Local Dealers Promote New Show in Oley, Penn.

Remember back when Robert Preston, the best-known Music Man, said, "River City has gotta have a boys' band, and it needs it now"? Well, by the end of the show the band was marching down Main Street. In a parallel situation, about a year and a half ago six dealers from the Oley Valley got together and determined, "Berks County needs to have an antiques show, and its gotta be a good one." Well, that too has happened.

Oley Valley Antique Enterprises was formed with six principals, including Jeff and Debbie Rhoads, John and Peggy Bertolet, Mark and Kelly Saylor, Harvey and Audrey Moseley, Brian and Sue Hart and Gene Bertolet and Chris Mavery. "We have all done antiques shows in the past and have had good and bad experiences," Jeff Rhoads said. The bad things were weeded out over the course of numerous meetings, and "we set our guidelines and standards for the show." On Friday, June 17, after about 18 months of planning, Antiques in the Valley opened for a two-day run at the Oley Valley High School with a full compliment of 53 exhibitors.

The six association members each put up some funding and all took part in the show, spreading themselves out over the gymnasium and the surrounding hallway to be better keep an eye on the show and to be in the middle of the other exhibitors. "If a booth had a problem and was not quite what we wanted, then one of us took the space," Jeff said.

The show opened at 11 am, with about 200 people in line. A good number of dealers, especially those located in that area of Pennsylvania, was on hand to shop the show. "The crowd remained steady for the greater part of the show, both days, and a good number of pieces of furniture left the show, as did a great many smalls," Jeff reported. In all, close to 1,300 people came through the show.

The show was a very comfortable mix of objects, many with Pennsylvania ties as would be expected, and it was certainly an excellent opportunity to go home with a fine basket, redware, treen, painted tole, textiles, etc. A good number of corner cupboards were on the floor, as well as several Dutch cupboards, a few pie safes, sets of decorated chairs, and, in many cases, ownership of furniture changed.

A sampling of what some of the exhibitors offered follows:

The line of vision down the aisle to the right of the main show entrance was interrupted by the arms of a large whirligig that seemed to beckon visitors to the booth of Chuck White, Folk Art and Antiques, of Mercer, Penn. And if that tall wooden figure did not catch the eye, then the 36-inch-tall Nineteenth Century Fiske rooster weathervane was an attention getter. A pair of colorful Parcheesi game boards hung beside a two-part Dutch cupboard in pine from the "Big Valley" area of central Pennsylvania, grain painted, and dating circa 1830.

Old Farm Antiques of Reading, Penn., was also exhibiting in the aisle outside the gymnasium and the booth was set off by a Lancaster County tulip quilt in bright shades of red, yellow and gray on a white ground. A decorated jelly cupboard was from Berks County, two drawers over two doors, porcelain knobs, and a set of six Pennsylvania half-spindle side chairs was floral decorated on a mauve/tan ground.

Wallingford, Conn., exhibitor Jane Wargo offered a trio of black duck decoys made of cork and wood, Susquehanna region, circa 1920. They were made by R. Eyer and found in Bainbridge, Penn. New England pieces shown included a small fireplace surround, early Nineteenth Century, and an octagonal top candlestand in figured maple.

A 27-drawer apothecary, circa 1820, painted brown with green drawer fronts, hung against the side wall in the booth of Bertolet House Antiques of Boyertown, Penn. A corner cupboard with 12-light door, poplar with the original red wash, circa 1830, from the Kutztown area of Berks County, was offered, along with a Dutch cupboard, circa 1850, from the same region. A note on the cupboard indicated it was "from our personal collection."

A large sign advertising "Yeakle's Hotel" dominated the back wall in the booth of T.L. Dwyer Antiques of Barto, Penn. Of interest was a New England decorated child's chair, floral design on yellow painted surface, with rush seat, and a collection of four wrought iron heart-shaped trivets.

A circa 1850 Pennsylvania rope bed, old yellow over the original red, was centered in the booth of Gisela Gruss of Asbury, N.J., shown against the backdrop of a large log cabin-design quilt. A school master's desk, lift top and porcelain knobs on the drawer, rested on turned legs and was in the original salmon paint.

Dark Horse Antiques of Bethlehem, Penn., showed one of only a few known tall case clocks by Daniel Oyster of Reading, Penn. This clock, dating circa 1795, had an inlaid case and the moon dial was signed by the maker. A New England couple, John and Sara Pearson, were shown in a pair of portraits, oil on canvas dated 1829, and a small carousel horse in cast iron, Nineteenth Century, retained some traces of the original paint.

