Wilton Historical Society's 38th Annual Antiques Show

WILTON, CONN.

:A deluge of rain and scheduling snafus did nothing to diminish strong presentations by 83 dealers participating in the 38th annual Wilton Historical Society Antiques Show, April 2-3, at the Wilton High School Field House.

Manager Marilyn Gould, in preshow publicity, described the event's date change from mid-March to early April as a "goof" on the part of the high school's administration, one that resulted in a scheduling conflict with some regular Wilton dealers. This opened the door for new exhibitors to participate, however, and many booths displayed excellent furniture offerings.

Both attendance and sales appeared to be mixed. One dealer noted only a "handful"-sized turnout for Sunday, while another described the second day as "strong." Exhibitors featuring "high country" Americana, as well as fine art, seemed to enjoy the most significant purchases.

"We did moderately well," said Hamilton Meserve of Running Battle Antiques, Millbrook, N.Y. "We sold mostly paintings and smalls. I thought the crowds [on Sunday] were stronger than prior shows."

"Not a lot of Federal items were going off the floor," commented Neil Greco of Birchknoll Antiques, Wolfeboro, N.H. Mr Greco featured a lovely table indicative of the Seymour style in its tapered legs and turnings, on original castors, and a completely original, unusual, classical three-drawer work table stamped by its maker, Solomon Loud, Boston, mahogany, ending in brass paw feet, priced $4,500.

Opposite Mr Greco, Artemis Gallery, North Salem, N.Y., displayed a circa 1800-10 Sheraton mahogany sofa attributed to Duncan Phyfe, New York City, with original finish and Nineteenth Century cane for $35,000.

A wonderful Nineteenth Century Pennsylvania six-board blanket chest in mustard paint graced the booth of Dan & Kathy Roe Antiques. The Springfield, Ill., dealers greatly enjoyed their sales at Wilton this year, taking the long journey home without a salmon and white quilt with five stars, with excellent presentation, circa 1940s; a Nineteenth Century paper valentine; a painting; a Nineteenth Century salt glazed pitcher featuring embossed cherubs; and a Burpee's seed ad and celluloid letter opener framed together.

"Pack out was pretty simple," said Kathy dryly.

"Marilyn Gould and her staff could not have done a better job running the show, from beginning to end," she added. "And the society was wonderful to everyone."

A New England circa 1840-60 Chippendale cherry inlaid slant lid desk, New London County, Connecticut, was offered for $18,000 at Wayne Pratt, Woodbury Conn., and Nantucket, Mass. A Queen Anne carved and painted maple flat top high chest, circa 1770-90, Essex County, Mass., stood nearby, tagged $95,000.

A massive, 16-foot-long table with matching tray and benches in green paint, found in a carriage house in central Pennsylvania, dominated the booth of Kelly Kinzle, New Oxford, Penn., and heralding spring at Gloria Lonergan, Mendham, N.J., was an eye-popping sack back Windsor armchair, late Eighteenth Century, in a bright, robin's-egg blue, placed next to a birch drop leaf table with red base, New England, Nineteenth Century.

Colorful items were also abundant in the booth of Lonergan neighbor Jeff Bridgman, and did well with buyers. The Dillsburg, Penn., dealer offered a "Clay & Frelinghuysen" campaign flag, which hung above an unusual Eighteenth Century chest painted in 1936 by WPA artist Paul Kirtland. Randall E. Decoteau, Warren, Mass., featured a shining, salmon-colored wing chair, coastal New Hampshire, with rope legs and period upholstery. He lifted the chair's removable cushion to reveal that it still retained its "potty" possibilities.

Reflecting the market interest in textiles, hooked rugs seemed to be everywhere on the floor. Penny & Ronald Dionne Antiques featured one bearing the image of a Native American in a canoe with a teepee in the background; the lovely contrast in Gloria M. Lonergan's "Tree of Life" mounted rug could not be missed, even if sprinting past their booth; a Maine hooked rug, Nineteenth Century, in the Waldoboro tradition, was $3,200 at Newsom & Berdan; and the craftsmanship of James and Mercedes Hutchinson was evident in a 1920-30s creation in the booth of Jewett & Berdan. The rug's epigram stated, "Caution! Endearing words are sweet to hear as many found to their sorrow."

The booth of A.E. Runge, Jr, Oriental Rugs, Yarmouth, Maine, was dominated by a Persian Heriz village carpet, 11'4" by 8'6".

Fine art offerings included a lovely portrait of an unknown woman by James C. Beckwith at The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, Conn. "Her character and confidence are highlighted," said Jeff Cooley. Port N' Starboard, Falmouth, Maine, offered "Schooner Yacht Maria - 1861," an oil on canvas by Conrad Freitag (American, 1854-94). Maria was designed by Robert L. Stevens and owned by Stevens and John Cox, a founder of the New York Yacht Club.

A large flying carved and painted Canada goose at Victor Weinblatt, South Hadley, Mass., was a highlight among folk art items at the show and sported a bright red "SOLD" tag. Also wonderful was A Bird in Hand Antiques' American carved white pine bear, $7,200, found in a house in Louisiana, and an original circa 1932 Danbury Fair rabbit, 52 inches tall, $985. A great sign at Period Investments, Savannah, Ga., announced, in gilded letters, a Christian Science meeting and lecture at 10:45 am.

Pam & Martha Boynton, Groton and Townsend, Mass., offered a rare, signed Massachusetts Honeywell silhouette from the Rifkin Collection, circa 1806-48. A Seventeenth Century coffer panel was $3,000 at Brian Cullity, Sagamore, Mass., and was beautifully and intricately carved.

The simplicity of Jackie Radwin's booth, San Antonio, Texas, served to spotlight an iron locomotive sheet weathervane, early Twentieth Century, and a Maine milliner sign, circa 1870. Shirley Chambers, Westford, Mass., and Pat Stauble, Wiscasset, Maine, offered a wonderful carved screaming eagle figurehead with a nice, old patina, "never used on a vessel," and a small Prior portrait of a gentleman.

Ceramics at Wilton included Geranium's Toby jugs; the always-stellar English Staffordshire, pearlware and creamware of Maria & Peter Warren Antiques, Inc, Wilton.; Canton featured in the booth of Julie Lindberg Antiques; and William R. & Teresa F. Kurau's Liverpool pitchers.

Georg Jensen silver and a Wiener Werkstatte box were among offerings at Leah Gordon, New York City. Merle S. Koblenz, South Kent, Conn., showed us a Victorian carved onyx, gold and natural pearl set of mourning jewelry, comprising earrings and necklace.

The historical society displayed a special exhibit of toys from 1865 to 1940 at the show, with examples of recent gifts made by Delaware dealer Stuart Horn and Gemini Antiques to the society.

The next Wilton Historical Society Antiques Show is slated to return next year in mid-March. For information, 203-762-7257. Mrs Gould's Wilton Outdoor Marketplace will be June 25-26.