at the front of the show said as Stella's Antiques at the Armory opened at 11 am on Friday, January 21. Most of the people waiting to get into the show were presold, but the line still extended across the lobby and went down the stairs ending up somewhere in the vicinity of the restrooms. Another line formed by those who were in line for tickets, and it took the best part of a half hour to get everyone onto the floor.

Those who attended on opening day, and the two that followed, were treated to a show with variety, a mix that ranged from folk art to Mission, and from Queen Anne to Classical. Everything in between was there, all staged attractively by a selection of dealers who were there to please.

"It went really well and I think that some of the people who generally visit our show Saturday came out on Friday due to the prediction of the snow storm," Leanne Stella said. She added, "It was our best Friday ever and we were just under 2,000 visitors."

Leanne helped out at the armory show during the middle of the week, and then turned her attention to Antiques at the Piers, Stella's second show running during Americana Week in New York City. That show ran on two piers during Saturday and Sunday. In her absence Michele Osward, a member of the Stella staff, kept the Armory humming and fine tuned. "Even with the snow we did not really have any major problems," she said. Because of the weather, the game plan called for bringing many of the dealer's trucks into the loading zone at the armory, thus preventing the area from being filled with snow. Pathways were cleared by Sunday pack-out and everyone was gone by 11 pm except for 22 dealers who elected to move out and depart on Monday. By the way, Michele will be taking a break from Stella Management duties shortly as she is expecting in March.

Upon entering the show it was impossible to miss the large pair of cast iron lions standing in the booth of Thurston Nichols American Antiques of Breinigsville, Penn. "They were cast in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, only four are known, and they weigh in a about 1,000 pounds each," Thurston said. They were cast by Robert Wood & Co., Philadelphia, and each measures 68 inches high and 52 inches long. The pair stood in front of a large oil on canvas showing the Verrazano Narrows of the Hudson River, with view of New York City. This work measured 10 by 6 feet, American, and dated from the late Nineteenth Century. One of the first visitors to the show was quick to buy an American origin dollhouse cupboard, two doors with cutout windows. The interior consisted of four rooms, each with a fireplace, circa 1840.

The Finnegan Gallery of Chicago had an attractive display of garden elements, a pleasant reminder that spring will be coming in spite of the freezing weather outside at the moment. Standing watch from the left corner of the booth was a large cast iron eagle, late Nineteenth Century, measuring 25 inches high and with a 30-inch wingspan. The eagle, standing on a rock and clutching a snake in its talons, was originally found in Belgium. French garden antiques are rapidly making their way into this country, as witnessed by a pair of large cast iron urns, Nineteenth Century, with entwined snake handles. Each urn was 19 inches high, 26 inches in diameter and 32 inches wide across the handles.

"I am glad to see so many people here on opening day as everyone really seems concerned with the predicted snow storm," Frederick I. Thaler of Cornwall Bridge, Conn., said. "When you come from my section of Connecticut, six inches of show is just slightly more than a dusting." Fred tried to remind visitors that better things are coming with his oil on canvas, 30 by 40 inches, by Leonard Ochtman (1854-1934) titled "Spring Thaw." Warmer weather was also evident in an oil on canvas summer landscape by George Inness measuring 15 by 121/2 inches. In addition to his gallery look, he also brings a few pieces of furniture including this time a turtle top one-drawer stand, circa 1810, from New Hampshire.

Many of the people who wandered into the booth of Kembles American Antiques of Norwich, Ohio, could not resist placing a hand on or just giving a pat to the life-size carved wood and paint decorated Newfoundland standing at the front of the booth. This dog, full-bodied, was carved to be used as a carousel figure, but was never put to that use. When found, it had made its way down to Maine. Attracting attention was a fine dwarf-case eight-day clock by L. Hutchins of Concord, N.H. It dated 1810, was in excellent condition, and retained the original paint decoration. It was shown next to an American Federal flame grain mahogany sideboard, probably from Philadelphia, circa 1810, measuring 50 inches wide, 46 inches high and 20 inches deep.

