Antiques from Round Top to Bottom: It Happens in Texas, Twice a Year

FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS

:It happens in Texas for about two weeks twice each year, and 2005's first installment was March 20-April 3. It originated in Round Top, a tiny hamlet in this rural county halfway between Houston and Austin, but over its more than 30-year history it has grown, with satellites and tailgate shows in more than a half dozen contiguous towns. There are several major shows during the gatherings, as well as antiques flea markets - some are indoors and some are in tents or out in the open; some are publicized and have hundreds of dealers, while others are just a handful of friends and neighbors on someone's front lawn.

The most significant of the Round Top gatherings are The Original Round Top Antiques Festival and its biggest rival, the Marburger Farm Antiques Show, but they are far from all there is to offer the avid antiques hunter.

Along State Highway 237 from LaGrange to Brenham there are no fewer than 20 other organized fields, sheds, lots and shows. Off that narrow two-lane road are another dozen or so markets that range from well-organized indoor shows in air-conditioned facilities to more neighbors sharing a barnyard. Some have names and attract a loyal following, much like the Brimfield, Mass., markets, while at others the field owners just collect the money from exhibitors and mark out a spot on their meadow. For a short time, their cows forage elsewhere while the customers graze for antiques, collectibles and, in some cases, just old stuff.

This year, the Puchsteins were each doing shows on the weekend of March 19-20. Bill Puchstein set up as a dealer in New Jersey, and Kay Puchstein managed a show in Florida. They arranged to meet in Nashville, Tenn. She flew and he drove their truck and trailer load for the ride to Texas. They arrived in Warrenton, Texas, on Wednesday to set up in a tent at a field called Hilltop - no sign - for about five days.

Mr Puchstein said late Sunday that their work was worth the effort, as they sold a significant dollar total, and it was "good stuff." On Monday, March 28, they moved their inventory, including many items that had not yet been shown, to the Red Barn in Round Top.

This early arrival and changing shows was not unique to the Puchsteins, as many dealers did the "two show two step" with two or even three shows on their dance cards. Here it works, because during the two-week period there are no fewer than 2,000 dealers setting up temporary shops. Most bring an inventory to sustain them over the duration, and in many cases they shop while there to add to their supply or restock. Many of the events are only open for the later week and then starting in the middle and ending Saturday late afternoon.

The quality of these markets should not be discounted too harshly. There is good "pickin'" at many of the fields.

Carole Shipp from The Woodlands, Texas, had a tent in LaBahia field with Nineteenth Century furniture, including a sitting room suite in Eastlake with a very reasonable price for the set. At the same show, Carl Schmieg of Carl's Clocks was offering an extensive collection of early timepieces. And the Flow Blue Bros, Doy and James Knightstep, and Don Webb sold Flow Blue porcelain.

At Blue Hills, the field owner provides buildings with concrete floors and metal roofs but no walls, which he then fills with dealers of Nineteenth Century antiques. Oak furniture is big there and at many of the Texas shows. This field had several jewelry dealers and also a number of dealers of linens and early textiles.

One field that seemed to have no name was for just a few dealers on the street, including Pandora De Balthazar from Pensacola, Fla. She trades in antique textiles and Hungarian goose-down pillows. Her trade in these items is extensive, as she sells at the market, but also has shops in Florida and Texas.

The Shelby Antiques Show is another indoor show conducted at the air-conditioned Harmonies Hall dance hall in this village that is really no more than a wide spot in the road. Allen and Mardi Myers from Dallas had the front booth, which was a room setting of early country furniture. Ruthanna Truly, trading as Calico Cats, offered a Jacquard coverlet in red that she described as a Centennial Celebration design in very good condition for $295. This Fort Worth dealer has been doing the show since the start, about 20 years now, and offers a variety of small antiques.

Eileen Conley, Buda, Texas, on the other hand, offers mostly furniture and this was a good show for her. Ben Fulbright of Houston brought clocks; Carol Lincoln, Conroe, Texas, did the show with quilts; and Linda Shaughnessy, Cape Neddick, Maine, had a variety of early hardwood furniture and small English accessories.

All of these shows create an event unlike any other, but with a similarity to Brimfield. The big difference from that Massachusetts happening, however, is that this has a great many real antiques shows in addition to the flea markets.

Readers wanting to go to this twice-yearly event should plan ahead for the next happening, running from about September 24 through October 8. Go late, arriving Tuesday, October 4, and plan ahead. Hotels are not nearly sufficient for the size of the crowds, and even dealers stay 30-40 miles away. Plan to fly into either Austin or Houston and get a rental car - Texas is big and there are no cabs.

There is no single source for information. Marburger and Round Top have websites and telephone numbers. For Round Top information, 512-360-3513. For Marburger, 800-947-5799.