Date: Fri 02-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Winnetka

Full Text:

Prestigious Winnetka Antiques Show Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary With

Another Outstanding Show

By Susan and Al Bagdade

Events leading up to the prestigious 30th Anniversary Winnetka Antiques Show

included an appraisal afternoon headed by Leslie Hindman and staff from

Sotheby's in Chicago on the Sunday prior to the show's opening. The following

day Shelia Chefetz, author of Antiques for the Table and Modern Antiques for

the Table lectured on "The Decorative Art of Dining."

The festive preview party featured excellent food as well as early buying

privileges, and it was very well attended. Held to benefit the programs of the

Community House, the Winnetka Antiques Show is the largest show of its kind

produced entirely by volunteers. Attendance was excellent all three days of

the show, March 5 through 7, despite a small snow storm. Showgoers were lined

up waiting for the show to open each morning.

Four educational booth seminars were offered at this show. Amy Finkel of M.

Finkel and Daughter presented "Antique Samplers and Needlework," Ray Mongenas

of Mongenas Antiques spoke on "Building a Collection for the Next Century,"

Tim Brennan of Webb and Brennan American Antiques addressed "Cast in Sand:

Nineteenth Century Iron Garden Furniture and Ornaments," and Matthew and Julia

Lunn of The Captain's House Antiques offered "Who Put the Butterflies in the

Punch Bowl?: Chinese Export Porcelain in an Historic Context."

Fifty-three antiques exhibitors representing 18 states set up in all available

areas of The Community House. Only two new dealers joined the regulars at this

year's show. Occupying the premier spot was newcomer Wayne Pratt and Company

from Woodbury, Conn. They reported that they "were delighted to be here, we

liked the front spot, it was a wonderful show, it was a warm, inquisitive

crowd, and we were thrilled with their reception." Brisk sales included

chests, chairs, tables, paintings, and a sideboard.

Douglas Solliday/Melissa Williams from Columbia, Missouri, was the other new

dealer in Winnetka. They too were very pleased to have been invited into the

show. Early sales included paintings and smalls, and they were close to

selling some furniture.

We had a difficult time talking to Leatherwood Antiques both during the

preview and the show since they always had a crowd in their exhibit. Wearing

"Sold" tags were a bench, a carved seat and some decorative florals about an

hour into the preview.

Every time we walked by Steven J. Rowe Antiques from Newton, N.H., something

else had disappeared from his lovely exhibit. A large rug sold during preview,

and he was busy all during the show. Finding new homes were tables, mirrors,

lamps, a chest, a gallery clock, and a horse weathervane -- all before

Saturday evening.

Across the aisle was Georgian Manor Antiques, Inc, from Fairhaven, Mass. Early

sales here included a hanging shelf, a pair of armchairs, and accessories.

There were "Holds" on other pieces of furniture while measurements were being

considered.

As usual, Bob and Priscilla Brown from Hope, Indiana, were having a terrific

show. All four of their chests were gone by Saturday afternoon along with a

stand, several tables, a corner shelf, and a lot of smalls. They were looking

on their truck for additional antiques to fill out their exhibit after so much

furniture was picked up.

Gemini Antiques, Ltd, from Bridgehampton, N.Y., had an excellent selection of

toys and banks. This year many automotive toys were selling fast including a

P2 Alfa, a Japanese race car, and a double decker bus. From the 18 doorstops

he brought with him to Winnetka, nine were already sold by the second day of

the show.

At Pat Guthman Antiques, Inc, from Southport, Conn., sales included a painted

step back cupboard, a lot of copper pieces, baskets, iron, fireplace

equipment, good early lighting, mill weights, French jaspe pottery and lots of

additional smalls. There was considerable interest in chairs and a chest that

would no doubt be gone before the show's conclusion.

English aesthetic furniture and accessories are the specialties of Portals,

Ltd, from Chicago, and their exhibit is always fascinating. Early sales

included some fine botanical prints, pillows, and other prints along with

smalls.

"I'm off to a good start" said W.M. Schwind, Jr, from Yarmouth, Me. That was

an understatement since Bill had already sold a major sideboard, a pair of

Chippendale chairs, two rugs, a portrait painting and a lot of smalls by the

time we saw him on Saturday.

Another exhibitor selling chests was John and Robin Chase Sittig from

Shawnee-on-Delaware, Penn., who sold all three chests that they had brought by

Saturday. Other furniture was also doing well along with smalls.

Also from Penn. was Thomas Brown from McMurray who was very pleased with both

his sales figures and attendance at the show. Going to new homes were a bench,

a Southern lazy Susan table, eight chairs, folk art items, and an

Impressionist painting.

M. Finkel and Daughter related that 55 people braved a snow Saturday morning

to attend her booth lecture and actively bought samplers after the talk. "This

is the strongest Winnetka we ever had," Amy reported.

Rita Bucheit, Ltd, from Chicago and Vienna had a ton of "Sold" tickets on her

fabulous Biedermeier furniture. Sales included a sewing table, a commode, a

Neo-classical secretaire, a day bed, a writing desk, a chair, a drafting desk,

and a painting. Rita said, "I have been very, very busy and doing very good

business."

From Barrington, Ill., The Silver Vault reported that good hollowware was

selling the best along with boxes for collectors and additional smalls.

White and White from Skaneateles, N.Y., had their usual "good set-up, good

preview, and good start." Sales included a painting of Nantucket to the

president of the Art Institute of Chicago, a pipe box, a Chippendale drop leaf

table, a barn fragment, a ton of early Pittsburgh glass, and a Shiron Oriental

rug.

Country Loft Antiques from Woodbury, Conn., was another dealer having "her

best show so far in Winnetka." Sales included a bench, a buffet, lamps, a lot

of faience, baskets, botanicals, and a blanket chest.

Denny L. Tracey Antiques from Ann Arbor, Mich., also sold a drop leaf table, a

blanket chest, a horse weathervane, as well as a carved bird.

Solomon Suchard Antiques from Shaker Heights, Ohio, was having their usual

excellent outing at Winnetka. Terrific Quimper and Malicorne pieces were

finding new homes at a rapid pace. Sales included jardinieres, and a

collection of plates and platters.

Both natural and white wicker examples were moving well for The Collected

Works from nearby Wilmette. In natural they sold two matching Morris chairs as

well as an 1899 Heywood Brothers rattan table, stands, and baskets, and a

white wicker desk and chair.

Webb and Brennan American Antiques from Pittsford, N.Y., said "there was an

immense amount of interest at this show." Sales included iron chairs, a chest

of drawers, two mirrors, and a lot of interest in major pieces that probably

sold by the conclusion of the show.