Ralph Willard was again pleased with the reception given his show, American Antiques at Rifle Hall, in his fourth year as owner and manager of one of Round Top Week’s original antiques shows. The show opened Friday, March 25, and ran through Wednesday, March 30, giving the event and its exhibitors the early exposure they all felt would enhance their sales.
Not a rookie, but only trading in antiques for about the last five years, Pat Turner did “really well. We sold a great variety, including some of our big pieces like the Southern writing desk in yellow pine.” From Lindale, Texas, she also sold a tall step back cupboard in old red buttermilk paint and several advertising displays, which included a yeast cabinet.
Texan Jean Compton was at her usual place in the show, on the stage or bandstand for the six days. Her sales were good, with “a little of this and some of that.” More specifically, her sales included “a wonderful African American quilt in bright colors and excellent condition from the 1800s, several early Mammy dolls, textiles, toys and some early furniture.” From Wimberley, Jean maintains a shop and does a variety of shows in the Midwest and Southwest, where she can add to as well as sell from her collection.
Exhibiting at Rifle Hall for more than 30 years, Jean Doty and her husband, Roy, of Beaumont, Texas, were reporting that sales were okay. Roy said they sold many small antiques, including some early chairs, a dome top box and much more. They spend nearly a month in New England each year shopping for their inventory and collection; this year it will include the spring edition of Brimfield Week.
Woody and Nancy Straub, Umatilla, Fla., were there in their usual place, offering mostly fine American art from the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Karen Buckingham, a Massachusetts native transplanted to Burleson, Texas, was offering a collection of early painted furniture, most of which would be right at home in New England.
Bill Kelly, Limington, Maine, sold painted furniture from the Eighteenth Century, the wooden paneled wall from an Eighteenth Century New England home and accessories of similar style. One pantry box in excellent condition and paint sold for serious money.
Rita McNair, Foley, Ala., wrote up sales of a Southern pine plantation desk, a set of four arrow back, plank seated chairs with some of their mustard paint still evident, and a circa 1700 candlestand. The pillar and school clock she was offering did not sell, but it was all there, including its original wooden works.
As part of the resurgence of the show this year, dates were altered to be the weekend prior to many of the Round Top Antiques Week events continuing through the opening of The Original Round Top Antiques Fair.
The fall edition of this twice-yearly show will open with a preview reception on Sunday, September 25, and run through September 29, allowing it to be among the early shows, while overlapping The Original Round Top Antiques Fair and Marburger Farm shows. For more details, www.ralphwillardantiqueshows.com or 214-826-2584.
