Van Deest Antiques/Uncommon Objects.

Stephen Score, Inc.

Hypoint, Lake Barrington.

By Susan and Al Bagdade

WOODSTOCK, ILL. – With all the talk about the sluggish economy, no one knew what to expect when the antiques show season started in Illinois with the 19th Annual McHenry County Antiques Show, held at the McHenry County Fairgrounds on September 8-9.

Needless to say, the 57 screened dealers were delighted to see eager antiquers lined up to enter the show on opening morning. Attendance continued to be strong during this two-day show, and numerous exhibitors reported exceptionally good sales.

Fine quality American antiques abound at this show, along with a smattering of dealers exhibiting an eclectic mix of funky American antiques and collectibles. Managed by Bob and Jan Campbell of The Swan House in Genoa, Ill., this show benefits the Adult and Child Rehab Center.

Scot Lace, Art and Antiques from Milwaukee, Wis., reported exceptional sales within two hours of the show’s opening. By noon on Saturday, in addition to all his “heavy stuff” being gone, he had sold a black painted Norwegian pine one-drawer stand, a painted rocking chair from a ballroom, a pair of carved marble tree stomp forms, a collection of bird’s eggs in a shadow box, an iron urn on four lion paw feet, a pair of mirror and tin sconces, and a carved limestone urn with a Greek key border. He also had an excellent set-up. His exhibit was practically empty when we stopped in to see him.

Tim Chambers of Missouri Plain Folk from Sikeston, Mo., is the author of a new book entitled The Art of the Game – A Collection of Vintage Game Boards. Tim felt that the book “is certainly making people more knowledgeable and aware of game boards, and many are now upgrading their collections.”

He added, “Furniture is soft, but really good Nineteenth Century country smalls are selling better than before.” He was having “an excellent show,” which included selling two New England gameboards, two trade signs, and great folk and graphic material. He also sold a two-tiered wall box and two painted baskets.

Early sales for J. Bruce Antiques and Art from Evanston, Ill., included a huge carnival clown, carnival knock-downs, handmade inlaid tables, Indian objects, a wire figure, game wheels, an advertising chair and penny rugs. He has been doing the show for all 19 years. There was also great Tramp Art, wall hangings and Bakelite in this exhibit. Drawing a lot of attention was a 1930s-40s ship model that was tagged $3,200.

Prairie House Antiques from Wheaton, Ill., was selling “tons of silver.” Going to new homes were a lot of mother-of-pearl silver tea knives and folks, especially those in their original boxes. According to Diana Eyre, “Serving pieces were the main pieces that were in demand, especially examples not being made today, such as silverplate berry spoons. Bits and pieces of sterling were also selling.”

Candlestick Antiques from Clarkston, Mich., is mostly known for quality transfer printed ceramics, but sold all of their copper tea kettles at McHenry. Some ceramics also sold, including an Oxford-Cambridge Series platter. There were also a lot of dealer sales.

From Winnetka, Ill., Trindl Antiques sold a set of three old lobster buoys in orange paint, a late Victorian child-size iron garden chair and a country table in old blue paint. They also had twig stands, fishing creels, whimsy Indian beadwork from the Northwest United States and Canada dating from circa 1900-1920, and a nice early dry sink with refitted drawer.

Donna Finegan Antiques from Palatine, Ill., sold an 1840s wool print dress, a pair of shoes from 1830, and a young man’s linen double breasted jacket. Since men’s clothes are hard to find, Donna was very pleased to have a circa 1870s two-piece linen man’s suit for $550, and a 1799 pair of American men’s silk breeches from New York tagged $950. Sara Wright offered a 1700 embroidered pocket in white-on-white work (from a time before women had pockets in their dresses) for $1,750. An 1840s black silk mourning dress was available for $950.

Hypoint Farm from Lake Barrington, Ill., was very pleased to sell two cupboards, a button hanging, a quilt and decoys. Jane always displays quality antiques including Tramp Art boxes and frames, hooked rugs, weathervanes and face jugs.

From Pecatonica, Ill., Antiques at Hillwood Farm had outstanding sales including a mantel, a corner triangular gate-leg table, a painted joint stool, a two-drawer blanket chest, a hanging cupboard, a myriad of smalls, two pewter plates and a candleholder. A late Seventeenth or early Eighteenth Century X-base candlestand from Connecticut in its original red paint was $2,950, and an early Eighteenth Century Hudson River Valley pewter and crock bench could be had for $2,500. A Nineteenth Century southeastern Massachusetts painted Bible box was $1,200.

Showing in McHenry for his third year, Bud Weinert Antiques from Oxford, Mich., sold exceptionally well. Going to new homes were a horse weathervane, an airplane whirligig, a pair of trout paintings, an early breadboard, nice game boards, rustic bears on a tree and a funky shelf.

Bob Jessen/Jim Hohnwald from Fitzwilliam, N.H., sold a painted wood box used as a potato bin, a nicely decorated dome top box from the Connecticut River, two pieces of yellowware, early 1800s leather books, and a Massachusetts 1800s hanging metal and glass lantern.

Their cobbler’s bench was drawing a lot of attention and was sure to be sold before the end of the show. An assembled stack of 11 graduated pantry boxes in beautiful colors of New England origin from the second and third quarter of the 1800s was $5,500.

In original paint was a New Hampshire original circa 1830-40 child-size jelly cupboard tagged $2,800. Dating circa 1800-1840 was a New England origin large set of standing shelves in salmon color with dovetail and mortised construction tagged $3,800. Another New England piece was an Eighteenth Century ratchet and trammel lighting device available for $4,200.

According to Main Street Antiques from West Branch, Iowa, “The Chicago area crowd likes funky stuff” and he had a lot of repeat customers. Sales included a cross section of his eclectic exhibit including a lot of folk art, carvings, signs and whirligigs.

Another Iowa dealer, Van Deest Antiques/Uncommon Objects from Cedar Rapids, sold her usual eclectic mix of Bakelite jewelry, lots of hooked rugs, country pieces, a windmill weight, Mexican silver, game boards, Amish dolls, whimsy bottles and folk art.

The only newcomer to McHenry was Sheridan Loyd from St. Joseph, Mo. She had quality American antiques and sold a nice mirror early in the show. She was impressed with the excellent treatment of dealers at this small, but popular show.