New York’s ultimate summer weekend destination, East Hampton, swelled in population even more the weekend of July 8‱0 when the East Hampton Historical Society Antiques Show showcased antiques of the ages through the Twentieth Century at the society’s Mulford Farm property.
Richard Barons, executive director of the society, who visited the show with society members, was very pleased with the turnout for the show’s preview reception, which was strong despite the threat of a summer storm.
“The format was changed several years ago when we hired Ferguson & D’Arruda as managers to raise the overall style and fashion of the show,” he said, adding, “The change has given the show a great boost in attendance and also improved sales for the exhibiting dealers. The changes, along with an opening reception and party atmosphere, have made our antiques show one of the highlights of East Hampton’s summer events.”
Barons gave figures that showed a one-third gain in the Friday evening reception gate and additional gains on Saturday and Sunday attendance.
At this outdoor tented venue, exhibits and displays were showing prime antiques of the last several hundred years from Jacobean benches to Midcentury Modern Naugahyde and chrome chair sets.
Deluxe sold a chair that was an eye-catcher, but hard to photograph. Made from clear plastic, it was practically invisible. The Miami Beach exhibitor has often been a trendsetter, showing and selling late but stylish articles found for the style-conscience homeowners in New York City and the Hamptons.
Another of the exhibitors with the latest styles was Bridges Over Time from Walden, N.Y. Typically offering a large room setting near the show’s entrance, Ed and Betty Koren had again created a room right from a Midcentury designer’s sketch book, ready for someone to move right in. Ed Koren said their sales were very good all weekend, including a set of chairs, seven sculptures, several paintings and some small accessories. He said the shopping at the show is unique. “We did seven sales after 4 pm on Sunday when the local people came in from the beaches. These sales continued when some dealers were packing up to leave at 5 and even a little later.”
Barons and his wife Rosanne were found admiring an Eighteenth Century chinoiserie desk offered by Gary Gandelman. The Philadelphia dealer was setting up this red lacquered and paint decorated desk in an area where it would receive special attention during the show. While it did not sell during the weekend, it was a period piece that drew a good deal of attention.
Anne Hall Historic Prints, Sturbridge, Mass., has been exhibiting at shows in the Hamptons for many years. Her offerings at this summer’s affair included a collection of six hand finished color lithographs by Louis Van Houtteano, circa 1845. Both sets of three were framed and in excellent condition.
Cincinnati, Ohio, dealer Scott Estepp and Linda and Howard Stein from Solebury, Penn., shared an oversized space in the tents at the back field. Estepp was showing a large dollhouse he believed was nearly 100 years old with some accessories he found at the Springfield [Ohio] Antiques and Collectibles show. A pair of deck chairs, just like the ones that were on the big sailing ships of the first half of the Twentieth Century, were made in about the same scale as his house, so he just had to add them to his inventory. The Steins were showing a large room setting, including a large window louver that probably came from a barn in the area of their Pennsylvania home.
Nearby, Linda Elmore of Westfield, N.J., was offering a room setting from her collection. While also in Midcentury Modern, Elmore’s collection offered a level of softness from the colors and upholstery of her selection.
Carole Ann Hart Antiques, Redding, Conn., offered a transition from traditional older antiques to a modest selection of Twentieth Century pieces. Her early pieces were the smaller accessories, while the big furniture was Midcentury Modern.
These collections of Twentieth Century décor have become a major part of shows in New York City and the Hamptons, as they are increasingly what sells, according to several dealers. But even with these later collections, many exhibitors were still showing and selling the early American traditionals.
Morgan MacWhinnie, a shopkeeper in the next town west, North Sea, exhibited very classic early Georgian furniture. Among his antiques was an Eighteenth Century Governor Winthrop-style fall front desk in excellent condition, several Windsor chairs of the same age, an early English sideboard and more.
Jock and Sue Lilly, Bridgewater, Vt., were offering early American country, some English pieces and a very old dug-out row boat. Owen Swift, Aquebogue, N.Y., was showing from his collection of Continental and Irish antiques.
Managed by Ferguson & D’Arruda for the last four years, the show is a major fundraising affair for the society. For more information, email ferguson.darruda@comcast.net or 401-273-5550.
