The Boston Antiques Show

BOSTON, MASS.

:The 2005 Boston Antiques Show breezed into town March 31-April 3 with antiques offered by 37 dealers at the Park Plaza Castle.

The well-attended preview party had a distinctly sporty flavor: a live auction offered grand events with the Patriots, the Red Sox and the Boston Celtics.

Myra Kraft, whose family owns the Patriots, is a tireless supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) and an array of other area charities. The Henry family, owners of the Red Sox, is also involved deeply in area philanthropy. The preview party and auction and a benefit brunch raised more than $500,000 that will support the club's operating expenses.

Diane and Meg Wendy put together a bright, attractive and seamless show. "Sales were better than last year, and our goal is that next year is even better," said Diane after the event.

A number of new dealers this year expanded the event's areas of interest. Sylvia Powell Decorative Arts, Boston Rare Maps, Linge de Berry, Finch & Co., Dawn Hill Antiques, G. Evans, Ltd, Choate & von Z, Blue Heron Interiors and Sphere Gallery were all first-time exhibitors at the show.

London dealer Sylvia Powell Decorative Arts brought choice Nineteenth Century English pottery with stylized grotesque faces by Martin Brothers, including a large circa 1895 loving cup and an interesting grinning pitcher. The grotesque faces were usually politically inspired.

Ms Powell also showed Ruskin high-fired vases in gorgeous colors, an exceptional Royal Doulton vase by Harry Allen, "Beyond Man's Footsteps," and Doulton Lambeth wares, including a vase with lions by Hannah Barlow and Emily Stormer.

Among the choice pieces from Fair Trade Antiques of Shelburne Falls, Mass., was a circa 1900 Anglo Raj rosewood campaign chest of drawers with carved sunburst drawers. Another piece of interest was a handsome circa 1840 butler's desk in mahogany and satinwood.

Devonia-Antiques brought some of the exquisite porcelain and stemware of the gilded age that Bostonians are accustomed to seeing in the shop's Beacon Hill location. The booth was filled with cases of Italian, English and French stemware. A large dining table set with fine and dramatic porcelain dominated the space.

Other dealers from Beacon Hill include Akin Antiques and Lighting, which offered an enviable selection of chandeliers for every taste. Gallagher Christopher had an appealing array of Venetian glass, a handsome Eighteenth Century Georgian walnut and parcel-gilt overmantel mirror, with the original classical painting and a nice, circa 1730-1740 George II settee with carved lion masks and paw feet.

The booth of North Norwich, N.Y., dealer J. Gallagher was resplendent with gleaming brass andirons and fireplace fenders, most Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century American pieces. A particularly striking fireplace bench drew much interest among the partygoers crowded into the booth.

Ware Neck, Va., dealers Vent D'Est offered stylish Continental furniture and objects to whet most palates. A substantial Victorian gilt pier mirror that measured 57 by 65 inches hung above a Louis XV-style wrought iron balcony made into a console. Other choice pieces for sale were a Louis XV walnut armoire, made in Bordeaux area in the 1750s, and a George III mahogany tall chest with escargot feet and fine reeding across the top.

Glenbrook Antiques offered an imposing, 89-inch circa 1820 English Regency mahogany sideboard with four drawers above a cabinet and butler slides on either side. An American Regency-style double-pedestal dining table, made in Boston in about 1920, had a figured mahogany top that extended to 102 inches. It was handmade by Linger of Boston and noted on the underside "for Mrs. M.I." An array of Victorian hall lanterns rounded out the fine objects of view.

The Hudson, N.Y.-based Glenbrook has recently moved from 433 to 510 Warren Street.

Pride of place in the booth of London's Finch & Co. went to the Eighteenth Century Oil-on-canvas primitive portrait of a pointer whose collar was inscribed "Thynne Worthy - Chilton Candover 1749." The village among the hills in the background of the picture is believed to be Chilton Candover in Hampshire.

A group of four Eighteenth Century English armorial reverse paintings on glass, each with the motto "Si Sit Prudentia" beneath the shield, had once been used as coaching panels. A Spanish Gothic, carved wood Christ dating from 1480-1520 was a most compelling object. Finch also brought along a cabinet of ancient and medieval curiosities that generated much attention.

Cunha-St John came from Essex, Mass., with a fine selection of English furniture that ranged from a Regency dining table on four daintily gadrooned and splayed legs to a notable small English sideboard. A circa 1750 George III mahogany blanket chest on frame was impressive, as was a nice Sheraton mahogany wing chair in scarlet upholstery. The booth was finished with an array of Dutch pottery and fine Irish glass, the latter from the dealer's personal collection.

Glen Cove, N.Y., dealers Henry and Nancy Fender offered walls full of convex mirrors that were eye catching, to say the least. They included examples of the English Regency, the Georgian Period, Classical examples and chinoiserie. It was not all reflection, however, as the Fenders offered a George III mahogany chest-on-chest with nice dentil molding and a fine George III mahogany bachelor's chest.

Blue Heron Interiors of Cohasset, Mass., filled its booth with high quality pictures by American artists including a fine marine picture, "Boston Harbor, 1878," by Clement Drew and "The Red Boat" by Albert Thayer.

Boston dealer Richardson-Clarke showed paintings such as Jane Peterson's "Venice," a selection of watercolors by Nineteenth Century West Point drawing instructor Truman Seymour and an imposing painting by J. Ambrose Prichard, "An October Morning, Duxbury, Mass."

Marlene and John Forster of Sarasota, Fla., have worked out a congenial dealership. Marlene is a purveyor of nice estate jewelry while John offers barometers and other instruments. Sold tags were dotted around the booth early in the preview. Perhaps the most unusual piece was a circa 1820 angled brass barometer that was signed by J. Laffrancho of Ludlow, England. Another piece of interest was an aneroid barometer made sometimes between 1840 and 1875.

For information, 914-698-3442.