Cord Shows Ltd conducted its first Antiques Affair December 6‷ at Scofield Magnet Middle School, with more than 30 exhibiting antiques dealers as a fundraising event for Howard Jennings Dollars for Scholars Foundation. Show manager Vivien Cord said she was pleased with the dealer support she received, filling the available gymnasium with antiques, fine silver, jewelry and an assortment of collectibles.
As part of the weekend’s activities, Cord had arranged for appraisals on both days of the show. On Saturday, art dealer and art auctioneer Gene Shannon was assessing art brought to the show by visitors, advising what they had and its value in the current market.
Sunday appraisals were given by Connie Brown on textiles, including quilts and coverlets. Brown has her own shop in nearby Wilton, Conn., where she carries a full line of furniture and decorator items, as well as a large collection of quilts, coverlets and other textiles. The fee for appraisals was shared between the appraisers and the foundation.
Lyme Creamery Antiques, a shop in the small New Hampshire town by the same name, was at the front with a variety of small antiques and a room setting of furniture. The smalls were a collection of American and English objects for the home, including patch boxes, Old Sheffield plate silver, early toys and some fine earthenware.
The next exhibit down the row was Soheil Oriental Carpets, New York City, with fine antique Persian and Turkish rugs. Dealer Soheil Sasanian brought so many rugs he was spreading them in the hall and other booths.
To keep the variety of the show, Cord had arranged for the next exhibit to be Across the Pond Antiques, Hackettstown, N.J., with a display of framed cigarette cards, predominantly from English brands. These were sports figures, politicians, movie stars and historical figures. There were famous places and even some everyday objects in these ready-for-hanging collectibles.
Several dealers were offering fine art. Gold Leaf, Atlanta, had an oil on canvas portrait of Dorothy Graham on her wedding day in Ireland, in the dress and fine jewelry typical of the English. The piece was priced at $13,500. Anne Hall brought some of her collection of fine early prints from her stockpile in Sturbridge, Mass.
Rowfant Antiques, Charlton, Mass., was showing an early female Buddha head, about 10 inches tall, carved from stone. According to dealer Robert Girvin, this was a temple piece that had an excess of wax residue from the years of candles burning in its vicinity, causing the stone to have a pale brown hue rather than the off-white color of the natural stone.
Arlene and Robert Kimerling, Ridgefield, Conn., were showing their inventory of silver and fine English china. Catherine Benham lives in Derby, United Kingdom, but has family in nearby parts of Connecticut, so she was happy to be at the show. Her specialty is the early English flatware, knives, forks and spoons in silver, with ivory and bone handles in many cases.
Arti Antiques, Brookfield, Conn., collects its inventory of Continental furniture in Europe and America for the shows. From Hamden, Conn., Center of Attention was selling costume jewelry and ladies’ accessories.
Cord Shows has a variety of shows in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. For more information, 914-273-4667 or www.cordshows.com .
