Klassic Kace, Manchester, N.H.

Paul Davis produced his elegant Rockport Antiques Show, July 21-22, for the fourth summer, highlighting collections from dealers offering many of the finest antiques from early America with some European and Asian additions. The group of 35 dealers had furniture from Jacobean styles right up to late Victorian; early Chinese Export dishes through art glass of the early Twentieth Century; textiles; linens; and even some early toys and jewelry. Davis said, “While business had been slow over the past year, I felt this showed signs of improvement as several dealers sold significant furniture and valuable antiques.”

Margaret Brockway Ofslager had the welcome mat out; actually, she had it hung from the walls of her booth. It was a hand hooked piece that she said was early and for sale to a new home. Ofslager, from West Hartford, Conn., has been a dealer for many years with a collection of those special items that, as one customer said, “I’ve always wanted one of those.” Also found among this weekend’s inventory was a diorama of a Nineteenth Century sailing racer, more hooked mats, a vegetable dryer and several pieces of early country style furniture.

Just across the aisle was Bristol, Maine, dealer Bette Zwicker, who has been in shops and shows for many years. Her collection tends to be country and folk art objects. For this show she was offering a garden gate in wrought iron that probably came from a church or parsonage, a demilune barn shutter in excellent condition and several small pieces of furniture.

Bunker Hill Antiques, Jefferson, Maine

Another dealer of early folk art objects at the weekend’s event was Michael Gallant of Hometown Antiques, Glenburn, Maine. Gallant picks his merchandise from things that must appeal to him as interesting, thought-provoking objects and useful things from the past. His backdrop in the display were two early summer quilts, white with complicated designs very well executed and in very good condition. There was a pair of Maine chairs, similar to Hitchcock, but with horizontal spindles for the back, stencil decorations and rush seats.

Mary Ann Stephens brought a collection of art glass, Chinese Export and porcelain as her collection for the sale. The dealer from Gloucester, Mass., was there for the first time and was not known to many of the show’s regular customers, but even so their reaction to her offerings seemed good.

Addison, Maine, is one of the last towns on the Maine coast before Canada, a drive that takes almost as much time as from Boston to Rockport. It is home to Martin Ferrick, who found the furniture he brought to this show in his home area. In some cases, he has to work on the pieces before they are ready for the market, but it seems successful for him as he had several major sales at the show.

Bette Zwicker, Bristol, Maine

Folk art and funky things with age are the focus for Liberty Tree Antiques of Northport, Maine. Last year this dealer had a shop in a smaller village off the beaten path but she has moved to the shop that used to be Hearts and Roses. Liberty Tree owner Vera Gardiner and her husband were originally from Tennessee but they moved about two years ago to be where they love, Maine, and do the business they want, antiques. Their sales included a rocking horse, a “Birch Point” sign and some small items.

Rose [Reynolds] Cheap, the former owner of Hearts and Roses, has moved to Scottsburg, Ind., with her husband Tom where they have opened a shop. Their antiques activities include many of the big shows in the middle of America, including Richmond, Ind., and Pleasant Hill Shakers in Kentucky. In the summer they still come to Maine where they have family and a place to stay and, of course, they come to do shows. They were here with furniture, game boards, folk art and household accessories and sold several pieces of furniture.

Probably the oldest American piece in the show was a tap table offered by Portland Antiques of Maine. Owner Richard Smith said it was Pennsylvania German from the Seventeenth Century made of walnut with all original wood, including a foot rail even though it was worn. He added that the surface was as found and appeared to be original and the selling price was $9,500.

Liberty Tree Antiques, Northport, Maine

Slocum and Schaffner from West Tisbury, Mass., that’s Martha’s Vineyard, came with something for all American styles. There was a long farm table in great finish; several small paint decorated blanket boxes, one was a flame paint, the other faux grain paint; an American Chippendale chest and several quilts and other small accessories. Old Winterport Commercial House, Winterport, Maine, was offering an early train station bench with reversible back. Sharon Kace, Klassic Kace of Manchester, N.H., had a wall filled with curious old work items now serving as art.

Manchester Antiques now has a shop next to the York Gallery, but they still do shows. Here they brought an early tavern table, a pair of New Hampshire ladder back chairs and an interesting folding worktable, which may have been used by a wallpaper hanger. Sommer & Holden were working together from Phyllis Sommer’s shop in Searsport, Maine. The space had been decorated somewhat like a nautical study with sextants, brass lighting, telescopes and household decorator items.

A few steps away was Faye Montel’s Treasure Chest Antiques, Gardiner, Maine, with a very unusual pond boat model. It looked like a tug boat. A Connecticut dealer was showing an extremely large Christmas feather tree village with buildings, carriages and cars, people and cows, dogs and dog houses. It did not sell at this show for, as the dealer said, it was not out on a good display, but he said it will be soon. His set even includes the box used to ship it from Germany in 1920. Ozad Akrimov, Fair Lawn, N.J., was offering his collection of Oriental rugs.

This show has become one of the promoter’s regular summer events, so look for it again next summer in the middle of July. For more information, www.maineantiquefest.com or 207-563-1013.