The Union Arena was filled to capacity with dealers and antiques for the 11th annual Green Mountain Antiques Show July 26′7. It is managed by four Vermont couples †Peter and Mary Pill of Grafton, Mary and Bob Fraser of Taftsville, Nancy and John Stahura of Reading and Jim and Elizabeth Dunn of Springfield.
They began the show to fill a void when the Vermont Antiques Dealers Association moved its annual show date from July to late September in the 1990s. As soon as this show was announced in 1998, it filled with dealers, most of whom still do the show, many without having missed a single year. During its early years, it was conducted at the high school in Chester, Vt., but it moved to the larger and more visible Union Arena ice rink in 2004.
This year, there were conflicting shows in the Northeast at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in New York and in New London, N.H., but they seemed to have little to no effect on this show’s outcome, according to Jim Dunn. “The spaces were full and our gate was ahead of last year, a steady growth each year since moving to Woodstock,” he said.
Customers come to the show for early Vermont, New England and American antiques, especially with a country style, but not exclusively. There were early Shaker items from Richard Vandall of American Decorative Arts, Canaan, N.H., just inside the show. His collection includes many of the small tools made by early Shakers for their own use, as well as objects made for commercial sale to the public. Vandall is well qualified to determine Shaker goods and, in many cases, identifying which community was the original home of the objects. His collection for this show also included an assortment of Mission furniture from several recognized makers.
Hansje Hill, Old Saybrook, Conn., was showing a collection of early American art, including foil paintings, samplers, silhouettes and more. Most of the hanging pieces were of the style made in America as early folk art. Her collection included some Eighteenth Century furniture and household furnishings.
Woodstock, Vt., dealer Eric Nesbitt organized his inventory into an early fine dining room complete with all the necessary furniture, accessories and dishes. Small crafts, which were very useful items, were offered by Ken and Susan Scott. These Malone, N.Y., dealers had a collection of pin cushions in many forms, such as animals and toys. A pull toy that was only about 4 inches tall was a carved and painted goat.
There was a very large workbench as the principal piece in Liberty Hill Antiques’ exhibit. The dealers, Jim and Suzan Mulder, usually have one in each show they do, and usually they only have to take it away for the eventual delivery to new owners. That was the case at Green Mountain, and they also sold a matched set of four Windsor side chairs. Jim Mulder mentioned that there was another workbench back at their Reading, Vt., shop.
Antiques at 30B, Cambridge, N.Y., had a very busy weekend. A partnership of the Ferrisses and Sherwoods, the firm had two exhibits in the Woodstock show, but also they were exhibiting at the Rhinebeck Antiques Show on Saturday.
There was a set of four Queen Anne ladder back chairs from Limington, Maine, dealer Bill Kelly. Sandi and George Goldring do most of their shopping for inventory near their home in Essex Junction, Vt. For the show, their display included several early hooked rugs in very good condition; an early braided rug with a repeated color pattern was the booth’s floor covering and a fine early quilt decorated the side wall.
Tom Moser has homes in Naples, Fla., and Tenants Harbor, Maine, giving him the luxury of shopping in both locales. His furniture collection included several early American stands and a large chest built to withstand the rigors of traveling in a military campaign. The backdrop was an early cotton quilt in red and yellow with a variation of the eye-catcher design.
Another Mainer, Tom Joseph, was selling crossover selections, including early American primitives, such as a tall cupboard, a set of American Sheraton chairs and accessories, including andirons, which seemed to be Art Deco in style. Paula Timmons McColgan, Hopkinton, N.H., offered a fine early chest, two over three drawers in William and Mary style with turned or carved feet and original red painted surface.
Fine early ceramics, including an open decorated featheredge bowl, were offered by Lee Hanes of Hanes and Ruskin Antiques, Old Lyme, Conn. Lyme [N.H.] Creamery Antiques was represented, selling small antiques with an English heritage.
The show is conducted as a fundraising event, with management working for no compensation, and the net proceeds go to area charities. The traditional date has been the third weekend of July, but this year Union Arena was still operating as an ice rink into July, causing a week’s delay. While the date for next year is not yet set, the committee is hoping for the earlier week to avoid conflicts. The Stahuras (802-484-5942) and the Dunns (802-885-3705) are good contacts for information concerning future shows.
