: - Forty-plus dealers gathered for the annual Wethersfield
Antiques Show just prior to the holiday season getting underway
in 2003. The show, managed by volunteers Joan Hughes and Tim
Verre for the Wethersfield Historical Society, reported two
active days and a well attended preview party during which a
great deal of business was conducted.
This event is particularly appealing to Americana collectors as
it is traditionally filled to the brim with quality country
merchandise. Large crowds turned out for this popular show,
beginning with a gala preview party that was attended by an
enthusiastic crowd. Good eats courtesy of numerous local
businesses, a nice selection of libations and good merchandise
made for an enjoyable evening. Many of the dealers reported
strong sales from the large number of patrons in attendance.
The show opened on Saturday morning to a good-sized crowd with
management reporting an overall increase in the gate of more than
35 percent over the previous year. Sales were also reported by
management as being strong for many of the dealers with Carol
Wotjkun reporting "possibly the best show of her career,"
according to Verre. Management also reported Derek Pulito
commented during packout that he had a very good show citing
numerous sales.
Lewis Scranton.
Hanes and Ruskin set up a nice booth in a newly expanded
display area adjacent to the gymnasium display area featuring their
usual selection of quality ceramics along with numerous nice pieces
of furniture including a Connecticut Queen Anne lowboy, an
attractive tavern table and a low back Windsor armchair. Joe
Collins set up a nice looking booth with a Queen Anne tall chest
with two-over-five drawer configuration at the forefront of his
booth, a bow back Windsor armchair and a good Navajo weaving.
Just down the aisle, Field and Stream presented a patriotic theme
to its booth highlighted by a large zinc eagle, an architectural
ornament that had been removed at some point from its perch and
was now ready for a collector's home. The piece looked grand
surrounded by red, white and blue banners and encircled with
American flags.
Charles and Barbara Adams offered up their usual assortment of
desirable Bennington wares including cow creamers, Toby jugs,
pitchers, bowls, plates and mugs in an assortment of glazes
ranging from the standard Rockingham to flint enamel.
Other early accessories seen about the floor included a nice
selection of redware in the booth of Lewis Scranton, mocha
displayed by Hanauer and Seidman, and pewter offered by Ron
Chambers.
Ron Chambers.
Another of the major attractions to the show was a free
lecture by Dr Thomas Denenberg, author of Wallace Nutting and
The Invention of Old America, curator of the show by the same
name that ran at the Wadsworth Atheneum last year; he is also the
Atheneum's Richard Koopman Curator of American Decorative Arts. The
well attended event proved to be a real feather in the cap of the
show.
Changes for the 2004 event in Wethersfield include a new early
buying session that will open prior to preview on Friday evening.
Manager Tim Verre released a statement that said, "In the spirit
of innovation to attract trade buyers that otherwise might not
attend the show, the Wethersfield Antiques Show will be hosting
an early buyers' preview prior to the preview party."
The early preview, beginning with the 2004 show, will open from 4
to 6 pm with a $10 admission, to be followed by the preview party
from 7 to 9 pm for a $25 admission.