Where there are many flags, there is also Jeff Bridgman of Dillsburg, Penn. Among the rare examples displayed this time was a 38-star flag with the stars in a wreath pattern. "It was probably made for the celebration of our nation's independence in 1876," Jeff said. A sold ticket was attached to a carnival race game consisting of 16 carved running horses, with riders, painted and numbered, and newly mounted on stands. They dated 1890-1920 and made an impressive display stretched out as if in a race on a narrow shelf against the back wall. "Could have sold those several times," Jeff said.

"I have been selling some chalkware, several pieces of pottery, a paintings and have had lots of interest in several things. I expect some of the things that have received lots of attention will sell," Sidney Gecker of New York City said. On a panel right at the front of his booth Sidney had hung a large oil on canvas portrait of a girl in a pink dress holding a red book, American School, circa 1890, measuring 52 by 28 inches. The provenance listed two very well-known dealers, Judy Lennett and Avis and Rocky Gardiner. Sidney always has a display of weathervanes and at the armory showed a large copper rooster, Gilmanton Iron Works, Rochester, N.Y., circa 1865, 291/2 by 311/2 inches, and a wood and iron grasshopper dating from the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. It measures 31 inches long and the maker is unknown.

An articulated mannequin from Italy, complete with a straw hat, life size, was standing around in the booth of Stevens Antiques of Frazer, Penn. Nearby a carved wood figure of a Turk, painted surface, sported a red sold ticket, and taller than the side wall was an nine-foot-high shoe shop trade sign, white letters on blue, with a shoe illustrated at the top.

R.T. Facts of Kent, Conn., had a booth filled with many heavy architecture objects including a wonderful pair of reclining dogs, Labrador retrievers, dating from the mid Nineteenth Century. A cast resin figure of a pig was one of the figures sold off after the demise of The Great Danbury State Fair, and a Nineteenth Century lion was from the Atlanta Terra Cotta Co. Against the back wall hung a large bronze wreath, neoclassical, Continental and dating from the Nineteenth Century, and shown in the middle of the booth was a pair of cast zinc griffins, circa 1880, stamped Fiske. "Funny way things happen in the business," Greg Randall said, "I had just gotten these griffins ready for the show and I was able to buy another pair."

The right side of the booth of Port 'N Starboard, Falmouth, Maine, was set off by a fine pair of paintings in oval frames by George Clough (1824-1901). One showed a scene near Glen Cove, L.I., oil on canvas, 22 by 30 inches, unsigned, while the other view was of the Delaware River Gap, oil on canvas, 22 by 33 inches, signed G.L. Clough, 1866. The schooner yacht Maria was pictured in a 1861 oil on canvas, signed lower left by C. Freitag (American, 1845-1894). The Maria was an icon of American yachting.

Carlson and Stevenson of Manchester Center, Vt., had a very interesting set of six whirligigs dating circa 1920s made by Albert Ferinard Beverscorf of Chicago, a German immigrant and maker of violins. Each had a bird attached and they were being sold as a group. And, as usual, this booth was literally plastered with small framed watercolors. How long does it take to arrange such a booth? "Two days and lots of measuring," Timothy said. The largest work hung on the walls was a rebus Valentine, watermarked 1845, found in New England and probably American, watercolor, ink and cut paper measuring 25 inches square.

"We have a wonderful selection of posters this time, and some very rare ones such as the 1930 New York World's Fair in the small size, 27 by 381/2 inches," Nancy Steinbock of Newton, Mass., said. She indicated that people had bought posters related to travel, WWII, cycling, wine, literature and ship racing. "They also seem to interested in ones depicting skiing and the WPA ones are always popular," Nancy said. One of her favorite posters is the Aristo Duck, 50 inches tall, adding, "That duck is so wonderful he could sell anything."

