For the 63rd year, the Old Parish Church sponsored the Sheffield Antiques Show; this year at Mt Everett Regional High School August 5‷. The three-day event was a venue for more than 30 exhibitors of early American antiques, Persian rugs, jewelry, silver and fine china. Spread out in several large rooms and connecting passageways, the show has been a success for all these years by offering a variety of styles of antiques.
Todd Page of Todd Page Interiors, Raleigh, N.C., was pleased to have several samplers from the Susan Johnson collection. Johnson accumulated her collection of primarily American samplers over many years, paying particular attention to well-executed works. Page was offering several from her collection, along with a variety of antique smalls.
While Page’s samplers were from America, nearby, Sheila Hylan offered a selection of English samplers. Two that this Southbury, Conn., English transplant was offering were, as she called them, “sisters.” Both had been made by the same craftsperson, about 200 years ago, one year apart. Hylan believed the maker was working on her skills, and the improvements in one year showed in the finished product. They offered a contemporary collector a unique pair of samplers.
Phyllis G. Pasternak collects and trades in small early photograph frames. The West Hartford, Conn., dealer was showing several hundred early holders made in brass, silver and other metals, as well as wood and some other materials. Sales were good, with about a dozen frames going out the door, along with some jewelry, dishes and china.
Pomeroy’s Antiques, Westfield, Mass., was another exhibitor with a collection of smalls. Tea caddies from England in rosewood and mahogany, pewter, early lighting, table service pieces, little pantry boxes were in the inventory for the weekend.
Newtown, Conn., dealer Diane Davis was selling a good deal of her merchandise. A rattan set with one table and two chairs was her biggest sale, and many smaller pieces found new homes, including an apothecary chest, and, as she said, “a lot of lamps.”
Also from Connecticut, Chester Cwilichoski of Trumbull was showing furniture and smalls. His sales included a candlestand and small cupboard, which sold early in the show, and a steady sale of small accessories.
As rug sales have not been as strong this year, Soheil Sasanian has been adding some furniture and other antiques to his exhibit. At this show, the New York City dealer included some Continental furniture, fine silk table drapes and early prints.
Old Village Antiques, Avon, Conn., was represented by a quantity of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century furniture and accessories. While his sales were not the best ever, owner Stephan Gero said they did sell some furniture, including an English tufted leather chair, a candlestand, silver and some other small accessories.
American furniture is the focus for Anne Lynch from Honesdale, Penn. The centerpiece in her exhibit was an Eighteenth Century fall front desk in cherry with chestnut and pine under woods. While the feet had some repair, overall the desk was in excellent condition and was offered for sale at $1,695. Other furniture included an early painted pine blanket box and a jelly cupboard in mixed hardwoods.
Red Barn Antiques specializes in lighting; co-owner John Walther has a shop in the next town over, South Egremont. He sets up at this show, he said, as much to advertise his shop as to make direct sales. Most of his merchandise is too cumbersome to move, so John stays at the show while his wife keeps the shop open. This enhanced their weekend sales to include not just their early lighting but some furniture as well.
With a large assortment of Nineteenth Century oak furniture, Michael Pheffer of New London, N.H., was kept busy all weekend. His sales, while plentiful, did not include much furniture but did include stoneware, an early medicine cabinet, yellowware, an early burl bowl and other smalls.
Wayne Joseph, show manager, said that attendance was similar to last year but with more younger people attending. Look for him to be working on the show’s 64th edition next August. Until then, for more information, 413-229-8173.
