Martin Greenstein of The Last Detail Antiques Show, Inc, brought more than 50 dealers together at Byram Hills High School, April 21′2, 2007, for a weekend antiques event to benefit North Castle Historical Association. Chairman of the antiques show, Dorie Watson, said the association manages four houses in town without support from the local government, so the show is an important part of its fundraising activities; it is also a source for recruiting new association members.
Greenstein said the attendance was “reacting to the first really good weather of the spring, but even so we seemed to have enough to make the sales attractive enough for the dealers.” He added, “Sales in furniture were encouraging, with some very high-end pieces going out the door.”
Jewelry was also a good seller, with both high value estate pieces, costume and some vintage articles selling throughout the weekend.
Dealers have responded to buyers’ interest in art by bringing art with them to the show, whether they are art dealers or dealers offering a full line of antiques with some art. American Stars is a Baltimore, Md., dealer of Americana with a selection of early American furniture. For this weekend, sales included a signed miniature water color scenic painting about 5 inches by 7 inches, dating to the early Nineteenth Century, and also a small theorem, not too much larger than the watercolor, dating from about 1840. Each of them sold with tags above $200.
For Glenbrook Antiques, Hudson, N.Y., this was an opportunity to show some of its collection to its best audience †people from the Westchester County suburbs. Results were good; sold were several best offerings, including an early Nineteenth Century banquet table and a mid-Nineteenth Century sofa.
Coming from Torrington, Conn., Richard Orsatti was offering a diverse collection of household antiques. His best sale was a period Hepplewhite drop leaf table, but additionally he sold numerous garden items, such as a set of early planters and a sundial.
Another nearby dealer, Melissa Bourque, said, “I did very well. I sold one very important painting and several others, including oils and watercolors.” The buyer of one of the most valuable paintings was also very interested in a chest in Bourque’s collection. The Garrison, N.Y., dealer was going to follow up with photos to the customer’s e-mail later in the week.
Albert Joseph Antiques came to the show with a collection of furniture, as well as sports collectibles. Al Yuravich, a dealer from Woodbury, Conn., found that his furniture sales were not strong at this show, so the sports paraphernalia made it for him.
Steve and Lisa Fisch do the shows to assist with his other business, which is restoring and repairing antiques. The Fisches’ shop is near their Wappingers Falls, N.Y., home; Steve finds that being in the restoration end allows him to offer his furniture in either “as found” condition or restored. The collection for this show included American country, Nineteenth Century hardwood and even Modern furniture.
After spending more than a week in England shopping for antiques, Suzanne Martin, Cos Cob, Conn., was offering a collection of small English household items. As it was not her first trip to the British Isles, her inventory was already English antiques as much as American.
Partners In Time created an interesting mixture of styles with several upholstered pieces in French Provincial, a Regency side table, framed prints, which were depictions of ancient Egyptian art, and lamps made from Chinese vases. The room setting for this South Glens Falls, N.Y., dealership was finished off with an antique Turkoman rug.
There is no standard antique style for this show; for example, Greenwich Oriental Antiques, Greenwich, Conn., offered just what its name suggested. With a very full room setting, all the antiques were from mainland China †furniture, art, decorator pieces and accessories.
Maile Allen, Colonia, N.J., has just early maps and antique prints. Carlo Giovannelli has a shop for his fine art in New York City, in addition to doing this show. Fine art is also the mainstay for Kennebunk, Maine, dealers Tom and Celeste Dynan, who carry both antique and contemporary fine art. David Salkin, a Philadelphia dealer, exhibited a collection of Chinese furniture together with some Western accessories.
There was also a large selection of fine jewelry offered by several dealers. Brad Reh was there with a large measure of his collection from Southampton, N.Y. Susan Vatell, Greenwich, Conn., offers primarily antique and estate jewelry at popular prices. She was showing an Art Nouveau amethyst piece and a 14K gold pin or brooch, circa 1890, for $750 each.
The Last Detail Antiques Shows Ltd has no shows over the summer as Greenstein concentrates on his shop, River Stone Antiques and Arts Center, in Haverstraw, N.Y. The next show will be Thanksgiving Weekend in Pound Ridge, N.Y. For information, 914-572-4132 or mgkisco@aol.com .
