John DeSimone said that this line of folks awaiting the show opening was the longest that they ever had. Attendance was strong throughout the day. Photo courtesy Goosefare Promotions.
Onsite Review & Photos by Rick Russack
WELLS, MAINE — Moments after the Wells Antiques Show opened on June 30, John DeSimone, Goosefare Antiques & Promotions, said of the line awaiting admission, “I think that was the longest line I’ve ever seen here.” This show, deservedly so, is rapidly gaining the reputation of being one of the region’s best. It is now in its 23rd year, having begun in 2000, but skipping a year during the pandemic. The setting, on the grounds of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, couldn’t be any better. Although weather forecasts were poor a few days before the show opened, it was bright and sunny. When the day arrived, a total of 75 dealers participated, and while there has been some turnover, the first-time exhibitors we spoke with were fine additions to the roster. Along with country Americana and folk art, there were early ceramics in several booths, redware and stoneware was abundant, as were Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century painted and formal furniture, early textiles, lighting devices and paintings. Three large tents housed multiple dealers while some set up their own tents; a large, vintage barn with a milking parlor also housed dealers. A portion of the grounds are not used because it is the season for some of the birds nesting in the area.
One of the most unusual items at the show was a huge Nineteenth Century weathered copper cauldron. It was well over 4 feet tall and — having a 2-inch-thick bottom — was very heavy. It was in the booth of Jason Smith, North Berwick, Maine, who was exhibiting at this show for the first time. Though he did not know what it had originally been used for, he priced it $2,450 and sold it. He also had a very large embossed steel or tin barrel, which also had a weathered surface.
“I’ve no idea what it was used for,” Jason Smith answered honestly when asked what this very large, very heavy copper cauldron was used for. We do know that it was marked $2,450 and that it sold. North Berwick, Maine.
Some of the dealers with early furniture included Hilary Nolan, Falmouth, Mass. He was particularly proud of a circa 1800 eight-drawer tall chest. He said it was probably from New Hampshire, “I’ve never had an eight-drawer tall chest. There are plenty with six drawers and some with seven but not eight.” The chest was constructed of maple, with old, replaced hardware and was just 35 inches wide. He also had a small three-drawer Eighteenth Century Dutch chest that he tagged $950; it sold shortly after the show opened.
Don Heller and Kim Washam, Portland, Maine, had several pieces of early American furniture in their booth. One was a reverse serpentine-front slant-lid desk, which they said had been made in Massachusetts around 1780. It had a shell-carved interior, period brasses and was priced $3,600. They were asking $3,250 for a Queen Anne tiger maple tea table, probably made in New Haven, Conn., circa 1780. It had a rectangular top, cabriole legs and pad feet. They also had a circa 1720 William and Mary gate-leg table for which they were asking $3,900. A Connecticut five-drawer tall chest, circa late Eighteenth Century, was marked at $1,650. Martin Ferrick, Lincolnville, Maine, offered at $1,595 a four-drawer New Hampshire Hepplewhite chest, circa 1820.
Few dealers take the time, or are willing to devote the space, to set up a large four-post bed, but one who did was Interiors with Provenance from Granite Point, Maine. The example they had was a large bird’s-eye maple Nineteenth Century bed with boldly turned posts, tagged $1,200. The side rails had been extended a few inches to accommodate a full-size mattress.
Peter Eaton, Wiscasset, Maine, said this late Eighteenth Century ash stool was only the second of its type that he had seen in more than 50 years of dealing in early furniture. The price was $850.
Al Benting, Jarvis and Benting, Barrington, N.H., had a large, elaborately carved and gilded circa 1800 French wall clock/barometer. It was not marked with the maker’s name.
From Wiscasset, Maine, Peter Eaton had a late Eighteenth Century ash stool, with original black paint and a rush seat that was probably original. He said, “it’s only the second one I’ve had in 50 years” and he priced it at $850. He also offered a Connecticut splat-back side chair, with an original black surface for which he was asking $650. Oliver Garland, Falmouth, Mass., had a small Eighteenth Century tiger maple oval top tavern table marked $1,750.
Dennis Raleigh and Phyliss Sommer, Pumpkin Patch Antiques, Searsport, Maine, had a booth in the barn with folk art and furniture. They did well, and after the show said, “We had an excellent Wells Show ringing up 12 sales, six of which were paintings. We also sold a nice candlestand in black paint plus several very good smalls. The attendance was incredible. The Wells Show is coming into its own on several counts.”
Portland’s Maine Central Railroad and B&M Railroad station was demolished in 1961 to make way for a shopping center. Bob Mortimer, Falmouth, Maine, was asking $1,950 for this painting of the station.
Paintings were available throughout the show, ranging from historical scenes to just plain fun ones. Bob Mortimer, Falmouth, Maine, had a large painting on panel picturing a large urban stone railroad station similar to those built in the late Nineteenth Century. It depicted the Maine Central and Boston and Maine station in Portland, Maine, which was built in 1888 and was in service until late 1960; in 1961 it was demolished and replaced by a shopping center. Mortimer priced the painting $1,950.
