The August Antiques Show A Big Hit In Nantucket

NANTUCKET, MASS.

:The mere mention of the Island of Nantucket conjures up grandiose thoughts and stirs memories of fine white sand beaches, wind-worn shaked cottages, cobblestone streets, culinary treats, good friends and, naturally, antiques. So it is with little surprise that one of the gems of the Antiques Council's circuit of shows takes place on this historic island smack in the midst of tourist season.

The show, a benefit for the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA), was especially befitting this year as NHA celebrates not only its 75th anniversary, but also the opening of its newly expanded museum. With strong support from NHA and the crowd of locals and summer residents that crowd around them, this show has gained popularity not only on the island, but throughout the region as well.

Huge crowds made their way to the preview party on Thursday, August 4, for what is one of the most exciting and enjoyable events on the circuit. Live music, gobs of gourmet food ranging from oysters on the half shell to lamb chops, libations galore (including some delicious Nantucket-produced vodka) and an overall festive atmosphere under a huge circus-style three-ring white tent make this an event to remember.

The evening started off with an "early" preview and champagne reception that was warmly received by a moderate-sized crowd from 5:30 to 6:30. Once the regular preview party begins at 6:30, however, the flood gates open up and the crowd swells many fold.

While large crowds are certainly milling about in the food tent, the aisles of the multifloored show are also packed with previewers. Sales were reported strong by several of the dealers including Mo Wajselfish of Leatherwood Antiques, Sandwich, Mass., who said it was the best opening night he has ever had. "We sold a little bit of everything and a lot of some things," said the tired dealer the following morning just before the show opened to the general public.

The well-rounded show offers something for most tastes, but there is a strong slant toward island life and the decorating trends for the summer and year-round homes. Nautical items are always popular and given the history of the island and the history buffs that reside there, it is of little wonder. Nantucket was a huge whaling community from the Eighteenth Century well into the Nineteenth Century and those staunch businessmen virtually controlled the lighting industry in both the colonies and later in America with the making of candles and whale oil production.

It is rumored that there is a carving of a whale or some kind of whale memento in every home on the Island. There are always a few holdouts, however, newbies or people not content with just one whale; accordingly, dealers come prepared. Several whale carvings were seen in many of the booths, in others just a couple. One booth that featured a fine selection was Nina Hellman and we noticed one nice piece sporting a sold tag shortly after the show opened preview night.

Nantucket items are also extremely popular throughout the show, with the selection including baskets, decoys, furniture and paintings with provenance. Nantucket baskets were prevalent in many of the booths around the floor including a wonderful nest of baskets seen in the booth of Hyland Granby. The nest of seven baskets, each bearing the label of maker Ferdinand Sylvaro and made circa 1925, were in a fine original state with a mellow honey colored patina and were priced at $85,000.

A couple of other Nantucket baskets of note were seen in the booth of local dealers Forager House. The nice oval swing handle examples were early pieces with wonderful dark coloration and delicate handles. The dealers also offered a wonderful pair of flying mallard decoys.

An extremely rare Nantucket shorebird from the Folger rig was offered by Boston sporting art dealer Stephen O'Brien Jr. "This is without question one of the finest Nantucket shorebirds we have ever handled," commented O'Brien. The rare turned-head golden plover decoy was carved in the "light as a feather" style and featured raised wing carving. Priced at $50,000, the decoy was attracting a great deal of attention from shoppers.

While the Cahoon family is officially from Cape Cod, the art of Ralph and Martha is extremely popular on the islands as well. Amidst the pristine examples of Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture displayed by Wayne Pratt, such as the Eastern Massachusetts bonnet-top highboy in walnut that was priced at $125,000, a Federal inlaid mahogany Pembroke table of New York City origin at $68,000, or a slant front desk from the Townsend School priced at $48,000, was a wonderful mid-Nineteenth Century commode with lift top that had been paint decorated by Martha Cahoon (1905-1999).

Two other Cahoon paintings, a pair by Martha, also graced the booth, one with a two gentleman on horseback approaching two mermaids, the second depicting one rider having dismounted and on one knee proposing to the luscious mermaid.

A painting of a Nantucket sea captain was hung amid an impressive assortment of art displayed by Adelson Galleries, who maintain galleries in both New York City and Nantucket. The painting by Eastman Johnson, an oil on panel measuring 131/2 by 91/4 inches, was a portrait of Captain Manter, circa 1873. At $350,000, it was far from the most expensive painting in the booth, nor were either of the John Singer Sargent oils, the Abbot Fuller Graves, the Childe Hassam or the Marsden Hartley. The most expensive piece in the booth was a stunning William Merritt Chase oil on wood titled "The Old Road," circa 1895, that was priced at $1.8 million. Also offered from the booth was the only known extant drawing by John Singleton Copley from "Watson and the Shark" that carried a $1.5 million sticker.

G.K.S. Bush, Americana dealers from New York City and Nantucket, offered a variety of merchandise ranging from a stylish Connecticut River Valley Queen Anne highboy in figured maple with a fan carved drawer, to a Rhode Island tall chest of drawers in tiger maple. The nautical theme also appeared in this booth as well with the offering of a rare ship's figurehead in the form of a woman. The piece appeared to be from an American ship and it retained a an early untouched painted surface. The dealer also offered a wonderful banner-form tailboard with ruffled tailings from a ship named Modeste.

The prime piece of Americana from Bush's booth was a large Fiske weathervane in the form of a fish that had been used later in its life as a trade sign as it was painted over in large letter advertising "Tackle." "Fiske made these in three sizes and this is the largest and most unusual," stated Guy Bush.

A stellar assortment of porcelains and pastes were offered by New York City dealer Paul Vandekar of Earle Vandekar of Knightsbridge. Liverpool pitchers with nautical transfers, Staffordshire figures, soft paste rewards of merit cups and pearlware plates were among the assortment. Chappaqua, N.Y., dealer Charles Washburn was also attracting crowds with his assortment of majolica and Palissy wares, including a grand assortment of animal forms including a rare tureen with fox handle lid, a crane with fish ewer, an unusual grasshopper, and an even more unusual large tan warty toad that measured approximately a foot long.

The Nantucket show was a rounding success and a tribute to the efforts of the Nantucket Historical Association's membership.