Patricia Stauble, Wiscasset, Maine

“Truly spectacular” was the opening comment from promoter John DeSimone of Goosefare Promotions in reference to the 26th Annual Camden-Rockport Historical Society Antiques Show. Conducted at Camden-Rockport High School July 22-23, the affair hosted 51 antiques dealers, mostly favoring the early American styles prevalent in New England from colonial times to the Civil War.

DeSimone said furniture was selling again. “We sold a big cupboard, believed to be a Southern piece, with Palladian glass door front and more.” He added that the furniture was moving well both days of the show.

A Brewster, Mass., dealer reportedly sold six pieces of furniture, including a red milk painted hutch table and several formal items. Middletown, Conn., dealer Virginia Renschen sold an early blanket box, also known as a mule chest, which was tagged at $895. This piece had minor repairs to the foot, but the surface was original with red milk paint in a well worn patina. The front was three false drawers at the top blanket box with real drawers below, and the frugal Yankee maker never put pulls on the piece. Virginia’s husband, Pat, was set up beside her with a selection of early silver and other small antiques.

Pat Renschen, Middletown, Conn.

Former Gloucester, Mass., fisherman Roger Pheulpin was offering a collection of small antiques that included a well made hooked mat of a cottage and its surrounding landscape in excellent condition with good color. A novelty piece was a large bug – a fly, perhaps – offered by Woodstock, Maine, dealer Patricia Ann Breame. She also had many more conventional items to offer, including a blue painted sawbuck table and a green bucket bench with fancy cut sides.

Bill Garland said, “It was a good show for me.” Trading as Garland’s Antiques of Jefferson, Maine, he offers his collection at a new shop, Scuttlebutt, in Warren, Maine, and at some shows. Garland said, “I had been trying to get into this show for awhile, and now that I’m in, I’ll be back.” Sales included a sea chest that had been paint decorated with a clipper ship as part of the scene.

Fred and Maureen Fenton’s sales at the show included a shutter, a pair of early church benches and a Sheraton-style American drop leaf table. In addition to shows, the Fentons, who trade as Teacher Antiques, also exhibit in the new shop, Scuttlebutt.

Windle’s Antiques, Wilmington, Del.

French provincial and other late Nineteenth Century styles were the merchandise offered by D.J. Petrick of Rockport, Maine. The exhibit was large, but it was also there to help stimulate local interest in his nearby shop. New England Antiques of Bath, Maine, was there with some of their collection as well. Centered in this weekend’s shop was an American Pembroke table shaped as what is often called a turtle top. The feet were where the game players would place their drink. The table and a pair of chairs beside it were late Sheraton or regency style with heavy turned legs.

Hank and Barbara Harrison of Harrison, Maine, were there with clocks and furniture. Hank does the restoration to most of his clocks, which usually are American tall case grandfather clocks, and in some cases he also restores the furniture. Trading as Heritage Antiques, this was a first time for them in this show and their sales included a dresser, a paint decorated box, a whirligig and numerous small items. Another Mainer, James LeFurgy from Hallowell, was offering some furniture, but his collection at shows is typically small things. He brought with him a hooked mat of a house, about 100 years old, Indian dolls, several baskets and a small diorama of a Nineteenth Century clipper ship.

Michael Perez is formerly from Maine, but now lives in Gainesville, Fla. His collection was primarily small decorative and useful pieces with an exotic flair. He brought some art pottery, early Asian and American metal bowls and vessels and some early English brass. His sales included a painting by a listed artist from California and some other small items.

Patricia Ann Breame, Woodstock, Maine

For one of his first shows, Peter Murphy brought antiques from several styles and periods. His country worktable was attracting great interest at $1,800, as well as the Chippendale Centennial settee. From West Roxbury Mass., he said he is “getting his feet wet with the shows now and I will be doing more over the coming months.”

Marvin and Leslie Wies were there from Baltimore for the first time, and Marvin said, “We did good for a first time in the show.” Their sales included a small worktable and a diorama of an early steam ship.

DeSimone and his wife, Elizabeth, are both the promoters of this and several other shows and also owners of Goosefare Antiques Shop in Wells, Maine. In addition, John teaches computer technology in the area high school, so most but not all of their shows are during his summer break. For information, www.goosefareantiques.com or 207-284-8657.