Date: Fri 18-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Sandwich

Full Text:

The Sandwich Antiques Market

w/cuts

By Susan and Al Bagdade

SANDWICH, ILL. -- A record crowd of more than 15,000 eager shoppers filled The

Fairgrounds on US 34 on a perfect summer Sunday, July 26, for the Sandwich

Antiques Market. The event is held rain or shine on five Sundays from May

through October.

Show manager Robert Lawler related that he had his full complement of 600

dealers for this July edition. He likes to save approximately 50 spaces for

new exhibitors at each of the summer market days. Sandwich is located about 60

miles from downtown Chicago and draws a large city crowd as well as shoppers

from a wide suburban and rural area.

"The furniture delivery service was constantly loading up pieces," he said.

"There were definitely a lot of happy campers among the dealers, with the

record crowd and the outstanding weather cooperation."

Many satisfied shoppers were seen leaving the fairgrounds at day's end with

merchandise ranging from furniture and garden accessories, to all sorts of

smalls and everything else imaginable.

D and R Antiques from Shumway, Ill., always brings a tremendous amount of

white antique wicker to Sandwich. By mid-morning, the entire back of their

exhibit was filled with pieces wearing "sold" tags. They set up in the same

location and attract their regular customers at each market. Summer is the

height of the wicker season, and shoppers were certainly taking advantage of

their large selection of rockers, tables, sofas, chairs, desks, and

accessories.

From Rockford, Ill., Jim Hayes displayed a fine selection of oil and kerosene

lamps, including numerous Aladdin examples. He also brought parts for lamps to

help shoppers needing replacements.

Gan Antiques Warehouse from Mokena, Ill., was at Sandwich for the first time,

and reported "strong sales" and "a great crowd of shoppers." Lots of "sold"

tags adorned their Irish and Scottish furniture. Oak furniture was selling

well, including a chest, bookcase, and wardrobe.

Clock dealer Of Other Times Antiques from Galesburg, Ill., brought many wares

to Sandwich and also picked up a lot of repair work through the show. The

finished results are shipped all over the country when completed.

Pottender's/J and L Antiques, from Eire, Ill., have done every Sandwich Market

since 1991. With the great crowd and equally great weather in July, they sold

furniture, knives, watches, tools, jewelry, and wooden boxes. They also

showcased a large selection of cast iron frying pans and baseball gloves.

Another first-timer was Brookdale Farm Antiques from Sedalia, Mo. The dealers

were impressed with the help they received from other dealers regarding

pricing and restaurant suggestions. Their sales included a lot of primitives,

crackle-painted furniture, vintage clothing, a five-piece bedroom set, and a

wide range of smalls.

Mr Bill Antiques, from Orland, Ind., is a seasonal dealer who sells a lot of

furniture at Sandwich. At this outing, he sold a dining table, six chairs, a

sideboard, and an upright cabinet. He pointed out a dining table patented in

1896 from the Robbins Table Company in Owosso, Mich., that expanded from four

to ten feet with six self-storing leaves. A young couple was giving this table

serious consideration while we were there, and it surely went to a new home by

the end of the market day.

From nearby Oswego, Ill., Elka Antiques had a terrific show. Karen Wolfer

related, "They have quality items that sell well." Their customers have

returned each time during the shop's nearly ten years at Sandwich. Victorian

inkwells, various period writing and desk implements, Civil War artifacts,

World's Fair collectibles, sewing implements, penny banks, brass keys, coffee

mills, and grinders were just a few of the categories they covered.

Chicago-related items from the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the 1933 Century

of Progress were also selling well at Sandwich.

Ruth's and Royal's come from close-by Aurora and always do well with their

huge selection of milk bottles in a variety of sizes and other dairy related

items.

Toys and Treasures from Northfield, Minn., was another newcomer thrilled with

its success at the show. Sales included a lot of dolls, primitives, an oak

coal hod, an early pitchfork in wood and iron, and a green primitive cupboard.

The dealers still had a circa Nineteenth Century grain-painted stepback

cupboard that was square nailed and tagged $2,200. Schoenhut examples included

an alligator for $695 and a hippo for $650. A 1926 Keystone "Packard" police

patrol truck was ready for a new home for $995.

East Coast exhibitor Cobweb Corner from Brooklyn, Conn., specializes in Hall,

Shawnee, and graniteware. Shawnee examples included a 10 ounce "King Corn"

teapot for $349, a "King Corn" large pitcher for $110, a "Pennsylvania Dutch"

teapot for $125, a "White Corn" teapot for $149, a "Tulip" teapot for $98, and

a "Winnie" cookie jar/bank for $598. In granite, a cobalt swirl cake pan was

$244 and a coffee pot was $239. A gray beehive chamberstick was $119, and blue

rare individual custard/muffin cups were $89 each.

Sarah Schutte from Beecher, Ill., had a successful show with her English

ceramics such as early luster, Flow Blue, transferware, pearlware and other

examples. She also showed some tea cups and bowls that she had brought to the

first Antiques Road Show when it came to the Odeum in Villa Park, Ill.

The Potting Shed from Lake Forest, Ill., always features a color-related theme

for their exhibit. In their ten years of doing the Sandwich Market, July's

green and white choice was the most successful and appealed to both male and

female shoppers. By midday, the exhibit was nearly empty. Still available were

four green urn shutters for $450, berry carriers for $25 each, and a stool for

a potting table for $30.

Sales at Latcham house Antiques from Waterville, Ohio included a lot of Flow

Blue examples, pottery, and some early lighting devices. These dealers come to

Sandwich a couple of times each season.

Bell's Antiques from Chenoa, Ill., loved the great crowd at Sandwich. Sales

included lots of smalls and one piece of furniture. Still available was a

wonderful primitive cupboard with old mustard paint, with pegged and chamfered

doors, for $1,250. A child's Hitchcock rocker in old green paint was tagged

$235, and a blanket chest in old green paint was $395.

In addition to having excellent overall sales at Sandwich, Heritage Harvest

Antiques from Milford, Mich., also bought six large pieces and were very

pleased that a cherry four-door blind country Hepplewhite corner cupboard,

dating circa 1830; a Norwegian-influenced Wisconsin pine cupboard in old red

paint, built-in drawers and bracket base; a tiger maple rope bed; a painted

pie safe; and a pair of Windsor chairs all found buyers. These dealers

reported that this is an excellent show for both purchasing and selling.

The remaining Sandwich Market dates are September 27 and October 25.