Opening on Friday evening for a unique dinner preview party, October 5, the 48th annual Ludlow Antiques Show and Sale was the third show in the Antiques Week In Vermont series to open. The show saw one of the largest crowds in memory waiting for the doors to swing open at the new venue, the armory which was conveniently located at the far end of the parking lot from the high school, the show’s previous location.
The new location proved to be a positive move as dealers no longer had to wait until school let out of session on Friday afternoon to begin setup. The show has gained a stellar reputation over the years, not only for the fresh merchandise offered around the floor, but also for the super supper provided on preview night by chef/show managers Ann Firkey and Carol Baranowski. While somewhat smaller than the kitchen facilities in the school, the armory’s kitchen was more than sufficient to prepare a meal that kept the crowd happy and coming back for seconds.
The line to get into the Ludlow show began forming well before 5 pm, and by the time the managers were ready to swing the doors open at 7 pm, the line of shoppers extended across the front of the building, across the sidewalk, up the stairs and back into the parking lot. As shoppers hit the floor, merchandise began selling at a quick pace. Honesdale, Penn., dealers Anne and Bob Lynch started off on a good foot with the sale of a robin’s egg blue painted six-board blanket box with a cutout bracket base that sold within moments of the show opening to the public. A neat wrought iron flamingo-form trade sign was another quick sale.
Martha Perkins, Ashby, Mass., offered a diversified selection of wares ranging from a large selection of brightly decorated children’s seashore pails to a stack of painted firkins. Quilts and stuffed animals were also popular in the booth.
“That is a rare one,” commented dealer John Smart, Rutland, Vt., in regards to a large marked New York City stoneware jar by Crolius with open handles and cobalt decoration. A marked piece of Solomon Bell stoneware with leafy blue decoration was next to it, as was a smaller crock marked “RT Williams, New Geneva.” The stand was filled with lots of interesting items ranging from a chip-carved wall shelf in old blue-green paint to a reverse painted glass sign with a classic Deco-styled car and an offer to “finance your next auto loan here.” Early decoys, a rotund stuffed bear, an Arts and Crafts stool with original leather seat marked L&JG Stickley and a nice Marblehead art pottery bowl rounded out the selection.
A nice horse weathervane was at the booth of Debby and Terry Smith, Port Leyden, N.Y., along with a selection of shorebirds. A neat set of puppets included jesters, pirates, cops and robbers and clowns, cast iron banks, toy boats and carved wooden fish were also offered.
Native American jewelry was popular in the booth of Leo and Judy Srodawa, Canandaigua, N.Y., where a large selection of rugs and carpets were also shown.
Jerry and Susan Hartman, East Bridgewater, Mass., offered a large rooster weathervane that was displayed on top of a nice early table in a dry green paint. A pair of birdcage Windsor side chairs flanked the display. Other items from the booth included a student’s lamp and a Nineteenth Century broadside advertising a local auction.
