Whaling Days Antiques, New Bedford, Mass.
Review and Photos by Andrea Valluzzo
ORLEANS, MASS. — The 46th annual Summer Antique Show in Orleans, conducted by the Cape Cod Antique Dealers Association, Inc, lived up to its name as the “hottest show on the Cape.” With temperatures outside in the 80s and with high humidity, box fans in the Nauset Regional Middle School gymnasium were working overtime to keep air moving during the show’s August 12–13 run.
Charles and Barbara Adams, South Yarmouth, Mass.
Despite hot conditions indoors at the show, a good number of buyers came, and several dealers we interviewed afterwards reported having a good weekend, saleswise.
“First, the show was a huge success,” association president Charlene Dixon said. “We had a paying gate of 650 customers with a steady gate, plus about 40 CCADA members who have a free admit. We also had about 100 children and students who are always admitted free. We find this policy encourages families to attend, but our goal is to expose and educate young people to the world of antiques.”
“I had a number of people tell us that it was excellent and several said they came because they got calls from friends telling them to go. Many, many customers commented that they specifically pick their Cape Cod vacation to coincide with the show. They seemed to appreciate moving the show to the end of the second week to avoid the end of the Cape Cod baseball season which is held on the adjacent field,” she said.
In her own booth, she said she and her husband Ed had a “fantastic show.” We sold two 1937 Cape Cod maps from the Provincetown Crier and wrote up a number of nautical pieces, including a half-hull paddle wheel, two early pond models and a large “Merchant’s Signal flag chart.”
“The show went well, as the Orleans show usually does. The temperature outside was near 90 and humid; inside it must have been ten degrees or more above that. Despite this, the attendance was very good I thought,” said James W. Claflin of Kenrick A. Claflin & Son, Worcester, Mass.
Charles and Frances Szeglin Antiques,
Orleans, Mass.
“Friday night had a good showing, as did Saturday. Friday, many of my sales were to other dealers, whereas, on Saturday, I had a number of good sales to the crowd. Maps of Cape Cod and the area went very well. I had a set of topographic maps covering every Massachusetts city and town and they did well. Many purchased a map of their hometown, or a map as a Christmas present for a family member.”
The original books written by CWO4 Bernie Webber (US Coast Guard), coxswain of motor lifeboat CG-36500, and the rescue of the SS Pendleton crew in 1952 (subject of the new Disney movie, The Finest Hours) went well too.
“I was pleasantly surprised on Friday night and Saturday at the attendance in spite of the heat and humidity. All things considered, we sold quite a bit. We sold a variety of items, but our Quimper was definitely the hot seller for us,” said Susan Bistany, East Chesterfield Antiques, Sudbury, Mass.
Nautical items performed well here as expected. A whale painted on a barn-type table attracted much interest before selling on opening night from the booth of new dealer here, Whaling Days Antiques, New Bedford, Mass. “Our scrimshaw always draws lots of interest; carved fish decoys also,” said Alan. We had a great show. Friday night was great,” said Alan and Day Herman.
Among some of the nautical-themed items seen at the show were a folky whale carving on offer from Decoys Unlimited, West Barnstable, Mass.; a plein air oil on canvas of sailing vessels at dock, circa 1890, found in Massachusetts, in the booth of David Thompson Antiques & Art, South Dennis, Mass. Cummaquid Farm Antiques, Cummaquid, Mass., featured a Nineteenth Century sea chest in pine with an interior till.
Cape Cod Dealers Association’s Charlene Dixon and Marie Forjan take a minute before the show opens to pose for a photo.
“I think the show went quite well despite the heat!!! The gate was excellent on both Friday night and Saturday, with many people returning for a second look. We were happy with our show and sold quite a few nautical items as could be expected on the Cape,” said Charles and Barbara Adams, South Yarmouth, Mass. “We sold a lovely pitcher and bowl set with American marine scenes of ships in blue and white to a private collector and a very unusual rubber lighthouse with original label, which was made by the Holstein Rubber Co in Hartford, Conn., in the 1930s. A woman came to our booth looking for an antique nautical compass in the original wooden box. We had one at home, and she came to the house and bought the compass the next day.”
Woodsview Antiques, Sandwich, Mass., reported a strong buyer interest and ticked off sales of a Nineteenth Century tin anniversary mirror with a very unusual form, an early Twentieth Century boat hull with wonderful worn paint surface, a tiny buttocks basket with warm surface, an early tin lantern with original wavy glass. Attracting much interest but still available was a large framed print, ink signed, by Cape Cod folk artist Martha Cahoon.
Rounding out the show offerings were Lewis Scranton Antiques, Killingworth, Conn., with fine Americana; Sunderland Antiques, East Sandwich, Mass., showing Sunderland mugs and Staffordshire figures; and lending a modern touch to its booth was a neon Boston sign at Witt’s End Antiques, Walkill, N.Y.
The show benefits the association’s cultural enrichment grants and its scholarship program.
For additional information, www.ccada.com.
