Donna East of Worcester, Mass., offered a fine early Twentieth Century sheet iron weathervane in the form of a still.

Antiques amid the formal gardens of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society proved an irresistible draw for buyers and sellers at the Antiques at Elm Bank show last month. Dealers numbered 154 and represented a substantial cross-section of the antiques trade.

The setting was spectacular – the 36-acre Elm Bank along the banks of the Charles River – now the headquarters of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Dealers were set up in several locations around the property affording showgoers a chance to view the sumptuous Olmsted-designed gardens that were at their very best. Pristine rows of white tents accommodated 127 exhibitors from 14 states and England. Nineteen others were situated in the grand 1907 Georgian Revival manor house, which is undergoing restoration and has not been open for nearly 20 years. Another eight dealers set up in the newly restored carriage house.

The show was the first such event on the grounds of the old estate and show manager Marvin Getman, principal of New England Antiques Shows, managed the logistics with meticulous care. His efforts paid off. Despite the sultry day, the setting proved irresistible and serious looking led to serious buying. The strength of the show and the gate overrode the weather. People came out to buy and buy they did. The festivity was heightened by the summer tunes of keyboardist Lou Yelle who plays at all the New England Antiques Shows events.

Blue Heron Interiors of Cohasset, Mass., and Birch Knoll Antiques of Wolfeboro, N.H., shared a room in the Elm Bank manor house where a circa 1820 Boston classical mahogany table set with a five-piece sterling silver tea service was the centerpiece.

Donna East of Worcester, Mass., who was set up in the manor house, offered very desirable folk art ranging from a wall hung with Mose Tolliver paintings on wood, a copper banner weathervane with a ripple tail, an Uncle Sam whirligig, a North Carolina double handled jug that retained the char marks from its wood firing in a groundhog kiln, a nice Eighteenth Century redware loaf dish with combware decoration and a handsome Canadian papier mache butcher shop display sign. East also brought a captivating early Twentieth Century sheet iron weathervane in the form of a still.

Bob Frishman of Bell-Time Clocks in Andover, Mass., wrote in an email that thanks to the numbers of show attendees, he seemed to have people in his booth for almost the entire show. He sold six clocks and gave out more than 100 business cards for future sales and repair work.

Fury B. Gilad of Madison, N.Y., offered an eclectic range that included a 1906 beadwork pincushion, an early Chinese sharkskin rectangular case, a colorful array of ice fishing decoys accented by a necklace of bright red polished coral. She also offered a brass alms plate that was dated 1503 and a group of Victorian carpet balls.

A Mottahedeh carp tureen commanded attention in the booth of Mimi’s Antiques of Columbia, Md. Its size (21 inches) and vivid colors (orange and salmon with gilt) made it a standout among the fine selection of Japanese and Chinese porcelain for sale.

The Bradford Trust of Harwichport on Cape Cod displayed perennially desirable works by Cape Cod and Cape Ann artists. Sheila and Roy Mennell showed Cyrus Dallin’s 1910 casting of “The Scout” and two Cape Ann paintings, “Boats in Gloucester Harbor” by James King Bonnar and “Sails in the Harbor” by Cape Ann artist J.J. Enright.

John C. Weld of Yarmouthport, Mass., had a fine array of Victorian majolica displayed in a spacious hallway of the manor house at Elm Bank.

The circa 1910 painting “The Three Sisters,” a view painted from life by E.G. Lewis of the three lighthouses along the outer Cape, attracted a lot of attention. The artist is unknown, although there was a superintendent of lighthouses with the same last name. Speaking several days after the show Roy Mennell said the show was their best so far this year and that they sold a number of paintings and two Chinese stands.

Meg Chalmers and Judy Young call themselves “the crones” and operate Crones Collectibles in Brewster, Mass. They brought along a tempting array of American, English and European art pottery that included a choice representation of Rookwood, Roseville and Weller; Saturday Evening Girls, Grueby and Marblehead. Copies of their book, Saturday Evening Girls: Paul Revere Pottery, were also for sale.

Blue Heron Interiors of Cohasset, Mass., and Birch Knoll Antiques of Wolfeboro, N.H., shared a space where they created a gracious room setting they filled with fine furniture and paintings. A circa 1820 Boston Classical mahogany table on a stunning base was a centerpiece of the offerings and was set with a five-piece sterling silver tea service; but a circa 1825 New York Federal mahogany server was also of interest as well as a pair of expansively carved George III side chairs. Pictures of summer proved themselves, and such soothing images as Milton H. Lowell’s “Late Summer Afternoon,” George W. Drew’s “Sunset along the Coast” and “Summer Landscape” by Albert Babb Insley drew buyers’ attention.

Dealers were effusive in their praise of the show: One emailed show manager Marvin Getman to say, “Thank you again for your tremendous effort in making the Elm Bank show such a smashing success. We’ve been doing shows for about 25 years and there is no doubt in my mind that this production in Wellesley was one of the best, if not the best, shows ever. The enthusiasm and the energy were almost unprecedented!!!!!” Other dealers echoed the sentiments and many asked to be included in Getman’s next show in Wellesley.

The 21-inch orange and salmon colored Mottahedeh carp tureen stood out dramatically among the Japanese and Chinese porcelain shows by Mimi’s Antiques of Columbia, Md.

J. and M. Antiques of East Amherst, N.Y., offered some appealing country pieces including a very nice tiger maple stand, some toleware and other smalls and a Netherlandish folk painting that resounded with “Little Red Riding Hood.”

Bert Rosengarten of Medfield, Mass., had two tiger maple washstands that attracted attention. They were on view with a snazzy pair of Westinghouse salesman’s street lamps from the 1920s. Rosengarten also had for sale a row of Nineteenth Century helmets that may have been from a theatrical production. They rested on the lower shelf of a Regency-style faux bamboo étagère made by Maitland-Smith.

Across the way, from Brooklyn, N.Y., Paula Cohen’s booth – Your Grandma Had It – featured an eye-catching teaset that was hand painted tole on enamel. The teaset was painted with botanically correct flowers and was made in Europe in the Nineteenth Century. Your Grandma Had It also had a display of large white ironstone pitchers, another of white footed bowls, a selection of green and blue art pottery and selections of McCoy and Red Wing pottery.

Speare Interiors of Wellesley, Mass., showed a fine birdhouse.

Antiques on Eleven of Verona, Va., displayed its trademark painted country furniture, but the dominant element was far and away the enormous carved fan that took up an entire wall. Antiques and Uniques of Sutton, Mass., brought racks of sturdy stoneware and a selection of graphically pleasing shoemaker lasts. At Sport Hill Antiques of Redding, Conn., Candy and Rick Pirozzoli stacked painted chests atop a lively Indian rug, a combination that lent their booth a splash of color. They also offered other nice country objects and furniture that were painted and au natural.

Showgoers really were At Home with Heidi, the Stratford, Conn., dealer who showed a tempting array of iron and other metal summer furniture. The graceful curves and arches were nicely suited to the venue and the day.

Half hulls and good pottery graced the booth of Times Past & Pastimes of Cape Porpoise, Maine, and visitors gave the booth far more than a passing glance.

From Easthampton, Mass., R&R Collectibles brought all manner of clocks: shelf clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks and an English tall clock by Thomas Morrow that was made in the late 1800s. As is their custom, Rae and Bob McCarthy also offered a vibrant range of flags.

The Boston Antiques Cooperative booth was jammed for much of the day and business was transacted at a rapid rate, with smalls being particularly popular.

A casual poll of exhibitors suggests that the Elm Bank Antiques Show is well on its way to becoming an institution. For information, 781-862-4039 or www.neantiqueshows.com.