Larry Thompson, Atlanta, Ga.
Review and Photos by Tom O’Hara
SHEFFIELD, MASS. — The Sheffield Antiques Show concluded its 68th consecutive summer show August 12-14 at Mt Everett Regional High School, with 29 exhibitors in air-conditioned comfort, a feature that undoubtedly contributed to the good audience for the three-day event.
Fenwood Studios, Mahopac, N.Y.
As a long-running, local show, this has its own appeal with both the dealers it attracts and the shoppers who visit. The dealers are predominantly from within a few hundred miles, offering antiques, fine art, folk art and early or vintage collectibles.
The shoppers are either local residents or those with second homes in the area. This makes the shopping very casual and easy. For example, one Sharon, Conn., couple that lives only 25 minutes away came to the show early Friday entering on a three-day pass. They spent several hours there, having lunch and visiting every exhibitor for a while. After long consideration they took home two Oriental rugs “on approval” to determine whether they would work for their home.
Late Saturday morning, the couple returned with the rugs — they did not work — and instead purchased an early store display spool cabinet from Easter Hill Antiques, Sharon, Conn., and several other small objects from a silver dealer.
Donna Kmetz, Douglas, Mass., said she was pleased with her weekend efforts, as her sales were good. Dealing exclusively with fine art, for this show she sent notices to past customers who came to see her latest acquisitions. This advance marketing gave her good sales for the weekend; “at least a half dozen pieces sold to past customers,” she reported.
The results were similar for Richard Lawrence Greene, Providence, R.I., who also deals exclusively in fine art.
J. Gallagher, North Norwich, N.Y.
Vintage Poster Art, Monroe, N.J., was offering strictly old pieces, nothing after midcentury, according to the dealer’s promos.
The Old Canaan Market, Canaan, Conn., is Dave Mason rebranded. He has taken over the old grocery store in the Northwest Connecticut town and opened it as his shop and still does some shows such as this one. His collection is a vast array of styles, including Asian antiques and art, along with Jacobean and Renaissance European antiques.
Charlotte Whitenight, Baltimore, Md., was selling Nineteenth Century silver and pieces of earthenware.
Chester and Cathy Cwilichoski, Ansonia, Conn., sold from their inventory of Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century Connecticut furniture. One of the first sales was a tilt top tea table in cherry with a birdcage at the top of the pedestal, all original but refinished; also, two small candlestands and another game table.
Phyllis Pasternak, West Hartford, Conn., offered her collection of Nineteenth Century picture frames in gold leaf and silver.
J. Gallagher, North Norwich, N.Y., was there with Eighteenth Century andirons. Long considered an expert in the field, Jim Gallagher can tell which city these fireplace tools were made and then explain why he knows the difference. His sales included the folding card table, American, mahogany, circa 1750.
Marc Witus, Gladstone, N.J., brought enough of his collection to fill about two ordinary exhibit spaces. He has been collecting for much longer than he has been selling and when asked, he said the collection at any one show is only a fraction of his total. He buys what appeals to him and that includes from doorstops to pin cushions, weathervanes to samplers and a vast collection of colonial period furniture.
The Sheffield Antiques Show is hosted by the First Congregational Church of Sheffield, with the profits going to its charities.
For additional information, www.sheffieldantiques.org.
