Thrift Shop Charities hosted the 53rd Washington Antiques Show at the Omni Shoreham Hotel January 11‱3, with the previews on January 10. With 45 dealers and numerous special programs over the weekend, the show “surpassed the previous totals for the weekend,” according to co-chair Lynne Pace Robinson.
Thrift Shop Charities Trust is a nonprofit organization that raises money for several operating organizations supporting children and families. According to Hannah Cox, chairman of trustees for the Thrift Shop Charities, the show this year raised about $250,000. The revenue came from numerous sources, including dealer rents, admissions and also the special fees for the VIP reception, preview night party and the lectures.
Assisted by the Antiques Council, all of the antiques offered are fully vetted for authenticity. The dealers, all council members, assist in the vetting, and over the weekend many of them appraised antiques brought to the show by the visitors. Other special programs included Chip Calloway’s lecture and luncheon on gardens, their restoration and design; also, a New Collectors Evening, which included cocktails and an informative talk by James Archer Abbott, former curator of the Woodrow Wilson House and author of several books on specialized antique furniture.
With its long history, social activities and excellent ambiance, the show continued to attract dealers with the finest collections from throughout the East and even one from Europe.
Judy and Ben Watson, through their business, King-Thomasson Antiques of Asheville, N.C., have been exhibiting for many years. Their collection is primarily English country furniture and associated accessories, and for the Washington show they brought an early Jacobean Bible box on stand, a late Georgian child’s chair and a late Georgian corner cupboard with bull’s-eye glasses in the top door and a great painting on the bottom. According to Judy Watson, sales were good, and they “had a great show.”
Centreville, Md., dealer Gary E. Young also praised sales at the show. He sold his centerpiece, a Nineteenth Century table, which was described as “multipurpose.” Without its extensions, it was a round library table about 4 feet in diameter, but with its unusual extensions, it became a dining table †although still round.
Fletcher/Copenhaver Fine Art from Fredericksburg, Va., was one of the many dealers that reported having had a good time. Partners Joel Fletcher and John Copenhaver were quite pleased with the sales of their art, including four works by Leroux, a Havel, one by Henry de Waroquier, another by Louis la Grand and an oil by Guillien Paval. Their sales were so strong, Fletcher said they were already planning another trip to France in April to restock. The partners were also talking about the change of venue for next year’s show. These dealers were pleased with the change to the Katzen Center at American University as, in their opinion, that site will offer many more amenities for visitors, including easy parking on the campus and an easier to find location.
Spencer-Marks had saved a particular pair of antiques for this show, with special advertising for the objects. A pair of Gorham sterling silver gilt and cut glass dessert stands designed and executed for the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 formed the centerpiece of the West Hampton, Mass., dealer’s exhibit. According to the firm’s literature at the show, these pieces were described in The New York Times on September 20, 1893: “[Gorham’s Gilt Silver] illustrates American Silversmiths can also do the highest class of European work. In a gilded dessert set with plateau, the very highest type of this work is shown. The set is correct Louis XVI in design, and the dishes are beautiful examples of cut ruby glass.”
This is a show with exceptional pieces. Included in that category was a cupboard offered by R.M. Worth Antiques, Inc of Chadds Ford, Penn. Called an Octorora Valley hutch, its place of origin, it was all original, including the finish. In the feet there were small holes, about an inch and a quarter in diameter, which are considered signatures for the Octorora Valley furniture at the time of its construction, between 1790 and 1810. The price was $39,500. Another piece in the same collection was a Chester, Penn., chest of drawers with paneled sides and inlays typical of the origin of the piece. All original, except for replaced brasses, it, too, was priced at $39,500.
Most of the dealers had been saving pieces to give their exhibits a special lift at this annual event. Mary Helen McCoy had a Sixteenth Century French armoire a deux corps, which was carved in walnut with additional detailing in verde antico marble. The dealer from Charleston, S.C., pointed out the special details of its construction and fine art quality of the carvings, all to show why it was worth the price of $240,000.
Judd Gregory, Dorset, Vt., had a signed American highboy. There were American flags from various dates in the Nineteenth Century offered by Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques of York County, Penn. Coming from Woodbury, Conn., Autumn Pond Antiques had a collection of weathervanes and fine porcelain.
Running Battle Antiques of Newagen, Maine, brought enough early English furniture to fill two booths, which, as it turned out, was a good thing. Across the aisle from the firm, a dealer had a personal emergency and had to withdraw at the last minute so the owners of Running Battle, Hamilton and Helen Meserve, spread their collection into the two spaces.
Another exhibitor from Woodbury, Conn., was Thomas Schwenke, Inc, a dealer with a reputation for knowledge of fine antique furniture. One of the participants in the appraisal activity on Saturday morning was unable to attend due to a sudden illness. Show co-chair Robinson quickly recruited Schwenke to fill the void. Appraisals were another part of the fundraising activities, with a fee of $10 per item, all going to the Thrift Shop Charities.
The 53rd Annual Washington Antiques Show is now history, but during the show many of the dealers were taken on visits to next year’s show’s new venue. The Katzen Arts Center of American University is a larger area for the show with great access. The Thrift Shop Charities trustees are all very pleased with their new site with the dates for next year set for January 8‱1. Patti Beatty is the primary contact person. For information, 202-388-9560 or www.washingtonantiques.org .
