The bad news is, too many antiques shows are floundering and too many are closing. The good news is, a new show has just opened and has been met with a warm reception. Welcome to The Wayside Inn Antiques Show, a benefit for Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, a nationally recognized historic landmark, that previewed Friday, May 14, and ran for the next two days on the grounds of the inn.
“The first year is always a tough haul, lots of work and a few mistakes along the way, but I think we got off to an impressive start and we are in Sudbury to stay. We will be back next year,” Diana Bittel, show manager, said.
The show, with 45 exhibitors, set up in a large 120-by-160-foot tent, a facility with no center posts and rated to withstand 90-mile-an-hour winds. A carpeted floor makes for easy displays, and the floor plan was basically in the round with an indentation accommodating four exhibitors at each end. The center portion of the tent was used for dealer storage of packing material, as well as a refreshment and rest area for the dealers.
Apparently the whole idea for a show in Sudbury was launched by a gentleman who visited the Nantucket Antiques Show, also managed by Diana Bittel, and proposed a similar venture to benefit the Wayside Inn Historic Site. After several meetings, a plan took shape. “Skinner was terrific as the presenting sponsor, Ralph DiSaia was great as our facilities manager and the Wayside staff was a joy to work with,” Diana said. The catering, with shrimp, lobster and crab cakes, made the preview opening a tasty delight. And as an additional treat, preview visitors viewed ten antique Ford motor cars lined up at the entrance to the tent.
An impressive list of exhibitors †and there is a waiting list †offered an interesting and varied display of antiques and accessories, along with paintings, prints, folk art and jewelry, from rows of attractive and well-appointed booths.
An American breakfront side cabinet in walnut, circa 1870, with a rounded corner marble top over two doors was shown from the booth of Georgian Manor Antiques, Fairhaven, Mass., along with a Colonial Indian neoclassical hardwood open bookcase with scroll-shaped feet, attributed to C. Lazarus & Co., Calcutta.
American furniture filled the booth of Peter H. Eaton Antiques, Newbury, Mass., including a country Sheraton card table with serpentined and blocked front, cherry with mahogany banded edge, turned and reeded legs, from central New Hampshire. It dated circa 1810‱815. “This is the only example of this form I have seen,” Peter said of a rare Queen Anne chest on frame with bonnet top, strong tiger maple and the original brasses, finials and drops. The top center drawer with carved pinwheel, the piece was on cabriole legs and measured 88½ inches high. The origin of the piece was Northeastern Massachusetts and it dated circa 1780‱790.
Joan R. Brownstein, American Folk Paintings, shared the booth, offering four watercolor portraits of the Waterhouse family †father, mother and two children †of Pembroke, N.H., attributed to Mr Wilson. On the back wall hung a portrait of a sea captain attributed to Isaac Sheffield (1798‱845), the sitter on a Federal-style sofa in front of a red-draped window. A ship flying an American flag was shown in the distance.
A selection of Pennsylvania furniture was shown by Christopher T. Rebollo, Mechanicsville, Penn., including a chest-on-chest from the Berks-Lebanon region with colorful geometric and floral inlays of tulips, vines, hearts and leaves, circa 1800‱810. A portrait of George Washington against a curtain surround, oil on board, dated circa 1825‱840.
Furniture, wood carvings, fabrics and pottery filled the booth of Raccoon Creek Antiques at Oley Forge, Oley, Penn., including an early Nineteenth Century New England chair table in the original red painted surface, the top measuring 50‵1 inches in diameter. A Vermont “mule” chest, lift top over two drawers, no hardware, circa 1790, had a grained surface over yellow, and a Pennsylvania feed bin with two compartments, each with a lift top, had the original red painted surface.
Still life subjects mixed with landscapes and nautical paintings in the booth of Walker-Cunningham Fine Art, Boston, with a good number of well-known artists represented, including William M. Paxton (1869‱941), “Still Life with Peonies,” oil on canvas measuring 23 by 28 inches, in the original Foster Bros frame. A ship portrait of the Fleetwing, New Bedford, Mass., flying an American flag, 1886, oil on canvas on board, 26½ by 40¼ inches, was by Charles Sidney Raleigh (1830‱925).
A classical Sheraton table, two-board pine top with two drop leaves, was at the front of the booth of John Keith Russell, South Salem, N.Y. The table, on four ring and ball turned legs, birch, measured 72 inches long, dated circa 1830, retained an old red surface, and was of New England origin, probably New Hampshire. Hanging over it was a rare round chandelier, lead soldered tin, probably New York State, dating circa 1850. This piece, possibly unique, held 12 candles in the 24-inch-diameter ring.
English furniture and nautical paintings filled the booth of Running Battle Antiques, Newagen, Maine. A country table, two-board ash top over straight legs and short apron, circa 1800, one drawer, measured 99 inches long and 38 inches high, while a Montgomeryshire oak dresser base with plank top over three drawers, shaped apron, circa 1750, measured 33 inches high, 69 inches wide and 16½ inches deep.
Two carousel pieces were offered among the ship models, Nantucket baskets and other nautical items from the booth of Sylvia Antiques, Inc, Nantucket, Mass. The carved and painted carousel prancer, with glass eyes, was attributed to Gustav Dentzel, Philadelphia, circa 1900‱910, and retained most of the original park paint, and a carved and painted carousel part, most likely belonging to a chariot or wagon, circa 1890‱910, was in the original park paint. This piece was of English origin and measures 41 by 49½ inches.
