R.S. Kissam, Northport, N.Y.
South Bay Auctions’ display at the show.
The June Bridgehampton Summer Antique Show was conducted at the Community House on June 19-20. Produced by South Bay Auctions, Inc, there were about 35 dealers with a wide range of antiques from American formal and country to English and European to Asian and rugs.
The show’s history includes about 15 years under the management of local dealers Morgan MacWhinnie and Jean Lauer. South Bay Auctions took over about five years ago, continuing the long tradition of offering a very wide variety of antiques from dealers who are primarily in the greater New York area
South Bay Auctions, Inc has been an auction company for more than 20 years. It is headquartered in East Mo-riches, a little west of Bridgehampton, or, as it is often referred to in the area, “West of the bridge,” a bridge over the Shinnecock Canal that has come to symbolize the separation between the Hamptons and the rest of the world. This is largely due to the driving and roads in the area, as east of the bridge there are mostly two lanes, slow traffic, stoplights, etc, and west of it, there are four lanes, divided roadways and no lights, so driving is faster.
Isette Talpe and Henry Broggi began their business while still teaching school in Bridgehampton. Broggi said his school once had a charity auction and he was drafted into becoming the auctioneer. He liked doing it and seemed to be good getting the stuff sold. Talpe had been involved with antiques since the late 1960s, first as a collector for her own home then as a dealer doing shows, including Hartford and some for Russell Carrell. Together they took the next step, opening their own auction house, which has been very successful.
Bridgehampton Community House was built in 1921 and dedicated in 1923 as a facility to fill the local needs for a meeting place, according to Julie Greene, state archivist on Long Island collections. It is used for meetings, exhibits, sales and antiques shows. South Bay has two in the building, using the main floor and a lower level to accommodate about 22 exhibiting dealers.
Guarding the entrance was a pair of cast stone lions priced at $4,000. Just behind them was Portsmouth, R.I.-based Web and Jill and Wilson’s LooLoo Design, with an extensive collection of Nineteenth Century door hardware. Wilson has recently released his book, a price guide on early hardware; copies were available at the show.
Jim Campbell was offering a collection for an antique bedroom, including a mahogany bed, a Federal period chest of drawers with glove box drawers, some early rugs and coverlets. William Grotheer had some early Chinese export dishes, which were housed in small tables of Chippendale style along with an extensive collection of small antiques from his shop. Grotheer and Campbell are from Huntington, N.Y., and work together along with R.S. (Toby) Kissam of Northport, N.Y., as volunteers producing one show each in the winter in their home area of Greenlawn, Northport and Lloyd Harbor. Kissam was also set up here with his specialty, early maps and nautical charts, especially of the area.
Patricia Barger, Fairfield, Conn., can be found at better shows throughout the East. She offered a Duncan Phyfe-style sofa in excellent condition, a mahogany Chippendale secretary desk, a Governor Winthrop-style desk and her specialty, several tall-case clocks. Sally Orent, Ltd, Bayshore, N.Y., had a large assortment of Oriental accessories. Brooklyn, N.Y., dealer Victoria’s Antique Quilts was there, with quilts, and Giovanelli Fine Arts, New York City, had fine art.
Show co-founder Jean Lauer had a small display with a showcase filled with early porcelain in addition to some furniture. Morgan MacWhinnie, the other co-founder, is primarily a furniture dealer offering American furniture from colonial to Revolutionary periods. He had a particularly sweet child’s chair, circa 1775, in old paint with a splint seat and priced at $850.
South Bay Auctions had two exhibits on the lower level. The first was of antiques for sale at the show and it included a hutch table, which sold, and other early American furniture. The second display was a preview of the July 3 auction that was to be conducted at its East Moriches Gallery.
South Bay Auctions’ next show is again at the Bridgehampton Community House, Route 27, also known as Montauk Highway, Friday-Sunday, August 13-15. For information, 631-878-2909 or .
