David Thompson Antiques, South Dennis, Mass.

Review and Photos by W.A. Demers

GOSHEN, CONN. — The Dealer’s Fair returned for its farewell-to-summer session at the Goshen Fairgrounds on September 20 as about 50 dealers from all around New England set up in one of the fairground’s buildings and around in front on the grass to showcase their wares in the event’s trademark informal fashion. Formerly managed by antiques dealers Tom Seaver and Fritz Rohn, the show was put into new hands after this year’s June session. It is now managed by Maria McLennan, owner of Covet Antiques, and Annie Fletcher Itin, creative director and owner of the Fletcher Design Group. The women have partnered under the name of Hunt & Gather Events.

Show managers Maria McLennan, right, and Annie Fletcher Itin, who have partnered under the name of Hunt & Gather Events.

Earlier they said their aim is to bring the show a fresh perspective and an expanded dealer and customer base. For this edition, however, they decided against making any big changes, so it remained a concentrated show — opening at 9 am and closing at 1 pm on a weekday.

Mercifully, it was a fine day, with some early morning fog and overcast that quickly burned off and turned warm and beautiful.

Launched four years ago with primarily a dealer-to-dealer focus, the short, weekday format was ideal, with a lot of dealers coming from around New England and New York to shop, supplemented by local retail collectors from around Litchfield. McLennan and Itin, however, would like to entice more tri-state designers and that might entail changing the day of the week going forward. “We sent out more than 500 direct mail invitations to designers concentrated in a 50-mile radius around the show, so I was hoping for a larger gate, although it was just a little shy of the spring show,” said McLennan afterward.

As that small group of buyers entered past the fairgrounds gate, they encountered several dealers set up with tables or tarps on the grass, in some cases the hood of their vehicles. Past shows have utilized both large, purpose-built buildings, but this time only one was in use by exhibitors. Here the dealers were set up, displaying merchandise on long wooden tables or in “roomlike” setups of their own devising with an eclectic assortment of furniture, fine art, decorative smalls, Oriental carpets, porcelain, silver, glass and art pottery, folk art, Asian material, Americana and more.

The ambiance is laid-back and collegial, with many dealers, fresh from the fields of the season’s last Brimfield, regaling one another about their recent finds, swapping jokes and casually checking out each other’s merchandise.

A Falmouth, Mass., estate was the source of this collection of frogs being shown by Jon Rider of Essex, Mass. What was the owners’ connection with the variety of amphibians? Rider replied, “Their last name was Frosch” — German for frog.

While there were many familiar faces, there were some new ones as well, for example, Bill Lynch from Floram Park, N.J., who attracted many to shop his booth full of contemporary art and sculpture. A Picasso-esque sculpture of a female bust by Lothar Kestenbaum (1926–1995), who taught American artists in the 1950s at the Institute de Allende in Mexico, was one notable highlight. “Bill found us though our Facebook page and contacted us just a few days before the show,” said McLennan, “and he ended up doing very well.”

The Dealer’s Fair will return next year, she added, although she is working with the fairgrounds to see if there is a weekend day that would be available and not in conflict with other shows. “I need the planets and stars to align,” she quipped.

For information, 203-263-3775 or www.huntandgatherct.com.

A vintage Harmony guitar decorated with patriotic symbols, a collectible stuffed bear in a dress and a bronze and brass lamp were among the items showcased by Ray Cruess, Waterbury, Conn.

IMG_3850

This was one of about a half dozen pull-down educational charts from the Nineteenth Century being offered by Kelly Carter, New Milford, Conn.

Fritz Rohn, former co-owner and –manager of the Dealer’s Fair, with his wife Dana Jennings Rohn. Behind the couple is a large Eighteenth Century oil on canvas portrait.

Tom Landers, owner of Palisades Trading Co., Windsor, Conn., has been doing this show since its inception. As with most antiques categories, he noted that with Oriental rugs, “there are strong sales for the better examples.”

Dave Mason, Old Canaan Market, Canaan, Conn., couldn’t wait to put down this tray. “It’s very heavy,” he said, “but I bought it for its condition and size.”

Folk art dealer John Bourne of Pittsford, Vt., said this handmade barnyard scene, complete with buildings, cattle, livestock, watering trough and woodpile was “probably German” and from the 1930s. “All the cattle are wood,” he said, “and it’s amazing that none have lost any legs because the carving is so thin there.”

R.A. DeFillipo, Peabody, Mass.

By New Jersey contemporary artist Tina Ryman, this oil on canvas abstract painting was front and center in the booth of Bill Lynch, a fine art and sculpture dealer from Florham Park, N.J. It was Lynch’s first time at the show and he is said to have done very well.

Show co-manager Maria McLennan set up a display of her naturalistic and country items under her business name of Covet Antiques. Husband Doug minded the booth while she assisted dealers and showgoers.

A miniature chest of drawers with a unique closure, circa early Twentieth Century, by Carlo Bugatti (1856–1940), known for his decorative and whimsical use of pewter inlay, was on offer by John Prunier, Warren, Mass.

First-time exhibitor at the show John De Giacomo, Chatsworth Antiques and Consignments, Mamaroneck, N.Y., said he specializes in “everything,” but showcased some Midcentury Modern pieces here, such as a James Mont, circa 1950s occasional table with floating glass top and McCobb coffee table.

Jeff Pudlinski from County Seat Antiques, Litchfield, Conn., said he loves early Americana and folk art, evident in his display. Just 29 years old, having started to collect when he was 21, Pudlinski, like his neighbor at the show John De Giacomo, is one of the “young guns” so needed in the trade.

“It’s really neat. I wish I knew what it was,” said Bayside, N.Y., dealer Bart Tarulli of the object he is holding. He speculated that it was probably used for loading ammunition or gunpowder into a large-bore weapon like a small cannon. Beyond its former use, however, it had a wonderful look and patina.

Enjoying the fair’s informal atmosphere and getting in some chat time were fine art dealer Kevin Garvey Rita, West Hartford, Conn., left, and Dennis Robida of Deep River Antiques, Essex Conn.

A Catskill Mountains landscape from the 1940s by listed New York State artist Ellen Ozanne. It was shown by Deep River Antiques, Essex, Conn.

Village Braider Antiques, Plymouth, Mass., was at the show, spotlighting this walnut Nineteenth Century Venetian grotto chair, resting on a painted and leather covered table from the 1980s.

Filling in for their dad, Tom Seaver of Seaver & McLellan Antiques, who was sidelined by a recent wrist injury, were Jarrod and Sarah Seaver, Jaffrey, N.H., with an engaging triptych of folk musicians and an electric blue upholstered midcentury armchair, among other items.

A ship diorama, unusual for its large size and inclusion of pilot boat, circa 1870, was a highlight at the outside space occupied by Joe Collins, Glastonbury, Conn.

Ian McKelvey Antiques, Windham, Conn.

Bob’s Antiques, New Milford, Conn.