New owners sold out their 400 exhibit spaces at Marburger Farm for the most recent gathering, which opened to clear skies on March 31 for thousands of visitors. The show has become one of the hallmarks, a must-see venue during the Round Top antiques events, which ended April 4.
Started by John Sauls more than 20 years ago, the show has become a national antiques event. Last summer, Sauls sold the farm and business to Margaret Mebus and her family, including Ashley Ferguson and Rick McConn, so they could all enjoy a family business in the area where they had a second home retreat from their city lives in Houston and other parts of Texas.
While the show was at capacity for each of the semiannual events for at least the last five years, Sauls created growth by adding more farm buildings to the property, buildings that became additional exhibit halls. The 43-acre spread now includes 17 restored buildings and eight metal framed tents.
Dealers have reacted positively to the new owners and their work to improve the show. In a postshow interview, Christopher English from West Palm Beach, Fla., had high praise, with comments that echoed what many dealers were saying. “Rick McConn and Ashley Ferguson have been really improving the show with a whole new energy, great organization and a new electricity to the show,” said English. “They have things ready for the dealers on the setup days and for the customers when the show opens. There was a line on the road, which was always moving, bringing the customers in and they were real buyers. In October, the show was during the big drop in the stock market, but even so, I sold well, but this April show was my best ever.” English has been in the show for several years, exhibiting at Marburger with, as he described it, his “decorative line.”
Sharon and David Cox, Longview, Texas, who trade as Eclectic Architecturals, were showing a collection of mostly French country-style furniture, which they acquire on their own buying trips each summer.
Earthenware is the exclusive stock for Dennis and Anne Berard of Dennis and Dad, Fitzwilliam, N.H. They exhibit in one of the many buildings on the Marburger Farm site with a room filled with early English dishes. A few days after the show, Dennis Berard said the show “was good. We had a good total with a boost from one big regular customer.” He said their sales are usually good with the early Staffordshire, including the historical examples.
First-time exhibitors at the show were Doug Solliday and Melissa Williams, both from Columbia, Mo. Solliday was showing a collection of early Americana, which included stoneware, pottery and many other American made household objects. Enjoying a shelf all by themselves were a pair of Nantucket baskets by known makers in excellent condition and selling for $1,950 and $1,800 each. Solliday was pleased with the show for his first time, claiming that sales were “pretty good,” and he would return. Melissa Williams Fine Art, the other part of this Columbia, Mo., pairing was also selling well.
Quelle Surprise, Gloucester, Mass., was another first-time exhibitor at the show. Owner Mary Ellen Stephans was satisfied with her results, selling a combination of early glass. Steuben and some Tiffany were included in her exhibit and an assortment of other small antiques. In fact, all her antiques are smalls †glass, porcelain, china and a collection of small figurines.
Marburger Farm management has been less strict on the age of the inventories offered, while emphasizing the value of the offerings as fine decorative objects, but they do not allow flea market materials. Marsh Garden Décor from New Orleans is one example where the dealer Marshall Lee offers a collection of garden molded stone objects with age and quality, as well as some carved pieces, which may be better described as vintage in some cases and antique in others, but not late materials.
Snow Leopard from Garner, N.C., has a similar situation with early textiles, most for the dining table with ages from 50 years to 150 years. Both of these dealers’ offerings are very popular and presented for what they are †fine decorator items with good value and utility.
June Ainsworth and her twin sister, Jane Christian, are native Texans who have traveled and expanded their collections to include art, furniture and a variety of small antiques from early America and England. Their sales, according to Ainsworth, were good, with paintings the most popular category.
The Orwigs, Don and Marta, had a fresh collection from their Corunna, Ind., shops. Tom and Kris Birely of Birely Antiques from Merriam, Ind., brought a large load of large furniture for the customers. Patricia and Bill Huestis trade as Mountain Thistle Antiques since their move from New Jersey to Waynesboro, Va., a few years ago and still shop in Europe when they can get away. Barometers are one of their favorite collections, but also a big collection of early cork screws, Black Forest carvings and other interesting figurines.
McConn, one of the show’s new owners, was extremely pleased with the show’s performance and results. “Dealers were coming up on just the second day of the show to say how well they were doing and how smoothly the work was going,” he said. McConn’s sister-in-law and co-owner Ferguson added that with a full house, their dealer signups for the October show were very strong. They are working on an aggressive marketing program to acquaint more dealers and the public in other parts of the country about their show. The fall show date is September 29⁏ctober 3; spring 2010 is March 30⁁pril 3. Both shows follow the Round Top pattern, ending the last Saturday of October and April, even if the April date is Easter weekend. For information, www.roundtop-marburger.com or 800-999-2148.
