The 55th Washington Antiques Show got off to a good start with a well-attended preview party on January 7 and a consistent stream of customers throughout the weekend.
Marty Shapiro, president of the Antiques Council, which manages the Washington Antiques Show, noted that besides the strong attendance and good sales reported by many, the unusual configuration of the booths at the show that is a function of the contemporary architecture of the Katzen Art Center, “created a dynamic interaction between the public and the dealers which I have not witnessed at other shows.”
According to Karen DiSaia, liaison for the Antiques Council to the show, the gate by noon on Saturday “had surpassed the excellent attendance of the previous year.”
Many dealers commented on the knowledgeable crowd that was interested in many types of antiques and unusually well informed. Gary Sergeant of G. Sergeant Antiques in Woodbury Conn., was new to the show and very impressed with the customers’ appreciation for fine antiques. “I sold a wonderful Samuel Lancaster Gerry painting and felt the show had a lot of potential,” he said. “There was also great interest in a rare English lacquered cabinet on stand with chinoiserie decorated doors and a fitted interior that stood at the front of my booth.”
Bradley Kyser and Charles Hollingsworth of Kyser-Hollingsworth Antiques, Washington, D.C., who were showcasing a rare English piano forte, circa 1792, remarked, “From our knowledge of the Washington community, all the right people were there; many showed strong interest and returned over the weekend.”
Steve and Alice Shapiro of SAJE Americana in Short Hills, N.J., were thrilled to see so many enthusiastic new customers at the young collectors event on Saturday evening. “We sold a young couple their very first antique. It is always a privilege to meet people who are willing to learn and see the beauty in a fine piece of furniture,” Steve said.
Customers of all ages were buying on all three floors, but Charles Edwin of Charles Edwin Inc., Louisa, Va., likely had the youngest customer. “We had a number of good sales, but our favorite was a 10-year-old boy who bought a miniature cannon.” That young man might have also ended up in the third floor booth of Gemini Antiques, which brought a wonderful selection of antique cast iron toys and banks.
Also on the third floor, James Butterworth and Michael Donovan of Antique American Wicker, Nashua, N.H., commented on the warm welcome they received as newcomers to the show: “We sold a suite of Heyward Wakefield wicker to one couple, and had strong interest from several others.” George Subkoff of George Subkoff Antiques in Westport, Conn., became somewhat of a TV personality when his Eighteenth Century rent table was featured on Channel 5 news. “I think what really fascinated people was the table’s provenance,” he said, “It was located in the offices of Charles Dickens’s publishers and the author often sat there when paying a visit.”
Charles and Teresa Puckett had a strong show and were well positioned at the top of the third floor stairs. “We saw a lot of interest in maps and manuscripts, better than last year, and last year was good,” they said.
Sally Kaltman of Sallea Antiques, New Canaan, Conn., was pleased with the turnout and particularly happy to have found a solid new customer. “Seeing old customers is of course wonderful, but to me the mark of a good show is to find a new customer with whom we can begin to build a relationship,” she noted. Paulette Peden of Dawn Hill, New Preston, Conn., echoed her enthusiasm, saying, “I sold a Swedish rococo period table and a Swedish drop leaf table and delivered them. In both cases, I was happy to see that Swedish antiques are alive and well in the D.C. area.”
Al Cunha and Wayne St John of Cunha-St John Antiques commented on the return of interest in traditional period furniture. “Although unique smalls and objects continue to be strong, we sold a wonderful campaign secretary and an elegant George III mahogany bookcase with full-length glazed doors that went right into a Georgetown study.”
Anthony McNaught of McNaught Fine Art, who traveled to D.C. from Sacramento, was “pleased to see a show with such enthusiastic support in the community. The show had a lively atmosphere the committee was terrific and totally involved. My sales were good, particularly post-Impressionist paintings.”
Robert Lloyd of Robert Lloyd Silver, New York City, was happy to see a lot of new as well as repeat customers. “We sold both American and English silver, including an important Commonwealth period flagon made in London, circa 1657,” he said.
Hannah Cox, trustee and co-chair of this year’s show, summed up the weekend, saying, “The committee were very pleased with the great venue, the increased attendance and the success of all exhibitors.”
For more information, www.washingtonantiques.org or 202-388-9560.
