New England Home Antiques, Wethersfield, Conn.
Review & Onsite Photos by Andrea Valluzzo
TOLLAND, CONN. — Despite some morning flurries that kicked up just as the 57th Tolland Antiques Show was about to open its doors, a good sized line of shoppers was queued up in the Tolland Middle School lobby on March 1, waiting to get their eyes and hands on the variety of early country goods, primitives, Americana and other antiques on offer.
Previously housed in two large rooms “back in the day,” the show is now a compact and intimate affair that retains all its charm but is easy to shop. As a benefit for the Tolland Historical Society, the show is a community affair with the Society’s leadership and members on hand to answer questions; they also presented an exhibition of local history at the show.
More importantly, people came to the show to buy and sell. On both sides of the equation, they went home happy. Dealer Ian McElvey of South Windham, Conn., was one of them. “It was a great show with many sales, and I was also happy to find and buy many things as well,” he said.
“The show went very well, dealers seemed to be very pleased,” shared John DeSimone, who runs the show along with his wife, Elizabeth, as Goosefare Promotions. “There was a good crowd and good sales, and everything went very smoothly.”
DocEngine, Holliston, Mass.
Trading as DocEngine, Jim Luskay said this was a solid show for him overall and noted there was strong interest in Americana, particularly folk art and decorative pieces. “Among my notable sales were several signs, a really nice large, blue painted basket and a great early small tin patriotic shield with flags that sold to a wonderful, enthusiastic young couple,” he commented.
First time exhibitor Nauset Antiques of Eastham, Mass., was one of several to be pleased with his debut showing at the Tolland Antiques Show. “I did very well for my first outing, selling 17 items in total. I was very happy with my sales, the attendance and the level of engagement from the general public. As always, the show was expertly managed by Goosefare Antiques & Promotions, John and Elizabeth DeSimone,” said owner Carl Goveia. “The paintings I had on the walls drew the most attention and resulted in three sales of artwork. A couple of small furniture items sold. Some other items included a Nineteenth Century mantle clock, a duck decoy, a foot warmer and a handmade Cape Cod cranberry scoop. I’ll be back next year for sure.”
New England Seasons, from Rehoboth, Mass., was also new to the show. “I was pleased to be participating and happy with my sales. My offerings could be considered an eclectic and whimsical mix, generally in the early American country mode,” reported dealer Dianne Freed. “I offer many smalls that strike my fancy, usually with a few larger pieces forming the backbone of my booth. I tend to offer children’s books, including those by noted author-illustrator Tasha Tudor, small lighting, pictures and cat-themed items, but one never knows what I might have found to be of interest. The time of year and where I might be showing does affect what I might bring to any show, so variety does change.”
New England Seasons, Rehoboth, Mass.
While there was a predominantly country aesthetic throughout the show, offerings were diverse and ranged from woodenware to metal items to ceramics, toys and more. New England Home Antiques of Wethersfield, Conn., featured a large vintage rooster wall hanging, probably from a carnival or merry-go-round, as well as a primitive oil on canvas landscape of a northern New England or Upstate New York scene, circa 1870-80, in a lemon gold frame.
Charlie Guinipero of Pantry Box Antiques, Stafford Springs, Conn., took to Facebook after the show to post his feedback: “Huge thank you to everyone who came and purchased from me at The Tolland Antique Show and Sale yesterday! Great feedback from all the dealers who set up there. Customers were happy too!” A striking vignette in his booth was a colorful and large Irish chain quilt that serves as a backdrop for a display of stoneware crocks.
Eclectibles, a Tolland local, had an eclectic booth, as expected, and one fun item in it was a handmade four-sided wallpaper-decoupaged patriotic parade-style hat. The circa 1860 hat, likely made by a youngster, hailed from Philadelphia where the fireman’s parade and its Mummers parades have a long and rich tradition. Patriotic antiques seem to be especially relevant this year on the occasion of America’s 250th, and this hat fit the bill with its eagle, flags and shields motifs.
Weathervanes are a staple at the Tolland show and among several spotted in this year’s iteration was an antique copper English setter “This Dog Can Hunt” example with a gold leaf surface. Dating to the late Nineteenth Century, it was with Willow Springs Perennial Antiques of Rexford, N.Y. Also on offer from them was a charming paint-decorated dome top box with a fine interior from Worcester, Mass.
Pantry Box Antiques, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Ashaway (R.I.) Antiques attracted interest with a paint-decorated blanket box in the front of its booth, onto which was stacked a picnic-style basket. Befitting the show’s Connecticut location, a wooden Aetna sign was an apropos addition to the booth, as nearby Hartford, where Aetna is headquartered, is said to be the insurance capital of the world.
Small objects were the main attraction in the booth of Hidden Treasures, Pomfret, Conn., which covered its walls with diminutive framed artworks, including a whimsical old advertising sign that read “Stop and Think/ The Best and Cheapest / Granite Dust / Washing Powder.”
A well-balanced booth, W.S. Korzick Antiques of New Haven, Conn., offered a mix of landscape paintings along with an oval tilt top tea table, and a Vermont Butter trade sign. Karen Alexander Antiques, from Somers, Conn., put together a nice grouping of Shaker boxes.
Raven’s Way Antiques, North Kingstown, R.I., assembled a nice collection of vintage decoys, including an early (circa 1905) hollow snakey-head premier-grade black duck by the Mason Decoy Factory that retained strong original paint despite its use. A pair of contemporary hollow eider decoys with slightly turned heads by Mike Smyser Decoys (Mount Wolf, Penn.) also turned shoppers’ heads.
Raven’s Way Antiques, North Kingstown, R.I.
Paintings were prominently featured by Donna Kmetz of Douglas, Mass. She offered “Sailing” by Francis Draper (1861-1935), one of the youngest members to join the Boston Art Club, where he displayed Boston Harbor and Cape Ann scenes like this example. Another coastal work with Kmetz was “Jamesport Pier” by Walter Farndon, N.A. (1876-1964). Reporting having a good show as well as a very good time, Kmetz said her sales included two excellent pencil drawings as well as a good painting. “After a quiet winter it was great to be out again and a rare opportunity to reconnect with Connecticut friends. I’ve been mixing up my booth more these days with interesting objects as well as art, and I try to make the show experience fun for visitors. In-person events are still the best!”
The DeSimones, who are from Saco, Maine, typically set a booth of their own with furniture and complementary items. This show’s booth was for the birds with a grouping of decoys and several artworks depicting various fowl. A Reginald Nickerson oil on canvas of a three-masted schooner with whales and whalers was a pleasing addition. Among furniture offerings were a circa 1790 English plum pudding mahogany Chippendale chest with split top drawer over three graduated drawers and a punched tin front pie safe.
Goosefare’s next event, the Hingham Antiques Show, is March 28-29. For information, www.goosefareantiques.com or 860-641-6908.
