The Winnetka Woman’s Club Antiques Show was sold out of dealer space for the club’s 11th annual affair March 6‹, conducted in its own facility and in meeting rooms of Christ Church across the street from the Woman’s Club. More than 40 exhibitors offered early Americana, English furniture and home furnishings, art, jewelry and even some modern home décor items.
Managed by club member and antiques dealer Judith Anderson, the show was, as always, on the same weekend as the Winnetka Antiques Show at the Community House, a few blocks away. The preview opening was a special afternoon affair with champagne and chocolates on March 5.
For most of the dealers, sales were good enough to get away ahead of the costs. Jim and Dede Taylor, Birmingham, Mich., carry a large supply of small antiques, which was severely diminished by the end of the show. Jim Taylor said, “We did have a good show, with sales of small furniture, silver, brass, a little of everything. We have been doing the show since the beginning, and this year was not the strongest, but still it was okay.”
Marion Atten of Antiques at Hillwood Farm, Pecatonica, Ill., was pleased with her results for the four-day weekend. Sales included a variety of early small household accessories, including some glasses, dishes and primitive lighting. Atten echoed Taylor’s remarks in that she did not sell the biggest or best things, but she sold well and made a profit.
“Frankly, given the state of the economy, sales were good, better than I expected,” said Bill Basinger of the Cotswolds Collection. The Clarkston, Mich., exhibitor was pleased with the sales, which included early carved trays, copper molds, paintings and other small English antiques. His inventory is collected on his many shopping trips to England.
Next to Basinger was Ralph Spano, a Milwaukee, Wis., dealer of fine furniture, primarily focusing on early hardwood pieces made in America. By Saturday morning, he was also reporting reasonable sales totals for the show.
Neil Zuehlke showed a collection consisting mainly of assorted small antiques. Sales included a small Shaker pill box; a Nineteenth Century mahogany coaching table, a folding table used for picnics in the Victorian era; an American homecoming flag from World War II; a Victorian iron planter and a French iron planter.
Seekers Antiques is a specialized collection with only early dishes, most from England. Co-owners Tim Sublette and Mark Brown travel extensively to shows from Columbus, Ohio, with a collection that is dominated by the historical transfer ware from the Staffordshire region.
Most of the exhibitors at the show were not from the area, but had traveled to reach this market. Zane Moss, New York City, showed a collection of fine hardwood furniture and upholstered pieces, including a pair of Nineteenth Century leather-covered wing chairs, an early Georgian highboy, Staffordshire figurines and Canton ginger lamps, which gave his exhibit the air of a gentleman’s club. Ron Christman, Wales, Wis., sold an American Chippendale-style and period chest of drawers early in the show, along with some of his early fine art collection.
There were many whimsies in Whimsy Antiques’ exhibit. From Fenelton, Penn., Mark Stulginsky showed the collection, which included folk art and primitive American furniture.
Robert Burrows, a transplanted New Englander now in Chapel Hill, N.C., deals predominantly in fine art. His favorite piece on display for the weekend was an oil on canvas by J.F. Herring, a Victorian-era artist, featuring a barnyard scene priced at $32,000.
More art was available from several other exhibitors, including SMD Arts, Inc, a gallery in Medinah, Ill. Its collection featured many Twentieth Century Modern and Impressionist pieces.
Show manager Anderson also exhibited her collection of small antiques. Some of the materials were made in England, including the early commemorative porcelain pieces, luster ware and a variety of small silver serving flatware. She said, “The Woman’s Club will meet shortly to determine the dates for next year’s show, but we can expect the pattern to be about the same.”
The club, through Anderson, will get the word out soon. For information, 773-275-5384 or www.winnetkawomansclub.org .
