The Millbrook Antiques Show

MILLBROOK, N.Y.

:- "What a difference our new location has made in the show and we were blessed to be out of that tent when the weekend rains came," Jerry Oliver said. Now 12 years old, the Millbrook Antiques Show left its former location, the Thorne Building and tent in the yard, and moved to the spacious and spotless new Bontecou Gymnasium at the Dutchess Day School on Route 343. "Load in and out was so easy this time," Michael Gannon noted. "We closed the show at 4 pm and by 8:30 everyone was packed and on the road home."

The show opened with a preview party on Friday, May 30, from 6 to 9 pm, a benefit for the Millbrook Free Library. About 200 tickets were sold, food was delicious and abundant, and the Millbrook High School Jazz Band had people clapping their hands and tapping their feet. A number of restaurants and catering services in the area furnished the refreshments for the evening and the show visitors benefited greatly from the competitive spirit of the food providers. Was it the extra large shrimp, the smoked salmon or the crab cakes that went first?

While some guests were concentrating on the food displays, others were shopping the show. Sales that evening were scattered, but a number of things left the floor including a large room-size rug, several cast-iron toys, a pair of Victorian side chairs, a couple of paintings and several pieces of jewelry.

"Several of the dealers did extremely well over the weekend, while I know of one or two who really didn't crack the sales book," Jerry Oliver said. He did mention that The Country Squire, Boston, sold a bookcase-cupboard in walnut, circa 1870, with arched glass doors in the top section and two drawers over two paneled doors in the lower section. This booth was filled with interesting things, including a collection of canes and walking sticks, Indian clubs, a five-step library ladder dating circa 1880, and a selection of miniature furniture including a pair of mahogany armchairs with pierced splats, Nineteenth Century.

Running Battle Antiques, one of the local shops in the show, filled two booths with a nice offering of English furniture and marine paintings. An oak dresser, Seventeenth Century, gave the impression of having many small drawers when actually they were simulated, resulting in two long drawers over a central cupboard that was flanked by drawers. This English piece rested on bun feet and measured 61 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 311/2 inches high. Other English furniture included a Charles II oak chest, joined construction, three drawers, elaborate geometric moldings and bun feet. It was circa 1680. The American ship Francis A. Seward was depicted in an oil on canvas by James Guy Evans, signed lower right, measuring 271/2 by 36 inches.

A large classical dining table in mahogany, circa 1820, was in the center of the booth of Glenbrook Antiques of Hudson and Walden, N.Y. It was surrounded by a set of eight classical chairs, New York City, circa 1835. A very large barn lantern, single font, glass on all four sides, was shown on the table, taking up a good portion of the center.

David and Donna Kmetz of Douglas, Mass., offered a booth of paintings including a landscape, "Vermont in Autumn," by J.E. Greer. This artist lived in Texas, worked on Mt Rushmore and late in life lived in Bristol, Conn. A change of seasons was evident in "Early Snow," an oil on canvas by Frank Reed Whiteside, 1908. This artist has two works in the White House collection.

Several pieces of furniture, including an American Empire sofa, circa 1820, in mahogany with carved frame, New York or Philadelphia, sold from the booth of David Beauchamp Antiques of Hancock, N.H. The sofa had a cornucopia and hairy paw foot combination. An American painted classical table, circa 1920-40, was of birch with light green surface, reeded legs, and floral motif in the center.

A Thai reclining Buddha dating from the early Nineteenth Century rested in the corner of the booth belonging to Robinson House Antiques of Westwood, Mass. Also offered was a Korean sea chest, Nineteenth Century, and "The Elizabeth Chest," late Nineteenth Century, of yellow Narra wood and made in the Philippines.

The inventory shown by The Painted Bird, Woodbury, Conn., probably had more male than female appeal with offerings such as a selection of fishing creels, a large pair of snow shows, a collection of fish decoys, a three-panel rustic screen, and a number of chess sets. Bird in Hand of Westport, Conn., must have used up every minute of setup time arranging the vast collection of copper and brass items displayed. Candlesticks, measures of various sizes, spoons and serving pieces were only a few of the categories of collecting shown.

A selection of Shaker side chairs, some hung on the wall and others placed on the floor, was shown by Paul D. Nicholson Antiques of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. A #7 rocker was from Mt Lebanon, N.Y.; a #4 Shaker side chair with the original decal was also from Mt Lebanon; and from the same community was a circa 1840 side chair with the original tilters. In addition to the Shaker furniture, a good selection of shelf clocks was offered.

Close to 1,000 people came through the show during the two days and management is looking to increase that number substantially this fall.

"The preview will be a benefit for the Dutchess Day School and the parent group is very active and supportive," Jerry Oliver said. As a result, "we hope to bring more excitement into the show." The show is sponsored by the Millbrook Rotary and the fall dates are October 18-19.