The Annual Outdoor Ridgefield Antiques Market marked its 47th anniversary on June 6 at the 1896 Lounsbury House, attracting 60 antiques exhibitors from all over the Northeast. Opening at 8 am, the outdoor show, managed by Corinne Burke, benefits the ongoing restorations at the Lounsbury House, also known as the Ridgefield Community Center. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the stately mansion provides the perfect backdrop for the popular annual market.
“We had a fantastic gate this year and the show was just wonderful,” said Lounsbury House’s executive director Stephanie Pelletier. She confirmed that there were some 1,000 tickets sold at the gate, which ensured that the fundraising goal was met. “We had people from all over the region. That, combined with our decision to not raise booth rates or entrance fees, made this one of the best gates we’ve had in many years. That’s important because we have to raise all our own money,” Pelletier said.
Karen Olson said her husband attended the show after many years absence. “One thing Daniel noticed right away was that the crowd was much younger than at most antiques shows,” she said. “There was a lot of traffic and many of the people were young, with children.”
The Newburgh, N.Y., dealers reported selling an early bench, a folky serving table in old red paint with a shelf from a country store in Ohio, some glass and smalls and an old painting, unsigned, of a landscape. Daniel was showing an early, circa 1810′0, two-drawer blanket chest, made of pine but painted to pass as a formal inlaid mahogany chest, with original pulls. After the show, Karen noted they had a great deal of interest in the chest.
Rick Linehan had a folky Victorian hooked rug that was about 10 feet long with a wonderful farm scene of two children, ducks, cow, barn, house and dog. The circa 1890‱910 handmade rug was marked at $1,895 at Yesterday’s Luxuries. Fronting the booth, which was set up under a tent under a large tree and on the grass in back of Lounsbury House, the Seymour, Conn., dealer had a circa 1830‴0 Oriental carved rosewood screen, French andirons, a Buddha head and two pedestals adorned with flowers. “The pedestals have been outside our store for a long time so I thought I’d bring them along,” Linehan said.
Next door, also enjoying the shady, grassy spot, was Brewster River Antiques, Fairfield, Conn., with its signature tin picnic baskets, iron ware, several toleware trays and one-drawer painted stands. And on the other side, Urban Curios, Jean Urban, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and Cathie Cole, Bethany, Conn., were showing eclectic collectibles from a green painted bent willow small bookshelf, art glass lamps, books, musical scores and early advertising.
Biuk Fardin was under another large tree on the other side of the U-curved driveway that frames Lounsbury House and offers easy access for dealers. Her tree provided some lovely shade for her usual large and special Oriental rug collection. She was also showing a Navajo rug and a large almost modern abstract design tightly woven rug. The Fairfield, Conn., dealer was busy selling runners to several customers who were waiting to carry them home.
Another rug dealer, Amin Noori spread his wares on large tarps covering the grass, creating a sea of Oriental designs. One rug the New Milford, Conn., dealer pointed out, a Suzani antique embroidered and decorative tribal textile probably from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, was needle made. “The art of making this type of textiles in Iran is called suzankiri,” Noori explained, “from the Persian word for needlework.”
Maria Andreou, Fort Lee, N.J., was showing more modern needlework, from the United States, in the form of a vase of lilacs made with multiple loop stitches. The framed piece joined Meissen, majolica, Staffordshire and a huge assortment of smalls. “I collect what interests me,” Andreou said, “I just hope it interests others as well.”
While many were showing some pieces of furniture, the majority of dealers seemed to have brought an assortment of their best smalls with them for this popular one-day show.
Joseph Liszka came from Ludlow, Mass., with etchings by Marguerite Kirmse (American, 1885†1954), many with her signature Scottish Terriers and selling in the $1,000 range.
Trading under the name, Antiques To You, Liszka was proudly displaying horse weathervanes. A Fiske “Dexter” with an older surface and patina showing through was $2,495; his “star,” however, was a circa 1860‹0 copper running horse with a cast zinc head in wonderful form. “It is in excellent condition, straight and right. I have not found a better-looking horse weathervane.” The 32-inch- long and 16-inch-high vane came off an old barn in North Brookfield, Mass. “The farmer decided to sell it to help him pay for the construction of a new barn.” It was marked at $3,750.
Pembroke, N.H., dealer Tommy Thompson reported he had “a good show,” selling some furniture, but mostly smaller items such as an Eighteenth Century hanging betty lamp and an early Twentieth Century bee skep. He also sold an early Eighteenth Century interior door, a circa 1830‴0 demilune table and long folding tables.
One of the oldest pieces at the show could be found locked tight at Tom O’Hara’s Sharon, Conn., Easter Hill Antiques. Among the English and American early pieces, he was showing a Jacobean document or bible box, circa 1615, that he had found on one of his many trips to England, where he replenishes his stock.
Linda Miller brought American, English and French porcelain in the form of Pairpoint and Limoges hand decorated plates. A pair of Nineteenth Century scenic plates had the place names on the back: one read “Lough of Belfast” and the other “Snowden.” The Woodstock, N.Y., dealer also had a hand painted plate with first lady Martha Washington’s portrait.
A wicker chaise lounge on wheels was seen rolling down the driveway to an open SUV, having just been purchased at Selective Iron, Norwalk, Conn. Pat Torraco does not often have wicker, but he found a set and bought it, “just spontaneously.” It was bought from him within the hour at Ridgefield, along with an iron table and chairs and a charming concrete fountain head of a small child with a ewer through which the water would pour.
Robert Potrafke’s Zuna Antiques also presented an eclectic collection. The Mamaroneck, N.Y., dealer showed a Nineteenth Century marionette with black ceramic head, face and feet, in its original clothing right down to the burlap overalls, gingham checked shirt, kerchief and straw hat. Potrafke said he had already sold many smalls and had other sales right after the 8 am opening.
For information, 203-438-6962 or www.lounsburyhouse.com .
