J&R Ferris Antiques, Boonville, N.Y.
Review And Photos By Andrea Valluzzo
CHADDS FORD, PENN. — The Brandywine River Museum Antiques Show is a staple of the Memorial Day weekend, running May 27–30, and several dealers aptly marked the holiday by embracing a patriotic theme in their booths.
Ferris Antiques, Boonville, N.Y., featured a fine 13-star flag in the Cowpens or Third Maryland Pattern, which is among the scarcest and most desired by collectors of early American Stars and Stripes. The example on offer was interesting in that it was both machine and hand sewn, probably dating to the mid-1800s or circa 1876–90s at the latest. Also on view here was a fine coat, probably militia, more of a ceremonial or dress uniform, of centennial vintage. The maker, A. Shuman & Company of Boston, was in business from the mid-Nineteenth–early Twentieth century. Militias, all over the country, often resurrected a Colonial style: high collar, broad cuffs and trim and tricorn hats for their uniforms, of which this is an example.
In his fourth year exhibiting here, Dennis Raleigh, Dennis Raleigh Antiques & Folk Art of Wiscasset, Maine, hung a nice 48-star American flag as a backdrop for his booth against which he displayed a fine grouping of weathervanes and folk art. While selling was noticeably off from previous years, with buyers interested in the offerings but reluctant to whip out their checkbooks, Raleigh said he did enjoy the show and plans a return engagement here.
Returning year after year are Claudia and Bob Haneberg, East Lyme, Conn., who reported having good sales in this outing, selling a Philadelphia wingchair, an interesting Mid-Atlantic card table, a dish top candlestand, a Kazak rug and several nice smalls.
Joseph J. Lodge Antiques, Lederach, Penn.
Also reporting a good show were Lisa McAllister, Clear Spring, Md., who sold across the board — a yellow dressing table, ceramics and a French Nouveau period game — and Aileen Minor, Centreville, Md., who wrote up a wonderful five-piece, cast iron Nineteenth Century garden set with four armchairs and a matching center table, a pair of large labeled cast iron urns and several Nineteenth Century wirework pieces — a hitching post, art work, an iron frog, plant stands — as well as several lead garden pieces and lots of smalls.
Lisa McAllister Antiques, Clear Spring, Md.
“The show had a very good gate and has become a destination place for travelers from all over, with the draw of the art of the museum and the antiques show. Many repeat customers come every year and keep returning to the show,” Minor said.
“We felt the 45th antiques show was very strong this year in terms of attendance and sales. The volunteers each year embrace the event fully and I’m never at a loss for help from them. The flower arrangements they create are exquisite and draw much attention from showgoers as do the remarkable antiques on sale,” said Donna Gormel, the museum’s director of volunteers and events.
Among the dealers having a strong show was West Pelham Antiques, Pelham, Mass. “I was impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the people that came through the show, especially the younger people,” said dealer Michael Weinberg. “I remember distinctly having a 15-minute conversation with a young woman, maybe she was in her late 20s, about a number of things in my booth: she was asking good questions and definitely seemed to be interested in learning more about the items. She didn’t buy, but that’s OK — perhaps I was able to spark an interest that will lead to a new collector being born!”
His sales included samplers, some rare ceramics items and a harvest table. “It was a very successful show for me,” Weinberg said. “And, of course, the museum people were terrific and make the show a pleasure for dealers and customers alike.”
Dubey’s Art & Antiques, Inc, Baltimore
In its sophomore appearance here, Ayscough Antiques, Chadds Ford, Penn., had a decent showing, selling a neat and tidy wall cupboard scraped to its bittersweet paint, and a circa 1900 cat sculpture that was displayed on a doll/child’s settee in either black or a very deep green paint; they sold together. Another cat, an “Egyptian” lodge piece found in Ohio, sold along with a handful of smalls, including a handsome pair of early Nineteenth Century crimped edge wall sconces.
Standouts seen at the show included a rare form, six-light American tin chandelier in original condition, circa 1810–30, 18 inches tall, in the booth of Hanes & Ruskin, Old Lyme, Conn.; a rare farmer Toby jug, Musselburgh Pottery, circa 1825, Scotland, at Margaret Johnson Sutor, Lafayette Hill, Penn.; a folky birdcage, New England, in an architectural style retaining traces of red paint, 1850–75, at W.M. Schwind Jr, Yarmouth, Maine; and a rare cast iron table with portrait busts of George Washington, probably Wood & Perot Foundry, Philadelphia, circa 1870, at Brennan & Mouilleseaux, Northfield, Conn.
The show will return here next Memorial Day weekend.
For additional information, www.brandywine.org/museum or 610-388-2700.
