Kathy Johnston again filled all three buildings for the Sterling McCall Antiques Showcase, March 25⁁pril 2, offering antiques from America and Europe of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. The buildings, used to house a private collection of Cadillacs, twice a year are converted into a venue where antiques dealers exhibit and sell their finest collections, regardless of weather.
The Boyce Collection was one of the exhibits in the Historic Neese House. Collecting predominantly Georgian English furniture and accessories, Nancee Boyce said she was very pleased with their results. Sales, she said, included “most of our big furniture and a great many boxes †tea caddies, sewing boxes and more.” She added that although the majolica was not selling as it had in years past, it was good inventory for this show.
Ali Rickstrew, the Kentucky Sandpiper, was having a good time in the Showcase Building with her collection of early smalls and folk art. Memories Antiques, Dunellen, N.J., was selling art glass, Steuben and some early pottery in the same building.
Tom Wester filled the back of the Museum Building with his Tiffany lamps and other glass pieces from the L.C. Tiffany Studios. While his sales were not as strong as last fall’s †when three pieces went for more than $200,000 †he said, “This is my show to do. I get great interest and I believe I will be selling [to some of the customers] from this show.” The centerpiece of his exhibit was a window with lilies and canaries. The price was $300,000.
Ben Fulbright moved to this show last year from one of the other venues in the area. Now with a regular spot, he has his unique collection of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century furniture, clocks and tools available for sale. Among his offerings was a cutting table for bookbinders, complete and in good working order; a watchmaker’s workbench, complete and included some of the tools; and, of course, the clocks, mostly made in Connecticut and in good working order.
Diane Cline, L.P. Cline Gallery, exhibited her collection of oil paintings in the Museum Building. From Chattanooga, Tenn., she acquires her inventory from contemporary artists or their heirs in Russia, where the supply is very good. The works are of good quality for Realist and some Impressionist works generally completed in the last 100 years and the prices are reasonable.
Another dealer welcoming the indoor arena and the air-conditioning was Elegant Reflections from Chicago. The firm’s collection features Nineteenth Century glass and elegant brass, silver and even gold decorative pieces, such as punch sets, candelabras and also a large quantity of oil paintings all in Victorian or baroque styles. Deirdre McLeod, co-owner with her husband, said their sales were good early in the show.
A Mariner’s Compass was the pattern for an early quilt in excellent condition offered as part of the collection from Aunties’ Attic Antiques of St Joseph, Ill. The owners, Priscilla and Richard Lindstrom, had it priced at $1,400.
Sterling McCall Antiques Showcase is the newest of the many shows and markets in Round Top twice each year, ending on the first Saturday of October and April.
By the continued marketing of her show, Johnston expects about 60 dealers for the fall show beginning Friday, September 23, and ending October 1. For information 832-671-7821 or www.sterlingmccallantiques-events.com .
