Not only were the leaf peepers out in force last weekend to celebrate Columbus Day Weekend, but so were the throngs of antiques dealers and collectors that were shopping the five-show series that has come to be known as Antiques Week in Vermont.
Things got off to a quick start on Thursday evening, October 4, with the preview party for the Weston Antiques Show. A large crowd of collectors, as well as supporters of the historic Weston Playhouse, for which the show is a benefit, were in attendance and the crowd was in a buying mood. Massachusetts dealers Charles and Barbara Adams reported a very good show, “even selling some brown furniture, which we haven’t done in a long time,” reported Barbara. The show opened to the public on Friday morning, and once again a good crowd was on hand for the show.
The attention shifted on a northerly direction for the remainder of the day as an action-packed afternoon and evening was set to take place in the ski town of Ludlow. The 19th annual Okemo Antiques Show opened to a crowd of a couple hundred enthusiastic shoppers at 3 on Friday afternoon, October 5, and buying was brisk throughout the three-hour preview party. Promoters Don and Patt Clegg were quite pleased with not only the attendance but also the amount of buying that was taking place.
The crowd headed to the eastern end of town late on Friday afternoon and shoppers began forming a line around 5 pm at the Ludlow Armory for the 47th annual Ludlow Antiques Show. Having relocated this year from the high school, the armory was conveniently located at the other end of the parking lot. Since the show no longer had to work around the high school’s schedule, the show was actually afforded a proper amount of time for dealers to set up their booths this year. And not to worry, the armory boasted an excellent kitchen facility, so no one missed the preview party dinner for which the show has gained a stellar reputation.
Low cloud cover masking the mountaintops provided for a nice drive on Saturday morning to Bromley Mountain in nearby Peru, where 30 exhibitors awaited the hoard of shoppers. This show always seems to be the most action-packed, not only due to the tight quarters and large crowds, but also to the excellent selection of merchandise. Business was fast-paced at the show during the preview breakfast party and also when the show opened to the public later that morning.
The action shifted in a southerly direction once again on Sunday morning for the opening of Antiques in Vermont in Manchester Center. The largest of the shows, this event also saw one of the largest crowds awaiting early admission at 8 am. As the crowds rushed onto the floor, sold tags began appearing in lots of the booths, including Colleen Kinloch, where a large bench in mustard paint was sold, as was an early Pembroke table with shaped leaves and a wall cupboard in old paint.
A complete review of Antiques Week in Vermont will appear in a future issue.