Joseph J. Lodge of Lederach, Penn., used a circa 1840 bucket bench cupboard in old red to display a selection of stoneware pitchers with blue decoration and some redware including a large Pennsylvania loaf dish with three rows of slip decoration. A Leigh Valley tall case clock dated 1835, with signed works and floral decoration on the face, and a sack back Windsor, circa 1790, was in black with traces of gold showing.

A large tramp art vanity mirror that was found in a country store in Bernhards Bay on the shores of Oneida Lake, N.Y., was centered in the booth of The Fassnachts of Canandaiqua, N.Y. The piece was painted white, had a carved bird on top, and two drawers on the bottom with brass pulls. Miss Coarwall's School, Glastonbury, Conn., was represented by a sampler executed by Phylinda Matson in 1833, and a miniature painted settee, dating from the mid Nineteenth Century, 161/4 inches high and 251/2 inches wide, was decorated with stenciled birds and flowers on a black ground.

Raccoon Creek did not have to travel far for this show, moving into the gymnasium from its new shop located about two miles away. The display was anchored by a large architectural cupboard from Hackensack, N.J., circa 1830, in the original red exterior with tulip-shaped shelves behind two six pane doors that sold. The bottom section had three short drawers over two raised panel doors. There was a sharp contrast between two pictures each depicting a compote of fruit. On the right, a watercolor theorem on paper, circa 1820, ex John Gordon collection, was pale by comparison to the tinsel picture. There the colors sparkled in this signed work. On the top shelf in the display case was a group of "Bixler" woodblock printed fraktur, hand colored and dated 1854, complete with a reward of merit from the teacher, "Bixler."

For those in the market for a wood box, two were offered from the booth of Lake Ridge Antiques of Quakertown, Penn. The largest measured 5 feet 2 inches long, yellow grained surface, Nineteenth Century, from Berks County, and the other, with similar surface and of the same period, was displayed on top of the larger one, measuring 4 feet long. This one was found in Bucks County.

As usual, every inch of the walls in the booth of Carson & Stevenson, Manchester Center, Vt., was taken with either a colored print or oil painting, this time including a house portrait by C. Salmon, 1895, American, in period gold leaf frame. The house, fenced in, was surrounded by activity including several human figures and a yard filled with chickens. Watercolors of flowers were offered in sets of six and nine, and a wonderful painted writing desk, circa 1830, yellow with floral decoration, was found in Springfield, Mass.

Jeff and Cathy Amon Antiques, Jamestown, Penn., offered a large membership plaque from the Steelton Lodge 184, instituted August 27, 1886. It was complete with the original names and painted surface. A colorful shirred rug from Ohio featured a brilliant eight-pointed star in shades of red and green.

One of the rarest items in the show was a Windsor chair-cradle said to be from Lancaster County because of the crest rail form, circa 1790-1810, original black painted finish, in the booth of H.D. Wilder Antiques of Elverson, Penn. An interesting antler gun rack and a dry sink in blue paint were shown, along with a barber shop cabinet designed to hold shaving mugs, circa 1890. The cabinet could easily be adapted for display of any small collection, such as still banks or short bottles.

The Norwoods' Spirit of America, Timonium, Md., showed a rare double-shelf bucket bench in old red, Pennsylvania origin, that was filled with country accessories such as a row of large wooden bowls in red, green and blue. A Pennsylvania child's rocker, arrow back, had floral decoration.

Rhoads House Antiques, Fleetwood, Penn., sold an early Nineteenth Century Dutch cupboard, Lancaster County, with a nine-light door over two drawers over two doors. It was in the original red with interior plate racks. A walnut pie safe, dating from the Nineteenth Century, had four punched tin panels, tapered feet and the original hardware. Pitchers, bowls and jugs were part of an extensive selection of redware offered.

In addition to a large rack filled with coverlets, The Herrs of Lancaster, Penn., showed a yarn hooked rug, wool on burlap, 24 by 40 inches, depicting two parrots and the initials "MH." The rug was purchased from a member of the Hershey family. Hanging at the back of the booth was an unusual fraktur friendship quilt made for Maria Oberholtzer in 1854. It measured 88 by 76 inches and the names on the quilt were people from Heidelburg Township, Lebanon County, Penn Township and Lancaster County.