Bruce Emonds, The Village Braider, Plymouth, Mass., had two of the fun kind of paintings. One was an English mid-Twentieth Century painting of a well-dressed bulldog wearing a red slumber cap. It was titled “Sleepy Head,” had a humorous verse and sold shortly after the show opened. Emonds also had one depicting several pigs and piglets, signed “Huber,” which was priced at $750.
Chris Stanley, Bremen, Maine, had a circa 1870 painting showing Bangor, Maine, for which he was asking $355. He also offered an unusual book that appealed to nautical enthusiasts from yesteryear and today: a 1956 copy of the Ashley Book Of Knots, by Clifford Ashley. Spanning more than 600 pages, it pictured around 3,900 knots with additional illustrations of how to tie them. Its subtitle read, “Every Practical Knot–What It Looks Like, Who Uses It, Where It Comes From, and How to Tie It;” $95 was the asking price.
Tom Jewett and Butch Berdan were asking $2,250 for this decorated birch bark canoe that measured about 4 feet long. It was made in Quebec and was signed by the maker. New Castle, Maine.
Folk art included a large iron rooster trade sign in Al Benting’s booth priced at $450. Emily Lampert, Wenham Cross Antiques, Salisbury, Mass., had a carved mermaid, about 4 feet tall, for which she was asking $395.
In addition to silhouettes, Jewett-Berdan Antiques, New Castle, Maine, had a large decorated birch bark canoe. Priced $2,250, it was signed by Francois Newashish, part of the Newashish family who were members of the Atikamekw community in Manawan, Quebec. They also had a detailed cast iron weeping willow iron cemetery gate that was priced $750.
There were several weathervanes to be had. Dennis Raleigh and Phyliss Sommer, Pumpkin Patch Antiques, Searsport, Maine, included a Hackney horse example that measured more than 30 inches long with exactly the type of surface collectors are looking for. Ron Bassin, Bird in Hand Antiques, Florham Park, N.J., had a 33-inch full-bodied rooster on an iron tipped arrow directional. They were asking $3,200.
Brian Cullity, Sagamore, Mass., had a selection of Westerwald jugs and several pieces of redware. Malcolm Magruder, Millwood, Va., had several pieces of old English and Dutch Delft with prices ranging from $750 to $1,500.
Paul and Karen Wendhiser, Ellington, Conn., brought some midcentury glassware for the next generation of collectors. Most were priced under $100.
Mocha ware was in several booths, as was stoneware. Glassware spanning more than two centuries was also available. John Hunt Marshall, Westhampton, Mass., had Eighteenth Century Dutch black glass hand-blown bottles priced between $575 and $650. At the other end of the date spectrum, Paul and Karen Wendhiser, Ellington, Conn., had a large selection of mid-Twentieth Century glass, most of which was priced less than $100.
Jane and David Thompson, South Dennis, Mass., brought a selection of books, historical photographs and more. One interesting item was the Barritt-Serviss “Star and Planet Finder,” a paperboard “Guide to The Heavens Without A Telescope,” published in 1906. Following detailed instructions, it did exactly what it claimed to. Their example was in fine condition and was priced $295. After the show the Thompsons sent us an email: “We wanted to tell you the very nice thing that happened after you photographed the antique star finder in our booth at Wells. A young father came along and said he wanted to buy it. Then he told us that his son is completely into astronomy and he was buying it to hang in his son’s bedroom. We asked how old his son is, and he said ‘eight.’ He wanted to have all the information that went with it, too. When we saw the father again, he was carrying a Victorian doll’s dresser. He said that he didn’t want his 4-year-old daughter to feel left out, so he bought that for her room. Nice! Thought you’d like to know. We really enjoyed the customers who came to the show.”
Priced at $295, the 1906 Barritt-Serviss “Star and Planet Finder” was in the booth of Jane and David Thompson, South Dennis, Mass. It sold early in the show.
At the snack bar, we overheard a comment from a customer who appeared to be in his 60s. “I don’t know much about this stuff, but I don’t buy anything new; I love the old stuff.” It’s this attitude that is great for the antiques business.
A few days after the show, John DeSimone said, “I think this show was the best one we’ve ever had here. The crowd just kept coming in and the gate was the highest we’ve had. I know there was one customer, a retail buyer, who came in about 11 am and stayed until about 2:30. He was from western Massachusetts and just kept buying good stuff. I know that a $3,000 item sold and I’ve had emails from some of the exhibitors telling me how well they did.”
The next show managed by Goosefare Antiques & Promotions will be the 56th New London (N.H.) Historical Society Antiques Show & Sale on July 27, followed on August 10 by a new show: Antiques on the Mashpee Commons, on Cape Cod.
For additional information, www.goosefareantiques.com or 800-641-6908.