The booth of Powderhouse Antiques of New York City was filled with many objects of French origin, including a cute puppet, a display case for seeds, a child's ball-toss game and a pair of polychromed candleholders dating from the Eighteenth Century. Bob Withington of York, Maine, was one of the many exhibitors enjoying lots of selling on the first day. "It has been busy and I have sold two mirrors, a coat rack, pictures, a four-candle chandelier and a sofa that does not have to be delivered," Bob said. A carved limestone sculpture of a mother and child, New Hampshire, circa 1920, was displayed at the front of the booth.

Also having a selling spree was Brennan & Mouilleseaux Antiques of Litchfield, Conn. Red tags hung from a set of four 1950-60 modern French side chairs, a pair of large mirrors, Eighteenth Century frames and an American gilt frame of large size, a cement table base with dolphin supports and a mirrored commode.

"We have more Clarice Cliff Art Deco pieces than you will find in any shop in England," Constance Aranosian of CARA Antiques, Langhorne, Penn., said. And her husband, Richard, was quick to point out their penguin vase, Boch Freres Keramis, very similar to the examples sold recently at auction. "Rago got over $8,000 for one, while Skinner did well with a 14-inch example. Ours measures 10 inches tall, is in perfect condition and tagged far less."

American furniture, paintings and a few weathervanes filled the booth of George and Debbie Spiecker of North Hampton, N.H. An American flame birch chest-on-chest, old surface, circa 1780, measured 6 feet 1 inch tall, and was shown next to an American Hepplewhite card table in mahogany, circa 1795, rectangular top with ovoid corners, from the North Shore, Mass. A banner weathervane was shown on top of a Queen Anne lowboy in mahogany, Salem, Mass., with drop finial and pad feet. There are some furniture shoppers who want to see every part of a chest of drawers, and George is quick to oblige. At one point he was down on all fours beside a bow front chest that was tipped on its side. The four drawers had already passed inspection and were stacked to the side of the case.

Who would review this show by saying, "It's been lovely?" Marion Harris, of course, and she really meant it. "People who we have not seen for several years, and some who have not bought from me for ten years, have all been active today and I am having a lovely show," the Simsbury, Conn., dealer said. A life-size artist's mannequin was holding up a red sold tag, several from a grouping of architectural staircase models had been sold, too many smalls to remember, and a collection of figural bar bottles was ready to be shipped to California. "People seem to have lots of energy and are ready to spend," Marion said as she headed off to the refreshment area for a cold drink.

"Everyone I have talked to seems to be doing well," Joan Evans of Lambertville, N.J., said toward the end of opening day. Among her sales she listed a large cupboard, Swedish bench, a standing lamp and an Italian chair with paw feet.

"I always sell a good number of smalls at this show, and generally a couple of pieces of furniture," Judd Gregory of Dorset, Vt., said. As of the middle of the afternoon first day, the furniture had not moved, including a Queen Anne closed bonnet-top highboy in figured maple from Newport, R.I., circa 1750, cabriole legs, 81 inches tall and in excellent condition. "The smalls have been selling as usual, along with a full-length folk portrait and a pilot house eagle," Judd said. Probably one of the most interesting pieces in the show was his large copper elk that came off a public building in Red Wing, Minn. The elk had a large rack and the piece dated 1910-20.

Sandy Jacobs of Ringe, N.H., had lots of interest in a collection of large circus posters she had acquired. All of them were shown through pictures, due to their size, except for one that took up all but inches of the back wall of the booth. This banner depicted the "Swamp Girl," an oil on canvas measuring 7 feet 8 inches tall and 10 feet wide. A large framed eagle holding a banner reading "Liberty" and "Union" was constructed of sea shells, complete with a flower design border designed with hundreds of shells. It sold early on opening day, as did a large and heavy cast iron wall eagle with red painted surface. Several architectural pieces, a Deco lamp and a sofa were also sold. "I really did a different booth this time and just about everything I brought did not have an American origin. Probably the eagles are the only exceptions," Sandy said.

