In this far eastern Long Island village, about 100 miles from New York City, Jean Sinenberg conducted the 21st Annual Historic Mulford Farm Antiques Show and Sale on June 23. The one-day event is as casual an outing as there can be in this historic town, which today boasts rich and famous residents.
Sinenberg assembled about 70 dealers of antiques, decorative arts and household objects at the East Hampton Historical Society’s benefit show. The day began with dealers arriving early in the morning to set up in the big multidealer tents, or to pitch their own tents on the grounds of the historical society’s Mulford Farm museum on James Lane and Montauk Highway.
From their home in New Ipswich, N.H., Bobbie and Joe Fionda, Appleton Manor Gallery, brought an early, one-horse, open buggy for consideration. The Fiondas thought there would be a market for it on Long Island, as, “There are many people out here with horses, and this buggy is pristine,” Bobbie said. “It was restored in Brattleboro, Vt., including the paint and upholstery.”
Arlene Kimerling and her husband, Bob, came with an extensive collection of early sterling silver: shelf upon shelf of candlesticks, candelabras, trays, bowls, serving pieces and more. From Ridgefield, Conn., they also brought some jewelry and fine art.
There was a large, urn-shaped lamp made of “Olde Sheffield” plate silver from before 1840. The seller, Gary Gandelman from Princeton, N.J., said it was originally made as an oil lamp, and in the Twentieth Century it was converted to electric. He was also offering a pair of early mercury glass vases, which had been converted into electric lights.
Paula Cohen is a resident of Brooklyn and Westhampton, N.Y., so for her, this is a local event. Her collection included a large variety of English ironstone from the Nineteenth Century and American art pottery, including Roseville and Moorcroft pieces.
From East Quogue, N.Y., Andy’s Antiques has been showing at Mulford Farm for many years. Among his traditional offerings was an assortment of Nineteenth Century English pottery, bone china and glass from Europe and America. Another local dealer was Leslie Segal of East Hampton. He featured early farm tools as folk art; the tools have both the workmanship and the form to satisfy an art buyer’s sensibilities. Also from East Hampton, West Side Art Tile was selling vintage and more modern examples of ceramic tiles decorated with many different motifs.
Shopping primarily in France for early iron, Claire Schlesser of New York City was showing a large variety of Betty lamps and some other iron implements. Also from New York City, showing fine jewelry, was Shawn McGowan.
Something of a novelty was Lyle Turner’s collection. This dealer from Williamsport, Penn., restores and trades in old player pianos. When his restoration is finished, he usually has them electrified and programmed to play favorite old piano tunes.
“Good, consistently good, sales for us, especially with our country-style antiques” was Marjorie Peter’s comment. Co-owner of Barbara Peter Antiques, this dealer operates at shows primarily on Long Island with her partner and mother, Barbara Peter. Their sales at this event included a collection of iron furniture, paintings and some quilts.
Another loyal fan of this Sinenberg show is the Irish-trained furniture and upholstery craftsman Christopher Swift. Now a resident of St James, N.Y., Swift boasts a clientele of the rich and famous, and also many regular folks, for his collection of fine early wooden furniture and upholstered pieces. Typically, he has several pieces done in a very simple fabric to show his skill and craftsmanship, but he sells the pieces with an offer to recover them in the customer’s choice of fabric.
Sinenberg is an active dealer. Her business, Georgica Creek Antiques, is on Montauk Highway in East Hampton, so she usually exhibits her collections at the shows she manages. At Mulford Farm, her display included a special collection of wicker and other garden furniture, which was set up in a very large tent.
There will be another Historic Mulford Farm show on August 4. For information, 631-537-0333 or www.hamptonsantiques.com .
