The Greater Boston Antiques Festival was conducted on November 19-20, at the Shriner’s Auditorium.

Show producer Marvin Getman has been at this a long time – he produced his first show 26 years ago in Boston at the Park Plaza Castle on New Year’s Day in 1981. Getman brings an interesting perspective to the show promotion business. With a background in marketing and promotion, he was not an antiques dealer, the direction from which many show promoters have come. Getman events are heavily publicized, with an easy-to-use website, which provides links to some of the dealers’ own websites. His shows are also reasonably priced from the exhibitors’ point of view. Getman draws a crowd from the opening bell to the final moments of his show. There is a steady stream of customers, who know they will find good quality period American and European furniture, art pottery, antique quilts, fine American art, folk art, hooked rugs, Moderne design furniture and accessories.

This dramatic mask in the center of the booth of Boston Antique Cooperative, Boston, was part of an eclectic and upscale booth, whose proprietors said they were “quite happy” with the show.

The Greater Boston Antiques Festival is a big show, with morethan 160 dealers from 11 states. The spacious facility where ittakes place is in a business park, and there is lots of parking,making it easy for both the customers and the dealers.

In a postshow interview, Getman commented that, as is his practice, he had done a survey of the dealers. “Of the 60 percent of the dealers who responded, 55 percent did ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ in terms of sales,” said Getman. “Smalls were selling better than furniture. If someone came with good smalls or good collectibles, they did well. Quilts were selling at this show. Lin’s Quilt Source from Bristol, Conn., did well on both days. Bob Frishman, the veteran clock dealer from Bell Time Clocks in Andover, Mass., sold eight clocks during the two-day show. Fine art dealers Roy and Sheila Mennell, who handle mostly Nineteenth Century and Twentieth Century Cape Cod art, sold on both days of the show.”

Crone Collectibles was set up at the front of the show and had a booth of fine quality art pottery. Meg Chalmers and Judy Young, principals of the firm, have written a book on Saturday Evening Girls pottery, which they were proudly displaying in their booth. They were pretty pleased with the two-day show. Pat Reece and John Rice from Portsmouth, N.H., were set up with their folky collection of painted furniture, Indian material and period hooked rugs.

Matt King and Camille Buda from Kingston, Mass., were very pleased with the show, and Beverly Bernson of Altschuler, Berson, Waban, Mass, had a wonderful selection of American and English Nineteenth and Twentieth Century smalls. She was set up with R.C. Bowen from Maine. The pair said they had “a fabulous show.” Scanlon Family Antiques from South Burlington, Vt., sold five case pieces of furniture.

Bob Frishman of Bell Time Clocks from Andover, Mass., found new homes for eight clocks at this show. “It’s part of our clock adoption service,” quipped Frishman.

There is a lot of variety at this antiques event. One couldfind a large and very good selection of period tramp art shown bySholl Antiques. There were several examples of African art,American Indian material, lots of good china and vintage glass.

There were framed botanical prints shown by Mark Brady and Anne Hall, Sturbridge, Mass., and a terrific mask from the Congo shown by Boston Antique Co-op, Charles Street, Boston. Stylish period woodblock prints sold well, especially in the booth of Ingeborg Antiques, which reported “We have had an excellent show.” John White and Warren Brown from Center Chimney Antiques in Bristol, R.I., had a good looking booth with several pieces of formal American furniture and lots of good quality accessories.

Hartmann House from East Bridgewater, Mass., showed this still life with flowers.

A pleased Getman said, “Our gate was within ten of last year.As an industry, promoters and dealers need to reach out to newcustomers.” It is clear that Getman is doing just that,aggressively reaching out to attract people. All the dealersinterviewed commented on how Getman brings in the gate. It is awinning formula that keeps both the retail customers and thedealers coming back for more.

The next Greater Boston Antiques Festival will bring 162 dealers from 13 states to the Shriner’s Auditorium on January 21-22.

For information, 781-862-4038 or www.neantiqueshows.com.