Jack Donigian nearly had a full house on November 14 for the 35th year of his Sunday morning show †the Milford Antiques Show †conducted every Sunday from early October through late March. The show moved into the large tennis courts at Hampshire Hill Tennis Club five years ago after 30 years at St Stan’s Church Hall in Nashua, N.H. The show is still known as St Stan’s to longtime dealers and collectors.
Donigian’s show has the reputation as a very active market, nothing fancy, just real antiques at reasonable prices, and for the exhibiting dealers, low rents and usually good sales.
Stoneblock Antiques and Greg Hamilton were there with a large collection of “great stuff, and we sold a great deal of it; had a great day!” Before it got into the building, just sliding it off the van, a one-horse open sleigh sold from its tagged price of $1,000. It needed cleaning and a good paint job, but it was all there, including the waffle tree, all the iron fittings and trim work and even decent upholstery on the seat. Hamilton also sold some rugs, silver and an assortment of small antiques.
Across the aisle, John Anderson was offering a wonderful collection of very early furniture and small antiques. His centerpiece was a chair table, or small round hutch table in native woods, and excellent original condition. Sharing the exhibit space with Candlewick Antiques, as both are located in Milford, there were three tables filled with small antiques, including early Christmas decorations, vanity tray boxes, sewing paraphernalia and some early earthenware.
Art Bennett, Waitsfield, Vt., has been doing this show frequently for the past few years. He has stock which he said, “sells well here, including a lot of Old Sheffield plate and some sterling silver. Today a pair of Sheffield [candle] sticks went early and some other silver and some transfer ware.”
With one table filled with banjo clocks from the last 150 years, Bob DeLuca was having a good show selling a few of them. The Amesbury, Mass., dealer said he bought the entire collection at one house call.
In spite of the short nature of this show, many exhibitors bring a good collection of furniture. Jonathan Smith of Tilton, N.H., was offering a booth filled with early New England made primitive furniture, including a pine blanket chest in original red milk paint finish, several smaller chests and a hardwood, possibly butternut, document box.
Among the more unusual items was an Eighteenth Century gentleman’s wig and three cornered hat found in somebody’s attic. Kurt Mansbach purchased it in an estate sale near his Marshfield, Mass., home.
Offering a Chauncey Jerome pillar and scroll clock was Charles King from Keene, N.H. His collection included several Native American artifacts, including a very early hammer. Bruce Miller, Raymond, N.H., had so many small antiques, his booth was taking a long time to get through by many visitors who, in some cases, said, “What is that for?” or alternatively, “I haven’t seen one of those in a long time.” He had enough early clothespins for Monday’s wash, wooden hair curlers, firkins, lighting, pantry boxes and much more.
Through the end of March, Hampshire Hills Tennis Club is where Jack Donigian and about 75 to 80 of his friends will spend their Sunday mornings from 8:30 am until noon. For additional information, www.milfordantiqueshow.com or 781-329-1192.
