The 27th annual Williamsburg Holiday Antiques Show was the largest in its history. It filled the Kingsmill Marriott Hotel ballroom with period antiques of Williamsburg style and design on November 28″0. According to Bettianne Sweeney, producer of the show for all of its 27 years, 137 dealers of national repute came Thanksgiving weekend, and so, too, did the audience, which Sweeney described as slightly larger than in recent shows. “We have been thrilled with the constant demand for space and the reception from the public these past years,” she said.
“Chris English had sales totaling more than ever at this show, and so did Wits End Antiques,” Sweeney said. English, from West Palm Beach, Fla., was exhibiting with his business partner, James Young of Wilmington, N.C. Their sales included a pair of preserved peacocks on stands and a great deal of early silver.
Wits End Antiques is the business of Chris and Karen Doscher, from Wallkill, N.Y. They focus on early painted furniture in excellent condition, some in “as found” condition and some with restoration. Their inventory seemed to be right on target for the Williamsburg audience because they were rearranging their room setting all weekend to accommodate their ever-depleting stock. One piece in their collection was an early 1-gallon crock that had been painted in a primitive or even cartoonlike manner by Peter Ompir in the Twentieth Century.
There was a two-wall section of an early keeping room being offered by Richmond House of Ashford, Conn. The proprietors, Karen and Edd Oberg, find these interior walls in houses slated for demolition and remove them and resell them, often including installation by Edd.
Connecticut dealer Poverty Hollow Enterprises has been exhibiting at the show for several years with a diverse collection of antiques and vintage furniture from both early American and English sources. The owner, Bob Baker of Stamford, shops in the states all year, but he also makes trips to England as often as he can get away from his hectic show schedule. Inventory for the exhibits is so vast he recently bought a new larger truck to haul it.
Returning after several years’ absence was Joan Parker of Ingle Nook Antiques from Reedville, Va. Her collection in the smallest exhibit space of the show was a feature in American country style. There was a small dry sink in pine with good detailing, several miniature portraits and samplers and a collection of children’s furniture.
Brills Antiques of Virginia Beach was showing early hardwood furniture, both American and English. Jerry and Judy Brill are the second generation in the business with a good following of customers; they have exhibited at the show since the second year. Their offerings included two hanging corner cupboards in mahogany and at least three sideboards in various hardwoods.
Early American wall hangings are the specialty of Norwoods’ Spirit of America, Timonium, Md. Offerings included an assortment of large hooked mats in excellent condition, numerous samplers and an assortment of small paintings and flat displays. The furniture selection included small paint decorated pieces, such as a miniature chest of drawers, a small blanket box and several wall boxes.
“Sales were pretty good for us,” said Steve German, Mad River Antiques of North Granby, Conn. Sales included some stoneware, a very good candlewick bed cover, an early basket and “Christmas stuff, lots and lots of Christmas stuff,” he added.
Marie Miller has been at the show for several years with her outstanding collection of American quilts and coverlets. The Dorset, Vt., resident also carries a large assortment of furniture, with the featured piece at this year’s show a corner cupboard from Kentucky.
McNeil & Reed, Delmar, Md., shows its collection of Rose Medallion dishes along with fine early furniture from the colonies and England. Anna’s Antiques, Bluffton, S.C., was originally from the Northeast, and the owners still go there to buy. The centerpiece in this exhibit was a lowboy from Pennsylvania, circa 1760, in walnut with poplar secondary woods.
There were several dealers new to the show this year. Sweeney found space for Latcham House Antiques from Waterville, Ohio; Dan and Kathy Roe from Springfield, Ill.; Denise Scott, East Greenwich, R.I.; and more.
Jan and John Maggs, Conway, Mass., were offering a collection of furniture and accessories in a colonial or Jacobean style for the first time. Robert Barrows, originally from Massachusetts and now living in Chapel Hill, N.C., was offering fine art and a collection of fine very early furniture.
INJ Antiques brought its collection of early English small things to the show. This was the dealer’s first time at the show even though its owners are from Herndon in northern Virginia.
Show promoter Ray Stokes from Lynchburg, Va., was an exhibitor at the show many years ago, but the show promotion business kept him too busy to participate for many years. Recently, he and his wife Martha sold most of their shows, so they have been exhibiting again as Langhorne Stokes House with early Virginia furniture and accessories.
Lock 147 Antiques, Conesville, Ohio, was showing a set of American country Chippendale chairs with Spanish feet, an early farm worktable and several hardwood pieces from Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Tiffany and Steuben glass were among the featured pieces offered by Mary Ellen Stevens of Quelle Surprise, Gloucester, Mass. There was a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass vase in reddish gold color, about 10 inches tall, offered at $1,995, and a Steuben vase at $695 among the pieces in her collection.
South Egremont, Mass., dealer Red Barn Antiques is a specialist in early lighting. Its shop is filled with early oil lamps, gas lights and early electric lights, most wired or rewired for electric lighting, meeting modern standards.
Melissa Bourque, Garrison, N.Y., was at the show limping around with a broken foot, but she followed the adage “The show must go on.” So she came with furniture and a large collection of small accessories for the show †as well as a large cast on the foot.
Small antiques are all the Zippels have at any show, but they fill their oversize exhibit with them. Ken and Sue are from Bowie, Md., but they arrange to shop in England a few times each year where they stock up on “smalls,” such as samplers, miniature portraits, silhouettes, lighting and lots more.
Look for Sweeney’s Holiday Antiques Show in Williamsburg again next year, the long weekend after Thanksgiving. For more information, 757-220-1299.
