Peter Winjum, Fairfield, Conn., offered a Mapric pectoral from Thailand, circa 1900.
A pair of Chippendale chairs at the booth of Massachusetts dealers Tom and Valerie Smith.
The Great Indoor/Outdoor Antique Show at the Topsfield, Mass. Fairgrounds was held in the rain June 21 and 22. In its 19th year, it occurs twice each summer, with a Part 1 June meeting and a Part 2 August 23 and 24 evemt. Produced by Drummer Boys Antique Shows, it began as a market for collectibles and antiques. Through promoter David Bornstein’s tireless efforts, however, it has become an antiques show with some vintage collectibles.
Serious antiques collectors and dealers come to find the hidden treasures as these two shows are among the last where a great many antiques can be found at prices which allow a great deal for the buyer. Dealers setting up shop at the show on Friday cannot buy all the great deals for their bank accounts and trucks are not big enough.
Fairfield, Conn. dealer Peter Winjum had a pectoral decoration, so called for the way it was worn, from Thailand circa 1900 made from ivory boar tusks, shells, rafia and paint it was a striking piece of art.
Martin Ferrick is a dealer from Addison, Me. who does a lot of shopping in his home area. He came in with a Sheraton style desk top, pillared chest of drawers made of flame birch circa 1840 for $1,600. He also had a small Hepplewhite style American made drop leaf table circa 1800 for $795. These are the quality of antiques shown in the New York Americana and Nashville shows.
Tom and Valerie Smith are located in West Springfield, Mass. and brought furniture from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. One rdf_Description was a pair of Chippendale chairs, origin unknown in excellent condition priced at $5,000. Now that is a lot of money but for a matched pair in excellent condition it does not seem to be too much.
James Prew and his partner from Franklin, N.H. do a variety of New England shows and get their inventory at Northern New England auctions, estate sales and house calls. Their style is more early country but they know a good thing when they see it and can afford to offer it for a low price. At this show their booth had several early cupboards and many household accessories.
We last saw mark Teller at “Heart of Bucks” a Lutz and Katona show in Newtown, Pa. last February. He came to Topsfield with a table full of early stoneware. Denise Ryan had an early band (a.k.a. ribbon) sampler in very good condition except that it was in two pieces. Someone had cut it in half and bound the ends, however at $500 it seemed worth buying.
Doug Johnson came from his home in Port Perry Ontario (Canada) with a very large selection of textiles. One rdf_Description offered was a coverlet 94 by 100 inches which his wife called an orphan’s cover. It was all silk, made at an orphanage in Shanghai China about 1930.
Vermont is represented by several dealers who usually are into early American country style rdf_Descriptions. Richard Fuller, Royalton, Vt. Favors early painted boxes and accessories. Bruce and Keta Stoddard, Barton, Vt. Brought an early Hepplewhite chest of drawers and a very colorful round and braided rug.
The show is twice each summer and for several of the last few years the June weather has made it difficult. This June’s event had rain on Friday, early Saturday and most of the day on Sunday which affected customers and dealers. Those dealers in the various exhibit halls had good sales but the outside dealers did not do as well.
August weather is not usually a problem, sunny and warm or hot but Topsfield is at the coast of Massachusetts’ North shore so a breeze is typical. Admission is Saturday 8 am till 10 am for dealer preview and 10 am till 5 pm both days regular admission. David has dealers spaces available both inside and outside for this show.
Information 978-535-4811 or www.bornsteinshows.com.
