On the eve of the spring equinox, the Chester County Antiques Show dazzled in its sophomore year at the quaint Westtown School March 19′1.
The show is the major fundraiser for the Chester County Historical Society, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As the show is situated in the midst of “horse country,” this year’s theme, “Equestrian Traditions” was tres apropos and the loan exhibit of trophies from the renowned Devon Horse Show was a fine addition to this already worthy show.
The theme was borne out among dealers as well with A Bird In Hand, Florham Park, N.J., showing a fine Dexter model horse weathervane with a cast iron head, circa 1880‹0, and a horse, sulky and driver weathervane, circa 1890, at Joseph J. Lodge, Lederach, Penn., while Roger D. Winter, Solebury, Penn., flanked his center booth wall with a fine pair of equestrian oil paintings.
This show attracts a loyal following among dealers and buyers and is always filled. The show has very little turnover but this year was a rare exception. “We are pleased to welcome our new dealers,” show manager and dealer Wesley Sessa, said, noting several exhibitors had decided to take a year off for various reasons.
New to the show are Mark and Marjorie Allen, Lisa S. McAllister, Good & Forsythe, David Pownall Willis, Charles Wilson Antiques & Folk Art and Blum Chestnut Hill Antiques.
Pennsylvania furniture was abundant here, as expected, with Wesley T. Sessa Antiques, Pottstown, Penn., who manages this show for the historical society, offering a wholly original Philadelphia chest of drawers from the fourth quarter of the Eighteenth Century, while Eric Chandlee Wilson, Thorndale, Penn., showed a rare circa 1765, Chester County Queen Anne-style tall case clock.
Other local standouts were the Pennsylvania Dutch cupboard with antique eagle brasses, possibly Berks County, at Stevens Antiques, Frazer, Penn.; a Philadelphia, mahogany Chippendale bowfront chest of drawers with ogee feet, at Greg K. Kramer & Co., Robesonia, Penn., and a set of six copiously-decorated heavily balloon back Pennsylvania chairs in a rare red paint, circa 1850, in the booth of Philip H. Bradley Co. Antiques, Downingtown, Penn.
Besides local furniture, New England pieces were also spotted here. Brian Cullity Antiques, Sagamore, Mass., displayed a cherry Chippendale drop leaf table in original surface, probably New Hampshire and circa 1780.
Also, The Hanebergs Antiques, East Lyme, Conn., featured a rare bonnet top cherry secretary that descended in the Noble (Bryan) family of Connecticut; SAJE Americana, Short Hills, N.J., had a mahogany tea table from coastal Massachusetts, and Steve Smoot, Lancaster, Penn., showed a small painted pine chest over a long drawer with bee hive brasses.
Newcomer Charles Wilson Antiques & Folk Art offered a nice grouping of weathervanes, including a carved wood cod and a horse and rider with top hat, while show veteran Van Tassel Baumann American Antiques, Malvern, Penn. showed a walnut “Octorora” high chest of drawers from Chester County, circa 1770‸0, paired with a large, important wool on canvas needlework picture, circa 1830″4, eastern Pennsylvania.
Among the fine art standouts at the show was a circa 1780 English portrait of a master keeper of the hounds, a rare subject matter, set in its original frame that bore fox hunting motifs that was offered at James M. Kilvington, Dover, Del., and an Eighteenth Century oil portrait of a woman in a blue dress holding a flower at Mark and Marjorie Allen, New Hampton, N.H.
H.L. Chalfant Antiques, West Chester, Penn., offered one of the earliest known dower chests, dated 1769 and retaining original paint on the top, sides and front, from Berks County, Penn.
Folk art was liberally sprinkled throughout the show from a pair of carved angels at J.D. Querry Antiques, Martinsburg, Penn., to a folk portrait of young girl, oil on canvas laid on Masonite at Douglas Constant Inc, Orient, N.Y.
A pair of English tavern brass bell candlesticks, circa 1890, with fine beading millwork and engine-turned decoration was a standout at Michael J. Whitman, Fort Washington, Penn., while Greshville Antiques & Fine Art, Boyertown, Penn., offered a fine Ben Austrian painting.
A rare Lincoln White House china platter from the first order, circa 1861, France, was on view at William and Teresa Kurau, Lampeter, Penn., while Irvin and Dolores Boyd, Fort Washington, Penn., showed a collection of colonial pipes, 1620‱770.
Paul J. DeCoste, West Newbury, Mass., offered a fine collection of Nineteenth Century whale’s teeth, including a whale ivory crimper with mother of pearl, brass and silver inlay.
Raccoon Creek Antiques, Oley, Penn., displayed a large burl bowl in original dry surface, early Nineteenth Century, that had an unusual, high form.
Rounding out the offerings were Emele’s Antiques, Dublin, Penn., with a wonderful 18-pane walnut Dutch cupboard in original finish, circa 1825 and a lovely and delicate Meissen egg cup at David Pownall Willis, Plainfield, N.J.
The show will return next March. For information, www.ChesterCoHistorical.org or 610-692-4800.
