Arts and Crafts Conference in North Carolina Is a Sellout

ASHEVILLE, N.C.

:"It's the Arts and Crafts equivalent of the Winter Show," commented conference director Bruce Johnson as he surveyed the opening of the 18th Annual Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference. The historic Arts and Crafts-era resort provided the ideal setting for the conference conducted February 18-20. This year's three-day conference was a sellout, with 1,500 attendees and more than 2,000 tickets sold for the antiques and contemporary crafts show.

"Education of the Arts and Crafts collector has been the goal of the annual gathering since the beginning," said Mr Johnson, a former educator who conceptualized and founded the conference in 1988. The event is unique for its full range of offerings for the passionate collector and those interested in the Arts and Crafts period. The three-day agenda included lectures, small group discussions, special exhibitions, book exhibits, a contemporary crafts show and the finest of the antiques shows devoted to the Arts and Crafts period.

Dealers not only show their wares but also participate as lecturers and small group discussion leaders, generously sharing their knowledge with attendees, who range from entry level to mature collectors.

Cathers & Dembrosky of New York City was represented by Beth Cathers and Robert Kaplan, and they brought their usual stunning array of merchandise. "The show has been superior since the beginning and has never disappointed," stated Ms Cathers. "And there are always wonderful surprises in store," she continued. The firm brought some of the finest examples of early signed, original finish Gustav Stickley furniture, including a circa 1903 "knock-down" settle, an eight-legged sideboard, circa 1902 and a piano bench, also circa 1902.

Syracuse, N.Y., dealers David and Debbie Rudd of Dalton's American Decorative Art had a beautiful display of furniture, metalware and other decorative items of the period. "The best part about the show, for us, is seeing our customers from around the country," said Dave Rudd. Dalton's sold a wide variety of items, including a Gustav Stickley midsize drop arm spindle Morris chair priced at $14,000, a Limbert rectangular dining table with leaves for $9,500, a totally original Roycroft lamp with Steuben shade for $18,500 and two different Bertha Lum woodblock prints in the mid-$3,000 range.

Visitors always love to see the exciting new merchandise brought by Jean Bragg from New Orleans, La., who specializes in Newcomb College, some of the most sought-after pieces of the American art pottery period. In addition to selling a range of pottery pieces priced at $3,000-$14,000, Ms Bragg featured a number of rare sterling items. A Newcomb College sterling covered bowl sold for $6,500, a sterling ring for $1,500 and a sterling napkin ring for $450. Ms Bragg's customers were pleased to learn that she has just finished another reference book, Painting the Town, The Woodward Brothers Come to New Orleans, about two brothers important to the Newcomb Art School.

One of the benefits of full-conference participation is early entry to the antiques show on Saturday. Publisher and collector Stephen Gray was in attendance for the full conference and spent considerable and enjoyable time visiting with collector and dealer friends. "I had a chance to advise a number of friends about their purchases and to actually spot some gems for them," said Mr Gray, who has attended the Grove Park Inn conference year after year.

A preconference event, the annual benefit dinner for The Craftsman Farms Foundation, was a highlight of the conference. The evening gives the Stickley Museum, once the family home of Gustav Stickley in Morris Plains, N.J., a chance to highlight its activities and honor those who have made significant contributions to the foundation and the Arts and Crafts movement. This year's award was bestowed on David Cathers. Mr Cathers was recognized for his scholarship and dedication to the field. He has written extensively on the Arts and Crafts movement.

The event also gave the group an opportunity to introduce Craftsman Farms' new executive director, Dr Arlette Klaric. She succeeds outgoing executive director Tommy McPherson, recently appointed as director of the Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Ala.

JMW Gallery of Boston, represented by Jim Messineo and Mike Witt, had an excellent show and in addition to a large selection of American art pottery, brought furniture, lighting and artwork. Mr Messineo commented that the crowd this year was "particularly enthusiastic and interested in high-end pottery." He went on to say that people had stayed to shop in the room "longer than any of the 17 previous years." Some of that time was obviously in his own booth, as he and his partner sold many significant items, including a University City porcelain crystalline glazed vase designed by Taxile Doat for $7,000, an early green cylindrical decorated Marblehead vase at $17,000, a Gustav Stickley bow arm Morris chair at $18,000 and an unusual double gourd Grueby vase at $7,000.

Business was brisk for a wide variety of dealers, which included superb woodblock prints at the booth of Steven Thomas of Woodstock, Vt. Doug and Paula White, who run an estate auction business in Orlando, Fla., choose to do only one show per year, Grove Park. "The friendship of collectors and other dealers is the best part; this is the highlight of our year," said Doug White. Of special interest to the crowd was a chance to view and study the extremely rare and early Gustav Stickley double-door bookcase brought by the Whites.

Fifty-seven dealers from across the country participated in the show. California, which has been so important to the Arts and Crafts movement revival, was well represented by prominent dealers such as Robert Noble and Lynda Cunningham of Lifetime Gallery in Los Angeles and Steve and Mary Ann Voorhees of Voorhees Craftsman in Pasadena. Jim and Jill West of Circa 1910 Antiques in Los Angeles expanded their booth area this year and brought a wide selection of new merchandise.

"We were pleased to see so many of our West Coast collectors make the trip here to participate actively in the show," commented Jill West. Interest in metalware was high and the Wests were pleased to report sales of a hand hammered copper table lamp attributed to Fred Brosi of San Francisco priced at $16,500 and a 30-inch hand hammered copper charger signed Harry Dixon, San Francisco, priced at $5,500.

An exquisite Secessionist plant stand/jardiniere at the entry to their booth attracted a lot of attention and they could have sold it many times over. The piece featured a decorative handmade iron base and the copper jardiniere featured brass hand worked, hammered and repousse decoration of grape clusters, leaves and tendrils and was priced at $8,500.

Expanding the presence of Midwest dealers were Cameron Quintal and Brian Smith of Eastwood Gallery, Saint Paul, Minn., participating in the show for the second year. As organizers of what is billed as the largest Arts and Crafts period show in the Midwest, the Twin Cities Arts and Crafts Show, they thoroughly enjoy their participation in the grandfather of shows. The dealers featured midlevel furniture and decorative items of the period and commented that there were a lot of new people attending the show this year. They sold a range of reasonably priced furniture, artwork and decorative items.

In general, the dealers were very upbeat about their results, indicating that while many high-end items were sold, furniture in the midprice range, from $2,000 to $12,000, seemed to be of most interest. The many new collectors in the room were an encouraging sign that interest in the Arts and Crafts movement will continue.

Next year's conference will take place February 17-19. For information, 828-628-1915.