Mario Pollo of Bearsville, N.Y., had sold a number of pieces of furniture including an 1820 chest of drawers in tiger maple, turned columns on each side and a carved eagle backsplash. "It's been good for us, and I think most of the dealers around us are also have good shows," Mario said. He had a number of weathervanes, including two horses, two cows and one sheet iron Indian, and some of them sold.

Autumn Pond was again filled with tiles from Holland, Delft pieces, and five weathervanes when the show opened. Furniture included a Rhode Island tiger maple slant front desk, circa 1785, and a bronze fountain with the figure of a putti, European, was ready for water. A Maine origin came with a 5-foot-tall bee hive copper roof finial, green surface, circa 1880.

"It has been just like the old days, for about the first two hours, and I, for one, think it feels great," Eleanor Billet of New York City said. With her husband David, they had sold a French carved and painted wooden horse, a pair of green leather English armchairs, a faux bamboo cupboard, two metal planters, two wire French bread trolleys, painted chest of two over three drawers, green painted frames and glass beaded chandelier. "It is really a confirmation of your own taste and reward for the hours spent gathering things," Eleanor said.

From Boston, J.M.W. Gallery offered a booth filled with Arts and Crafts pieces and among the furniture was a nice Harden chair and rocker. Four drawings by Maud Hunt Squire (1873-1954) hung on the back wall and were probably calendar plates depicting places in New York City. Shown were the Hudson River, an East River park, the lake in Central Park and Canarsie.

"It's been good for us, as I think it has been for many of the dealers," Bruce Emond of Village Braider, Plymouth, Mass., said. One entire side wall was filled with cast heads and other doll parts that were once used in a Brooklyn, N.Y., factory to produce rubber dolls. A grouping a five wooden and white-painted finials was offered, along with two pairs of figural andirons, ducks and pine trees. Juan De Prey, a Puerto Rican-American artist, did a pair of colorful oil on canvas and both sold to the same buyer.

Holding down one of the front booths was A Bird In Hand, Florham park, N.J, with a pair of facing eagle on pedestals at the front of the display. These garden elements in cast cement came from a Connecticut estate, 1940s, and over the years the blue painted surface had aged to a glowing patina. Looking out over the booth were the man and woman sitters in a pair of New England portraits, oil on canvas, 1830, in the original grained frame. The artist was unknown. Philip Plaistridge, who lived in Winchester, N.H., was the artist behind an oil on canvas depicting two brook trout. The painting was titled "On." A wooden carved bear of good size, original paint, was found in St Francisville, La., and dates circa 1905.

Joan Bogart of Rockville Centre, N.Y., was again at the front of the show with a very mixed collection ranging from Classical pieces to a large garden fountain center by a boy holding a duck. This piece was by J.L. Mott Iron Works, New York City. A rosewood Rococo Revival lady's secretary, New York City, circa 1855, was possibly by Thomas Brooks. It measures 81 inches tall and has a shell-carved drawer in the front. Garden furniture included a set of four chairs and one settee with shell and seahorse backs and wood slat seats.

Once on the show circuit, and now back again, was Chris Jussel of Bedford, N.Y., host of the Antiques Roadshow for the first four years. "The last show I did was the Southport-Westport Antiques Show, and that was ten years ago," Chris said. Was he glad to be back in the role of an exhibitor? "Yes, it is very nice and a good number of my old customers showed up and bought," he said. "They should have showed up as I sent them a free ticket," he said with a smile. Among the things he had sold was an early painting that he bought some years ago from Frank Gaglio, some smalls, a nice sand painting and a sign that read "Without Men and Roosters, Cradles and Roosts Would Soon be Empty."

Stella Show Mgmt Co., was kept active in January with two major shows and this seems to be the same pattern it will be following in February. Another Pier Show with 400 exhibitors is set for February 12-13, and a return to the Lexington Avenue Armory will take place February 25-27 when the Modern Show moves in. Mark your calendars.