Nan Gurley's Sturbridge Americana Antiques Show: High-End and Indoors during Brimfield

STURBRIDGE, MASS.

:Nan Gurley's Sturbridge Americana Antiques Show is, in her words, "building into a high-end Americana show in its own right." Conducted by her at the Sturbridge Host Hotel's exhibition and conference center, the show has been scheduled on the Thursday of Brimfield week for the last three years. Now, with 68 dealers at the most recent event on May 12, she said, "It is not really a part of Brimfield, but it does profit by being on when the people are there." She added that the dealers attracted to her show prefer an indoor venue to exhibit their collections.

Ms Gurley has been producing antiques shows in Northern New England for more than 20 years and has created a following of exhibitors who offer "Americana," as she calls it. In her shows, the dealers typically themselves are collectors of objects that were unique to America prior to the Civil War in all cases, and prior to the War of Independence in most. Iron implements from Sharon, Conn., circa 1750, or Shaker boxes from Enfield, N.H. circa 1825, are typical; furniture made by the user in colonial times or a signed piece from Rhode Island or New Hampshire; all these and more are typical antiques to be found at her shows and they were in Sturbridge in May.

Newsom and Berdan from Hallowell, Maine, are well known for their collection of early American folk art, which Betty Berdan is quick to exhibit and sell. For Sturbridge, she had some well-made and colorful quilts, an early game table and more. Next to her was James LaFurgy, also from Hallowell, with a similar collection. Greg Smart is from Ellsworth, Maine, and he seems to find more of the early folk art pieces that were just functional when they were created. He featured several hooked rugs and a pair of large braided rugs.

Jim and Judith Murphy are Newtown, Conn., residents who collect primitive furniture and accessories. Mr Murphy's day job is as newscaster covering the Connecticut state house, and so antiques are an outlet for him. As with many dealers, the shows are a way for them to keep building on their collection, as well as having the working holiday. Glen and Jenni Rice moved to Higganum, Conn., from California just a few years ago, and their most important collection is stoneware. Here, they were exhibiting more than a dozen pieces of the highest quality, along with some country-style furniture.

There was a pair of American-made Chippendale style-side chairs offered by Wiener-Juckett Antiques from Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. Howard Graf, Colt Barn Antiques, Townshend, Vt., was offering a variety of early iron implements for kitchen and fireplace. Ester Gilbert was offering a mix of furniture and small accessories, and Susan Gault came with numerous hooked rugs, in addition to a collection of early household and kitchen objects.

Antique furniture was the principal attraction in Michael Malloy's booth. He had a large collection of softwood pieces, including a child's bed with large head and footboards. Nearby was Firehouse Antiques of Galena, Md., with an eclectic mix of useful antiques and folk art.

Visitors to the show were an anxious and aggressive group, including many dealers who came for that special piece that they could resell. Nan Gurley shows are known as the source for "the great stuff just out [on the market for sale] for the first time," according to an ex-California couple.

The show will be repeated on each Thursday of Brimfield week later this summer - July 7 and September 8. For information, 207-625-3577.