A good variety of Americana was offered at a small and select show hosted by Nan Gurley on the Thursday of Brimfield Week, just six miles east of the mega-markets, at the Sturbridge Host Hotel. The one-day show, May 12, opened to the public with early buying at 1 pm, opened for general admission at 2 pm, and closed a scant three hours later.
A large crowd of shoppers was on hand for the early buying opening, and customers eagerly snapped up merchandise around the floor. Primarily smalls, merchandise ranged from hooked rugs to vintage couture, from treen and tole to tip-top tables and trade signs.
Westford, Mass., dealer Shirley Chambers offered a good selection of early smalls, including a carved wooden black duck decoy with unusual outstretched canvas wings. A small plate rack in a blue-gray paint with spoon notches across the front was displayed alongside a selection of pewter plates and a coffee pot.
A nice paint decorated sled was an early seller from the stand of Suzanne Strickland, Kennebunk, Maine. Mocha, soft paste and other fanciful porcelains were also offered. Ken and Robin Pike, Nashua, N.H., offered a game wheel in bright yellow and red paint, a set of white painted duck pins, a colorful penny rug and a grain painted document box.
An unusual duck-form candy container was among a selection of the German novelties available at Tommy Thompson, Pembroke, N.H. Florida dealer Maxine Craft brought a selection of early furniture that quickly found buyers. Also on view were several early portraits, hooked rugs and trade signs.
At Kathy Schoemer’s stand, the head vendor in charge was keeping a watchful eye on her assortment of folk dolls that were being playfully eyeballed by the youngest vendor, Maddy, Kathy’s 3-month-old Australian Sheppard pup. Of particular interest was a small bench in old gray paint that was lined with an assortment of the enticing dolls.
Much to the dismay of shoppers, Sturbridge is only being hosted by Gurley once a year and will not be conducted in July or September. For further information, www.nangurley.com or 207-625-3577.
