When Butch Arion purchased the Original York Antiques Show 24 years ago, he began a concerted effort to transform it back into one of the best of the shows that takes place at the legendary York Fairgrounds. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Arion is in the catbird seat, promoting what many feel is not only the best show at the fairgrounds, but one of the best country shows anywhere.
The Original Semi-Annual York Antiques Show and Sale was launched in 1934 and it has morphed into an event that needs little touting. This show blows its own horn and those within hearing distance know to come running. The 154th edition was conducted January 29″1.
When Arion first took the show over, it had become sloppy and mundane. At first, many of the upper-end Americana dealers that Arion approached expressed trepidation about returning to exhibit at York. Over time, however, reluctance from exhibitors waned and little by little the quality of the show rose, then it rose some more, and even more, until the point that the Original York Antiques show has undoubtedly joined the ranks of being one of the most important Americana shows in the country.
“This is going to be our best to date,” commented Arion as he glanced around the show floor just before heading home the evening prior to opening. “There is some great merchandise on the floor and the attitude among the dealers seems to be really good.” As always, Arion was calling a spade a spade. The show looked great, the dealers were upbeat and their attitude proved infectious with the record-sized crowd that was in attendance on Friday.
Massachusetts buyer Scott Cooke was on hand bright and early to once again claim the first spot in line, in the process beating everyone to the show, including Arion and all of his dealers. Arion smiled as he let Cooke in, out from the 15 degree weather and into the warm foyer of the fairground’s exhibition hall. Arion recalled the not-so-distant past when Harry Hartman was a fixture at the front of the line, a spot that Hartman surrendered when he began exhibiting at the show several years ago.
A bit tardy, Arion swung the doors to the show open a minute-or-so after 10 am, although the anxious crowd barely seemed to notice. “The attendance on Friday was overwhelming,” stated the promoter. “It was also up for Saturday, and Sunday was the usual steady crowd.
“Quality-wise, this was the best show we have ever had here and a number of people told me that this show just keeps getting better and better,” said Arion.
Sold tags popped up all over the floor within moments of the crowd rushing in. Four found their way onto objects in the booth of Michael Whittemore. Two hooked rugs, one with a large dog, the other a colorful geometric, moved right away; a pair of early wooden architectural elements and a patriotic shield with a mirror insert were also sold.
“We had our best York show ever,” stated a jubilant Tom Jewett, Jewett-Berdan, New Castle, Maine. The dealer reported selling “the most on opening day, although we sold things all three days. The crowd was really good,” he said. Jewett reported a painted corner cupboard selling quickly, as did three hooked rugs, one decorated with a large rooster, and a penny rug. Also moving from the booth was a paint decorated box and “lots of smalls,” said Jewett.
Ceramics, pottery, furniture, wood carvings and a good assortment of collector’s items were among the items for which Harry Hartman and Oliver Overlander wrote out sold tickets. Hartman, who limits the shows he exhibits at to just four annually, commented that York resembled an “old-fashioned show. There were lots of people, and they were enthusiastic, and buying,” he said.
Furniture was selling all around the floor, including a nice tiger maple country Queen Anne drop leaf from the booth of Hilary and Paulette Nolan that had been moved from its spot in the booth moments after the show opened. Arion brought in a shipper for the first time, who set up a small display and would ship anything, large or small, anywhere in the United States. One informal count by Arion of the number of pieces of furniture waiting to be readied for the shipper’s truck was put at eight.
Sales continued throughout the weekend for Newburgh, N.Y., dealers Dan and Karen Olson. The dealers “just couldn’t stop selling,” according to a neighboring dealer, and Olson confirmed that by stating, “We made 30 sales.” Among the laundry list of sold items were six pieces of stoneware, including a large advertising jug with bird decoration; a Taghkanic basket in old paint that they had recently picked from a private collection, among eight examples sold; a folk art cane; a couple of blanket chests in paint; a handsome Pennsylvania ladder back armchair; and an Eighteenth Century sampler. Sales continued on Sunday with a come-back buyer taking a large sawbuck table with rounded corners.
The dealer also reported making two house calls after people at the show invited them to come out and take a look at some things in the house that they had for sale, one of which proved fruitful with the purchase of some nice fresh merchandise
Lititz, Penn., dealers Rich and Pat Garthoeffner were pleased to be displaying at York once again, filling the spot left vacant by The Herrs, who are temporarily taking a leave of absence from the show. The dealers recorded several sales in the opening moments of the show, including a nice early sampler that Rich was busy packing up for a happy customer.
A large harness shop sign sported a sold tag in the booth of Robert Conrad, and a grain painted cupboard with two upper drawers was sold from the booth of Oley, Penn., dealer Bertolet House.
Several pieces of early porcelain were moving quickly from the booth of Hanes and Ruskin, Old Lyme, Conn., including an interesting Nineteenth Century child’s mug that had been a Twentieth Century gift to a grandchild. The transfer decoration on the side of the reward of merit mug bore one name, while the tag on the bottom revealed another and a notation that a mug with the child’s name would be impossible to find, so this substitution had aptly been made.
Also of note in the booth was a rare assembled set of Eighteenth Century English pearlware from the collection of James Elliott. “These are usually seen in just blue and white,” said Joy Hanes of the Chinese house pattern decoration on the creamers, tea pot, mugs and saucers, and the rare tea canister. “But, in blue, white and red decoration, it is a whole new game.”
Other rare porcelains were seen a couple of booths down the aisle at Bill and Teresa Kurau’s stand. The Lampeter, Penn., dealers offered a rare assembled collection of Staffordshire plates, circa 1835, that were decorated with views of the “Great Fire of New York.” In brown, green and purple, the examples represented the three views known, View from Coenties Slip, Ruins of Merchants Exchange and The Exchange of New York.
“Time sure has gone by fast,” stated Arion in regard to the 24 years that he has been the promoter of the show. “I really enjoy it.” The Original Semi-Annual York Antiques Show will return to the fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend, September 3†5. The 25th anniversary of Arion’s days as manager of the York Show will be celebrated January 28″0 of next year. For information 302-875-5326 or www.theoriginalyorkantiquesshow.com .