Early advertising material in the booth of Robert Apgar, Denver, Penn., included Yankee Girl Tobacco, Nesbitts California Orange Drink, and Butter Nut Bread, shown along with many smalls including a collection of butter stamps, Christmas ornaments and stuffed toys.

Among the works of art hanging in the booth of Gary and Judy Promey of Atwater, Ohio, was an oil on canvas depicting a side-wheeler paddle boat on either Lake Champlain or Upper Hudson Valley, shown against full fall foliage. It dated circa 1870. A hunting scene, dog with pheasant in its mouth, oil on canvas, was signed by Fowler and dated 1878 and in the original frame.

A large basket with carved wooden handles, salmon painted and slightly domed base, New Hampshire origin and dating from the Nineteenth Century, was a featured piece in the booth of Ben Karr Antiques of Iroquois, Ill. The basket was recently pictured on both the front and back cover of an auction catalog from Skinner. A large rooster weathervane in gilt was shown, and a gray-painted corner cupboard held a collection of Gonic glaze redware pieces.

Pennsylvania furniture in the booth of Keith and Diane Fryling, American Antiques, Green Lane, Penn., included a Berks County tall chest in walnut, circa 1810, three short drawers over six graduated long drawers and a softwood jelly cupboard, square nail construction, black and red faux flame grained paint. An early Nineteenth Century New England harvest table in the original mustard paint, three board top, was shown by salt Box Antiques of Sugarloaf, Penn. Of the same period was a one-door dry sink found in Bedford County, Penn., half-moon ends and in old red over the original red.

Three large grain painted raised panel doors stood against the back wall in the booth of Gloria Lonergan of Mendham, N.J. An early butter churn was in mustard paint, a Pennsylvania hutch table, circa 1840, had a blue surface, and a collection of 27 tin molds was available. Some of the molds were hung on the wall, including corn, fruit and fish, while the others were stored in a blanket chest, but available for inspection.

Steve Smoot from Lancaster, Penn., brought from his area a Sheraton high chest in cherrywood and mahogany, original brasses, circa 1820-30, signed "A. Long" on the top. A large set of shelves was filled with many smalls, including a Punch and Judy mechanical bank, decorated tole trays, blue and white pitchers, chalk figures, quilt squares and an assortment of storage boxes including some oval finger examples.

Brad Selinger Antiques, East Berlin, Penn., offered a round-top country Hepplewhite table in solid tiger maple, second half of the Nineteenth Century, a blanket chest with cutout base, blue over the original blue, and a selection of blue decorated stoneware.

A Sheraton decorated blanket chest, front and side panels, circa 1825, was shown by Emele's Antiques, Dublin, Penn. A corner cupboard in cherrywood with high Hepplewhite feet, circa 1820, twelve light door, and a Sheraton four drawer chest with high feet, also in cherry, was of Pennsylvania origin, circa 1810, with the original brasses.

Attracting attention in the booth of Greshville Antiques and Fine Art, Boyertown, Penn., was an American inlaid table by Fred Luk, circa 1935, inlaid with woods from more than 100 different trees. Paintings included a portrait of "Barney Nolan," Frederick Spang, an oil on canvas measuring 30 by 25 inches and in a period gold leaf frame. The portrait was signed lower right "F. Spang 1888." An oil on canvas, 24 by 20 inches, depicting a group of men mending fishing nets, was by Elsie Scull and dated from the Twentieth Century.

Local dealers Gene Bertolet and Brian and Sue Hart shared a booth at the front of the show and offered countless things including a rack with brass and wrought iron utensils, a miniature jelly cupboard with the original surface and porcelain knobs, a selection of cookie cutters, a stack of graduated foot stools, any number of early baskets, and signs for cigars including the Costeno and Cressman's Counsellor brands.

For a first-time show, things went very well, according to members of the association. The porters were drawn from the student body, several school organizations staffed the various food tables, and, since the Board of Education does not allow anyone to be in the school on Sundays, "by Saturday midnight we were out of there, leaving behind the building just as clean and neat as we found it," Jeff Rhoads said.

And yes, there will be a second annual Antique in the Valley. "We are probably going to make a donation to the general scholarship fund at the school, we are going to hold back some funds to seed next year, we are going to have an evaluation of the show to see what we can do to make it better, and we have a nice waiting list of dealers and possibly we will be able to make room for some of them," Jeff said.

"This is a really nice show," was heard often from show visitors, and they were right.