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04 Apr 2006 / 0 Comment

Taylor B. Williams, 71, Chicago Dealer

Published: April 4, 2006

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Taylor B. Williams, a well-known Chicago area specialist in American and English furniture and English enamels, ceramics and glass, died suddenly in the early hours of March 31. Williams, who was 71, had been undergoing treatment for cancer, said his partner, David J. Bernard.

Born in Dunn, N.C., on August 26, 1934, Williams studied acting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the Actors Studio in New York City. From Manhattan, he moved to Arrow Rock, Mo., to join the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, a regionally prominent repertory company founded in 1960.

Williams spent the next decade in the historic, Nineteenth Century Missouri town. Married at the time, he ran a restaurant with his wife, and, in 1963, began selling antiques from the restaurant’s second floor. When the antiques business flourished, Williams sold the restaurant and began exhibiting at antiques shows.

He continued to act through much of his career. Williams’ credits include a stage play in Chicago with Phyllis Diller; the television series Playhouse 90; films with Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Reeve; and many commercials.

“Acting was really his first love. He did enough of it to have a pension from Actors Equity,” noted Bernard, who met his partner in 1973 after Williams moved to Chicago. Bernard quit his post at American Airlines to join Taylor B. Williams Antiques, becoming co-owner.

After Arrow Rock, Williams, who preferred traveling to sitting behind a counter, never again had an open shop. He initially exhibited at shows in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where he was discovered by Russell Carrell. Taylor B. Williams Antiques joined Carrell’s circuit after the promoter invited Williams to participate in the Lake Forest Antiques Show.

Williams helped dealer J.J. Thompson at the Winter Antiques Show in New York, also managed by Carrell. In 1983, Williams and Bernard were invited to join the prestigious fair, where Taylor B. Williams Antiques still exhibits.

“J.J. Thompson had more English enamels than Taylor had ever seen before. It sparked his interest,” said Bernard, explaining how the firm developed its own reputation for enamels, its best known specialty.

As a young dealer, Williams sold country antiques. In later years he continued to offer great examples of American furniture.

“He had a good eye and found things in Missouri that other people missed,” said Bernard. “In the early 1960s, he discovered a set of American Queen Anne chairs. He called up Israel Sack Inc, which he knew only by reputation. Harold Sack asked how the color was. Taylor said the color was fine. Harold told Taylor to bring the chairs to New York, so Taylor got in his pickup truck and drove to 57th Street. The Sacks bought the chairs for $2,500 and resold them several times after that.”

Taylor B. Williams Antiques cut back its hectic show schedule in recent years. Members of the Antiques Council and the Antique Dealers Association of America, the firm continues to do the Winter Antiques Show, the ADA-Historic Deerfield Antiques Show, the Delaware Antiques Show, the Minneapolis Institute of Art Antiques Show, the Antiquarius Antiqued Show in Greenwich, Conn., and the Nantucket Antiques Show.

“Taylor was passionate about many things and a lot of fun to be with,” said his good friend, Pennsylvania dealer Diana Bittel, recalling Williams’ delight at being an original stockholder in Krispy Kreme, founded in his home state of North Carolina in 1937. One of several dealers who rented a house with Williams in Nantucket while taking part in the Nantucket Antiques Show, Bittel remembered, “He was the best cook. He took care of absolutely everything and gathered us all around when the meal was served.”

She added, “Taylor was the consummate actor. He could write a song and sit down at the piano and sing it. He was astute about people. As an actor, he could see into them, then come back where it hit them. He was very cute with my children.”

After selling their Nineteenth Century row house, Williams and Bernard moved to Harbert, across Lake Michigan from Chicago, into a house that they had designed themselves to accommodate the antiques business.

Another friend, Pam Guthman Kissock, recalls visiting Williams and Bernard there. “My husband and I were driving across the country. It was late but Taylor insisted that we stop. We came through the back porch, hot and tired, to find the most beautiful dinner imaginable waiting for us. Taylor’s favorite opera was on full blast and the gorgeous gardens were lit by dozens of candles. Taylor regaled us with his stories. He was the perfect host, a wonderful storyteller with a talent for the dramatic.”

In addition to Bernard, Williams is survived by his sister, Linda; his six nieces and nephews; and his nine grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Harbert house on Saturday, April 8, at 3 pm. For directions, email [email protected]

No flowers, please. As Williams and Bernard were owners and breeders of Scottish terriers, donations may be made in Williams’ name to: Scottish Terrier Club of America, Health Trust, Nan Barcan, Treasurer, 79 Wehrli Road, Long Valley NJ 07853; or to the American Cancer Society.



   

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