Ferguson and D’Arruda produced the fourth annual East Hampton Antiques Show July 10‱1 as a benefit for the local historical society on the grounds of Mulford Farm historic site. The property is much longer than it is wide, so this outdoor affair had a number of long tents to accommodate more than 50 exhibiting dealers. There was also a large area arranged for the Friday evening preview cocktail party for a premium entry fee.
“Antiques in the Hamptons are a much more diverse offering of styles, periods and designs than most anywhere else,” said one designer/dealer in a preshow discussion. Margaret Doyle from Cumberland Foreside, Maine, was showing traditional Georgian furniture with Moderne, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and even some industrial objects. She said her sales were satisfactory for the weekend.
Artifacts, Nashville, Tenn., was offering a collection of untypical lighting. There was a pair of chandeliers made of metal ribbons with a shape similar to inverted ice cream cones; a pair of table lamps that looked like tree trunk sections and many more unique and imaginative ideas. The dealer’s furniture was equally creative in its design, such as a steel table made from an old work platform with riveted legs and a small well derrick as a floor lamp.
Antique American Wicker from James Butterworth and Michael Donovan, Nashua, N.H., was just that †several room settings of early wicker. Butterworth has become an expert over the years he has been trading wicker, and he is able to tell American- from the Asian-made pieces. He has maintained his collection as the best quality and condition he can find.
Lawrence Farms Antiques, Chappaqua, N.Y., offered more traditional antiques with a contemporary flair for the assembly and design. A pair of provincial armchairs were offered with a painted side table and mahogany stand. Prints in the background were early flora subjects and some dining room service was majolica.
Majolica was the majority of the collection for Cara Antiques, Langhorne, Penn. Another Pennsylvanian, Jim Hirsheimer, was showing his collection of folk art and outsider art, including a pair of carved dogs and several weathervanes.
Grandview, N.Y., dealer Michelle Fox, who trades and collects early textiles, especially bed covers, was exhibiting again this year. Her offerings included several early American flags.
Gary Gandelman, Princeton, N.J., was offering an interesting mix †a sofa was Moderne; a porcelain dog, about 3 feet tall, was sitting quietly nearby with several wicker armchairs and an empty early wooden oil cask beside him, to be used as a place to rest a cocktail.
Wall hangings of Nineteenth Century sailing ships were offered by Earl Vandekar of Knightsbridge, with his business located in New York City. The artwork, called woolies, is made by sewing and weaving woolen thread or finely spun yarn of different colors to render an image of the vessel.
Low tables for the conversation areas in a living room, study or office were offered by James Demartis Metal Studio of nearby Amagansett, N.Y. Their bases were very early iron tractor wheels with large lugs made for gripping muddy fields about 100 years ago, with a curled iron base and glass top added.
Thomas Beaton was offering a collection of late Georgian or early Victorian furniture. An attractive and unusual form was a sideboard or dining room server in mahogany, where the ends were handsomely constructed barrels, supported by a stylish cross-buck stand, all connected together with a marble toped serving platform and mahogany backsplash.
Morgan MacWhinnie offers traditional antiques at this show, including early hardwood furniture. He has been a show promoter and antiques dealer all his life even when working for AT&T. His shop in North Sea is crammed full of antiques for the home on most popular American styles. MacWhinnie produces another show on this Mulford Farm site, which takes place this Saturday, August 7.
Another traditional antiques dealer exhibiting at the show was Eve Stone, Woodbury, Conn. Her collection is primarily early copper and other bright metal alloy utensils for the home, primarily the kitchen. While not exclusively French, these objects were typically made there.
Brian Ferguson was quite pleased with their show results, including totals in numbers of dealers and attendance. Ferguson, in a postshow interview, reported, “Sales were good in all categories; very traditional, later styles, even some of the exhibitors in accessories told us they did okay.”
“Obviously Saturday’s rain did hurt some, but this is the kind of show that the customers come to get something, so those who didn’t do it Saturday came in Sunday,” according to his partner, Tom D’Arruda. Look for them again next summer at the end of July 4th week.
Ferguson & D’Arruda’s next antiques show is Little Compton [R.I.] Antiques Festival, Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, at the Sakonnet Vineyards in the Rhode Island village about a half hour from Providence, under tents on the grounds. For information, www.ferguson-darruda.com or 401-273-5550.
