Marburger: The Texas Farm that Grows Antiques

ROUND TOP, TEXAS

:John Sauls continued to build on his success at Marburger Farm Antiques Show this spring with another sold-out show in tents, sheds and farm buildings. While at capacity for each of the semiannual events for at least the last five years, Mr Sauls has created growth by adding more farm buildings to the property. The buildings are offered to him, provided he can move them onto his land, which he has shown he is willing to do. His 27-acre property now includes a dozen buildings that are restored and used as part of the exhibit space, together with eight tents.

This unique form of expansion allowed the most recent Marburger Farm Antiques Show, conducted March 29-April 2, to accommodate more than 400 dealers. On opening day, Mr Sauls' staff was also finding areas never used before to park visitors' cars. It was, he claimed, "A new record gate for the first day."

This event evolved over the last decade, first as a tailgate show in the area during the two weeks that have been popular for the Round Top antiques markets. Mr Sauls, at that time an active dealer from Tyler, Texas, was not satisfied with any of the other shows as a venue for selling his collection, so he found this property to begin his own show. At first renting the field with a partner, he eventually bought the farm and later bought out his partner. His aggressive nature and hard work have built this into the largest of all the Round Top shows.

Even with all the buildings now on the property, it is still basically an outdoor show, employing tents the size of football fields with well-defined booth space. The dealers then create room settings or country store motifs to exhibit and sell their widely varied collections.

Julie Harris, a Kansas City, Mo., dealer, made her space into a vintage sporting goods shop. She had swimsuits used by Olympic competitors from the 1920s, baseball and football equipment from as far back as the turn of the Twentieth Century and various games paraphernalia. From not too far away, Steve and Judy Bell, Shawnee Mission, Kan., brought a large supply of furniture; Mr Bell said sales were good early in the week

Gene Best is from Mocksville, N.C., and works on renovating and rehabilitating real estate property most of the year, but he and his wife, Diana, also collect antiques for themselves and as inventory. This excess is how he does the shows, including Heart of Country in Nashville, Tenn., Williamsburg, Va., at Thanksgiving and here. His collection is extensive in furniture, and during the week he sold a primitive server, or hunt board, made of southern yellow pine and a Jackson linen press with the help of his daughter, Summer.

New Roads, La., dealers Georgia and Buddy Morel do a number of shows throughout the South and here take a booth three times the regular size to exhibit all they bring. They, too, have a second business, a bed and breakfast back home. Harmon Antiques from Campbell, Texas, is another dealer who specializes in furniture.

Tole ware trays are the majority of the offering from Three Ring Circus of Houston. Susanne McClean, principal of the business, said she did well. She has not missed a show in several years. On the other hand, Don and Marta Orwig are known to show up with almost anything. The Corunna, Ind., dealers brought a carousel flying pig to this show. Also from Indiana, Tom Cheap and Rose Reynolds had a room setting - or, more precisely, a full cabin - of early American furniture.

Another dealer with an extremely large collection was Kevin Stone Antiques, New Orleans. Mr Stone said he has been doing antiques shows for a living for more than 20 years. He has established himself as a strong buyer, and is on lists in France and Italy to buy whole estates. Another dealer with the Continental look was Beverly's Antiques of Warren, Texas.

Al Linder had an eclectic collection, including several birdcages and a pair of horse heads, larger than life. The Northfield, Minn., dealer did not know what they had been used for, other than as an accoutrement to a sign, but he was sure he would sell them, according to his partner.

This show, as with most of the Round Top activities, is conducted twice each year, with the second edition set for October 4-8. For information, 800-947-5799.