William and Lohrman Antiques, New Paltz, N.Y.
East Dennis Antiques, Dennis, Mass.
George Harding, Jr., Wynnewood, Penn.
Antiques Week in New Hampshire
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BEDFORD, N.H. – “I was not able to sleep, so I got in line at 1:45 this morning,” Michael Seward said from his chair positioned near the gate to the tent for the one-day Picker’s Market on Friday, August 11. With wife Lucinda, he had just finished exhibiting at Mid*Week in Manchester and recorded a most successful show.
The Sewards were among many of the dealers who had packed out of Mid*Week the day before and had hung around to see what the new flight of dealers would bring.
Frank Gaglio, manager of both shows, said, “I changed the hours of Mid*Week this year, opening and closing two hours earlier on Thursday, in order to allow more time for the Picker’s Market dealers to move in and set up.” While this time change did not set well with everyone, it did serve its intended purpose, and the Picker’s show was in good shape for the 9 am early buyers on Friday. “We are taking the Thursday hours for Mid*Week into consideration for next year and are going to survey our exhibitors for their opinion,” Frank added.
There was a good early buyers’ gate for this show, which presents 103 different dealers in both the convention center and the large tent in the parking lot. For the most part the show had a country look, with a scattering of more formal furniture and accessories.
A set of six plank seat Windsor side chairs, painted white with black decoration, was shown in the booth of Nancy and Craig Cheney of Delaware, Ohio, along with a six board chest with black swirl decoration on red turned feet. Lions were designed into two hooked rugs, one dated 1922 with a large reclining lion, the other of small size with a standing lion.
A bed with acorn finials, a painted bench measuring eight feet, and a stepback cupboard with four small doors in the upper section, one door in the bottom, olive green paint, were in the booth of Jeff Bridgeman of Dillsburg, Pa. He also hung a collection of framed American flags from various time periods.
Lewis Keister of East Meets West Antiques, Lewisburg, Pa., had several stacks of country quilts, a six board chest with yellow paint, and a pair of yellow cats, facing each other, on a hooked rug with green field. One of the first things to sell from the booth of Stanley Siegel, Upper Black Eddy, Pa., was a fancy Sheraton side chair in yellow paint with two red roses on the back splat along with other foliage. A collection of silhouettes was also offered.
A log cabin quilt hung on the back wall of Martha Barnes’ booth, and a hooked rug told the story of the three bears. Sandwiches and coffee to go were advertised in black letters on a yellow ground in the booth of David Helfrich, Glen Rock, Pa. His furniture included a small server in blue paint with one drawer and back splash, and a three-tier wire plant stand.
An interesting piece of advertising was shown by Week’s Antiques, Harpswell, Maine: It promoted a Gulf sponsored radio program with Will Rogers and Irvin S. Cobb. A “sold” tag was attached to a set of six thumb-back Windsor side chairs, plank seats, with mustard paint. A collection of wooden drying forks, with three, five, and six prongs, was mounted on the back wall in the booth of George Harding, Jr, Wynnewood, Pa.
A booth filled with furniture by Kenneth Tuttle of Gardiner, Maine included a Rhode Island Queen Anne chest in tiger maple with the original brasses. It dated circa 1760, as did another piece in tiger maple, a highboy from New England. At the front of the booth was a Dunlap chest on chest, circa 1780, in maple with the original red wash.
A sign for A. Levy’s Ladies Coats, Suits, and Dresses, 48 by 72 inches, from Calais, Maine, was shown by Tracy Goodnow, and furniture in this booth included a Pennsylvania blanket chest, yellow with green decoration, turned feet, circa 1840. Large ball finials were on the post of a mustard painted bed shown by Dog Eat Dog Antiques, New York City, and a large hooked rug, dated 1903, had 24 squares decorated with a rooster, eagle, Uncle Sam hat, kettle, key, corncrib, cat, shield, etc. A Queen Anne drop leaf table in Santo Domingo mahogany, circa 1750, slipper feet, Probably Rhode Island, was offered by Militia Hill Antiques of Flourtown, Pa. A New England gateleg table was in tiger maple, and a “sold” sign was attached to a hanging corner cupboard in gray-blue paint, two shelves and no door.
Dan and Jamie Boardman of Minneapolis moved into the booth that was occupied by Joanne Boardman the two days before and showed furniture including a New England hutch table with three board top and large overhang. Three child’s armchairs were offered, all with painted surfaces. Halsey Munson Americana from Decatur, Ill., displayed a small Eighteenth century maple and tiger maple Chippendale slant lid desk with vulcanced pigeonholes, original willow brasses, from Eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island. A cherry Pembroke table was from Portsmouth, N.H., circa 1800.
A late Eighteenth Century sawbuck table in hard pine, scrubbed top and blue base, eight feet long, was sold from the booth of Deborah Ferguson of Canterbury, Conn. An Eighteenth Century settle with a “K” base in pine, curved back, and a nine foot long Hepplewhite table, also in hard pine, circa 1830, original blue on the base, were offered.
A New England tall chest in birch, late Eighteenth Century, dovetailed top and bracket feet, was in the booth of East Dennis Antiques of East Dennis, Mass. A set of cottage furniture, in wonderful paint and condition, included a bed, washstand, dresser with mirror, and table. It was light blue with floral decoration.
“Frank had a cancellation and gave us a call with only four hours notice,” Mark Suozzi said, “so we gathered up some things and here we are.” A watch repair sign and a DeLaval advertising cow were both sold, and other rdf_Descriptions in the booth included five Civil War and Militia period drums with flag and eagle decoration.
The Picker’s Market, now only two years old, is another good reason to take full advantage of Antiques Week in New Hampshire. This event brings into play many dealers who are not regulars on the circuit of shows and an ever-growing gate signals the popularity of it.
