There were several major changes this year concerning the Bedford Historical Society Antiques Show, but, “We were pleasantly surprised with everything,” Lynn Ryan, executive director said. First, the dates of the show were changed so as not to conflict with the Caramoor Antiques Show just down the road. And equally as important, the dealer list took on a whole new look, with 11 of the 18 dealers taking part new to the show.
“We enlisted a good group of dealers this year, most reported having respectable sales, and we are hoping that we will see them again in 2007,” Lynn said.
This show, which was once under the direction of Russell Carrell, fills every inch of Historical Hall, including the stairway landings and the balcony. A tent is set up in the side yard to accommodate four exhibitors, complete with heat and lighting.
The show, small in size, was wide in interests and dealer selection provided many areas of collecting. Oriental rugs filled one of the booths in the balcony, supplied by Ada E. Ustjanausjkas of Pound Ridge, N.Y., while the neighboring booth was filled with maps, lithographs and early prints from Maile Allen of Colonia, N.J. Across the hall the balcony was filled with some country furniture and accessories from Perkins and Menson Antiques of Ashby, Mass.
One of the longtime exhibitors at Bedford, Jane McClafferty of New Canaan, Conn., again showed a nice collection of Staffordshire figures and in limited space offered a New England slant front desk in maple, a one-drawer stand and several chairs, including an early corner chair in mahogany.
Local dealer Any Parsons again filled one side of the stage area with country quilts, while Rena Goldenberg Antiques of New Canaan, Conn., used a portion of the stair landing to exhibit a small selection of cookie tins, including one in the shape of a fishing creel.
New to the show this year, Brad Reh of Southampton, N.Y., put on a sparkling display of jewelry by some of the world’s finest jewelers, while East Dennis Antiques, East Dennis, Mass., filled a booth with a pair of ribbon back side chairs, a selection of wooden boxes and a card table in tiger maple.
The Bedford Historical Society has several fundraising events during the calendar year, but the antiques show is the largest. “We own and maintain seven buildings, including Historical Hall, and the proceeds from the show benefit the operating fund,” Lynn Weaver said. Plans to keep the show running smoothly are already in the works for next year.