Two works by Ralph Cahoon, “Capt Loot,” a signed oil on board, and a small table with painting on top, were offered by Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Maryknoll, N.Y., and a good portion of one of the walls was taken by a set of six China Trade pith paper pictures of furniture, circa 1840‱850, each showing a different grouping of Chinese furniture and porcelains.
A pair of rococo period white painted side chairs, cabriole legs with paw feet, keyhole baluster back splats, of Swedish origin and dating circa 1770, was at the front of the booth belonging to Dawn Hill Antiques of New Preston, Conn. And ready for an outdoor setting was an ornate pair of cast iron settees, white painted, circa 1900.
Samuel Herrup of Sheffield, Mass., offered a small Queen Anne highboy in cherry and pine, circa 1740‱760, with a three-drawer base and narrow upper case, and a two-drawer blanket chest in pine, New York State, circa 1820‱840. This piece had red paint outlines on the drawers, which framed sponge decorated central panels on yellow ground.
Two interesting cast iron pieces were shown by Grace and Elliott Snyder Antiques, South Egremont, Mass., including a recumbent Newfoundland, 42 inches long, attributed to J.W. Fiske, New York City, circa 1893, and a graphic lion plaque, American, Nineteenth Century and measuring 19 inches in diameter. A rare tavern table with molded legs, Eighteenth Century, retained a black over the original red surface and was of New England origin, probably New Hampshire. It measured 42½ by 32 by 27 inches.
“We had a very good show, met new people, and found many showed an interest in early country furniture,” said Douglas Jackman of Stephen-Douglas Antiques, Rockingham, Vt. Among the furniture sold was a small-size step back cupboard with painted surface, which held a number of small wood carvings and three rows of leather-bound books. “The buyer liked the looks of the books on the shelves and bought all of them also,” Doug added. A New England settle, which at one time had been deaccessioned by the Met, was also sold, as was a child-size one-drawer blanket chest. Numerous wood and china smalls added to a successful show.
Two signed ship portraits by A. Jacobsen hung in the booth of Kelly Kinzle Antiques, New Oxford, Penn., Lotia and Clarence, dated 1899 and 1898, respectively, oil on canvas and in original condition. Another oil on canvas, a still life with the original frame and stretcher, was painted by Severin Rosen and a student in his studio.
Variety sparked the display of James and Nancy Glazer of Bailey Island, Maine, with objects ranging from a collection of 18 mocha pepper pots of different design to a monumental Nantucket basket, circa 1890‱900, measuring 12¾ inches high, 27 inches long and 25½ inches wide. “It is the largest sewing basket known,” Jim said. A large oil on canvas, 60 by 45 inches, showed a “View of Massachusetts State Prison (Charlestown) at Noon,” dated 1886, in the original frame. In addition to this view of the west yard, the painting listed the names of the warden, deputy warden, chaplain, clerk and physician.
Pets and livestock were well represented in the booth of Judith and James Milne, New York City, with a pair of life-size cast iron dogs, circa 1870, possibly from the foundry in Poultney, Vt., and three large hooked rugs, early Twentieth Century, each with the family pet standing in the center. Full-bodied weathervanes were in the forms of a large cow, Black Hawk, running horse, and a prancing horse of carved wood.
In addition to managing the antiques show, Diana Bittel of Bryn Mawr, Penn., had a booth filled with furniture, woolies and a number of sailor valentines, as well as a large selection of smalls, including many brass items. A Pennsylvania blanket chest in walnut showed inlaid tulip design and the three lower drawers all retained the original raised eagle brass pulls. One of the largest British sailor’s woolwork depicted three fully dressed ships with a multicolored sky in the background, circa 1870, and measuring 40½ by 26 inches.
Philadelphia exhibitor M. Finkel & Daughter showed a large selection of samplers, including the Little Egg Harbor, Quaker family record by Hannah Pharo, circa 1830, complete with written family record. A striking pictorial table rug, New York State, circa 1870, appliqué and embroidered, was of many diamond shapes and measured 56 by 66 inches.
A good number of case pieces of furniture were offered by Nathan Liverant and Son, Colchester, Conn., including a Chippendale flattop secretary bookcase with fitted interior in birch, old surface, circa 1785‱810, from Concord, N.H. Newport or South Country, R.I., was represented by a Queen Anne drop leaf table in figured maple with turned legs ending in pad feet. It dated circa 1745‱770. “It was a good show for us as we sold a couple major pieces of furniture,” Arthur Liverant said. Among them was a Chippendale chest in cherry, New London County or Lenox, Mass., from the Loomis/Wiley School, 1780‱805, and formerly from the Norman Rockwell Collection. Six Chippendale cherry chairs by Felix Huntington, Norwich, Conn., one of three sets by this maker known, was also sold. “We saw some old clients, met some new people, and found people ready to buy good things,” Arthur said.
Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Litchfield, Conn., offered a diminutive-size settle bench with lift top seat, New England, with an early grain painted surface. It measured 54½ inches high, 59 inches wide and 16¾ inches deep. A carved and painted pike, with tin fins, once a trade sign from a tackle shop, circa 1920, retained its original surface and was found in Michigan. And one of the show’s largest hooked rugs, depicting a horse, “Emeral Jane,” American, circa 1920, took up the major portion of one of the side walls.
“We were pleased with the gate for a first time show,” Diana Bittel said, with 400 tickets sold for the preview, 800 visitors on Saturday and 600 on Sunday. “I think most of the dealers did some business, but even those who did little said they would be back next year,” she said.
In the meantime, Diana Bittel has turned her attention to the other three shows she manages, the August Antiques Show on Nantucket, August 5‸; the Newport Antiques Show, August 13‱5; and the 47th Annual Delaware Antiques Show, November 5‷.
