Morgan MacWhinnie filled the front and back yards of Corwith House with dealers June 26′7 for the annual Bridgehampton Historical Society Antiques Show. The show and site have become increasingly popular with shoppers over the past decade.
Visitors enjoy the variety and diversity of offerings from early Americana to late Twentieth Century décor and dealers have generally been willing to assist in transporting the large items accommodating shoppers with small city vehicles.
Styles in the Hamptons are eclectic, with buyers especially interested in the art of a piece or ensemble. This was an opinion offered by several dealers in a group discussion during the Friday afternoon setup for the show.
Marianne Stikas of Kent, Conn., and New York City chooses her inventory for the artistry in the design and skill in crafting the pieces †not simply the age. Included in her collection for the weekend were a set of very unusual wrought iron side chairs with several thoughtful items for their table.
She was also offering numerous objects fabricated from iron that had industrial uses in days past but now would be thought-provoking wall hangings or accessories in a home. One such object was a 4-foot-diameter iron wire frame that may have been a shield for a light, a fan or heating device, and now radiates its own aura.
Art Deco and Art Nouveau works are the typical inventory for Linda Elmore, a Westfield, N.J., shop dealer. When in the Hamptons, she adds to that with some Modern and even an assortment of Midcentury pieces that she hopes Hamptons residents will acquire. Her centerpiece this weekend was a driftwood base coffee table from the 1950s.
Kenny Ball from Charlottesville, Va., and Nancy Wells, Belmont, N.H., were sharing a large portion of one of the tents. They both exhibited very trendy articles in the setting. The centerpiece was an adaptation of a sawbuck table in white paint with end supports that could be described as a snowman with his arms up to hold the painted pine table top. The table was drawing many favorable comments and also a pier table in the background made from heavy porch columns.
Many dealers at the show were offering traditional antiques from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Lee Hanes of Hanes and Ruskin Antiques of Old Lyme, Conn., was there to show several special early pieces of furniture and early accessories. A local dealer, Richard Ferrante of Tressa Antiques in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., offered his current collection of early art and fine American furniture from Long Island made in the Eighteenth Century.
R.S. Kissam, Northport, N.Y., was there with his collection of early Long Island maps. Toby, as he is known, has family roots on Long Island going back to the Seventeenth Century and mixes his heritage with his inventory of area maps, early furniture and home furnishings.
Oriental rugs have been good sellers in the Hamptons for many years so there was a large selection provided by Soheil Oriental Rugs of New York City. Owner Sam Sasanian has been active in shops and a selection of shows for many years, specializing in antique Persians, especially the very popular tribal or Caucasian rugs from before 1920. With a large truck load as his weekend inventory, he was able to offer good variety in sizes and colors.
Red Horse Antiques, Bridgewater, Vt., came with a collection of country and primitive antiques but also traces of early English accessories. Sue and Jock Lilly have homes in Vermont and also Sue’s native London, so when they get back there, they are able to shop all the popular British venues.
More traditional antiques were offered by Nicholas DiBenedetto, of East Quogue, N.Y.
Fine art from many listed artists, mostly American, was the focus for Bradford Trust. Roy Mennell of Harwich Port, Mass., was showing several nautical pieces, including one of his Ralph Cahoon oil on board paintings.
There was folk art and outsider art offered this weekend as it too has become very popular with the Hamptons customers. Platypus Antiques, Dix Hills, N.Y., featured early advertising and road signs. One piece was a sign for Fireman’s Convention, just the piece to hang in the at-home recreation room.
Kitchenwares were available from several collections with many different styles and uses. Bonkey’s Treasures, Hellertown, Penn., was selling early French copper pots and pans, while Paula Cohen, Westhampton, N.Y., was offering a large collection of early English ironstone.
Vintage Poster Art of New Jersey, Art Finkel’s business, included many original movie broadsides that were matted and ready for hanging. While headquartered in Monroe Township, N.J., Art offers his collection primarily at shows.
MacWhinnie has been running this show for many years now as a volunteer and at the same time exhibiting with an assortment of his antiques from his shop in nearby North Sea. While MacWhinnie is more a traditionalist in his own taste, he had a diverse collection this weekend, including some early wicker, iron garden furniture, stoneware and pottery from Colonial times through the Twentieth Century.
MacWhinnie said that although threatened by showers, “There wasn’t enough rain to do any harm to the antiques or the gate because it was just a sprinkle that only lasted a couple minutes.” This gave the weekendlong event great attendance and good sales he said.
MacWhinnie also manages Antiques at Mulford Farm in East Hampton, just a few miles down the road, which will be conducted August 7.
For more information, 631-283-3366 or 516-769-2939.
