Date: Fri 19-Feb-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Washington-Guthman

Full Text:

Washington Winter Wonderland

(with cuts)

By Pam Guthman

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 1999 Washington D.C. Antiques Show, January 7 through

10, was a "wonderland" in more ways than one. Yes, it snowed, but more than

that, in a land where winter weather -- and now Presidential impeachment

hearings -- can keep people inside and glued to their television sets, this

time the elements couldn't keep the show from being a well-attended event.

While opening day, Thursday and Friday were very slow, over the weekend the

Omni Shoreham Hotel was packed. In fact, the show was held open an extra half

hour on its last day, with sales continuing past closing.

Comments heard around the show indicated there was a new energy there. Some

dealers said it was because the newer members of the committee are becoming

more involved and help take up some of the work. Others said the weather and

trial made people itchy to get out, especially over the weekend. Whatever the

reason, having a crowd on Saturday and Sunday made for brisk sales and a very

good show.

Gary Young, of Centerville, Md., reported strong client interest in his

Eighteenth Century George III secretary during preview.

"I had a number of good sales during the show," he said, "but when the

secretary sold during the last hours of the show on Sunday, it turned out to

be great." Young also sold a Pembroke table, a nest of tables, some glass,

silver and portrait miniatures. "The crowds were huge and Sunday was packed.

We had a very good show."

The booth next to Young, Elinor Gordon of Villanova, Penn., also proved to be

successful. According to Gordon, "We sold very fine pieces, including Lotus

plates, Tobacco Leaf plates, and a number of other pieces. We had a very good

show."

She also said there was major interest in her Fitzhugh porcelain, "which came

out of the map room of the White House." Reflecting on the show, Gordon said,

"This year there was a great deal of enthusiasm among the audience. It was all

very upbeat."

Pat Guthman of Southport, Conn. had a "very good show. We sold a corner

cupboard, a number of pieces of jaspe [Nineteenth Century redware],

feather-edge Leeds, a large wooden bowl, tin canisters, glass tulips.

"The show is certainly getting a much better turn out. People coming through

are really interested. There were a number of old faces, but many new people

attended the show this year."

Also from Connecticut, Joyce Hanes of Hanes & Ruskin Antiques in Westbrook,

said, "We had a great show. We sold our Long Island Dominy highboy, circa

1780. We also sold two candlestands, a miniature chest of drawers, an American

William and Mary joint stool, silhouettes, pottery, brass, vintage Mexican

jewelry, a pair of Eighteenth Century French sconces, a pair of andirons, a

campaign desk. People were definitely coming in to buy."

Priscilla Boyd Angelos of Irvin & Dolores Boyd in Fort Washington, Penn. said

that she and her brother Jonathan were very happy with the show. "We did most

of it on Sunday, including our big hunt table, English circa 1790, slant-front

desk, American circa 1790, and corner cupboard, Pennsylvania circa 1800. We

also sold a lot of porcelain, and we've had some follow-up already." Angelos

said there were "lots more people this year with a lot more interest than in

past years."

Lori Cohen of W. Graham Arader III, said they had "a solid show. We sold two

important views of Washington, D.C., circa 1850s, to a museum; a number of

bird and flower prints; a Havell edition Audubon aquatint."

While Katherine Blair of Katherine Denny, Inc., in New Orleans, sold some

silver, it was difficult to move any rugs. "People need several days to take

rugs and try them. Because of the first days being snow days, we really only

had the weekend, and it wasn't enough time for people to get rugs home and try

them." She felt there were good crowds over the weekend with a lot of good

interest, however, and she was pleased with her silver sales.

Down the aisle from Blair, Sally Kaltman of Sallea Antiques in New Canaan,

Conn., was back at the show after being away for three years. "We had a good

day, but the lost day of snow did hurt. We sold a lot of porcelain and tea

caddys, some hunt prints and small tables, and some fireplace equipment."

Judy King-Thomasson, of Asheville, N.C., said they had "a decent show. We sold

a large Regency circular mirror, small pieces of English country furniture,

and ceramics. There seemed to be a lot more interest from people this year,

and very strong attendance over the weekend."

Pat Fulton, of Berwick, Me., said they had the best show they've ever had. "We

sold three pieces of furniture, a lot of smalls, a silver pitcher, lettuce

leaf set, and an assortment of items. Things went very smoothly this year, and

there seems to be new energy. The lost day on Friday brought more people in on

Saturday. It felt like everyone was happy -- the dealers, the committee, and

the buyers."

Woldman & Woldman of Alexandria, Va., was back this year after a five-year

hiatus from the show. "We're delighted to be back," Joel Woldman said. "It

looks wonderful in the ballroom, the attendance was fantastic, and we had very

good business and are getting follow-up from the show already. We sold

porcelain, paintings, a classical overmantel mirror and silver."

Elva Needles of Kansas City, Mo. said "This was a really fine show -- one of

the best shows we've ever had." They sold 11 pieces of furniture: a Vermont

flip-top card table with inlay circa 1790, a mahogany Chippendale slant-lid

desk circa 1800, some bowback Windsor chairs, circa 1810, and sack back

Windsor chairs, circa 1780, all of their one and two-drawer stands, and two

candlestands.

"We sold 119 pieces of coin silver and every piece of Southern silver we had

-- flat and hollowware. We had a lot of repeat customers."

Said James Labaugh of Pound Ridge, N.Y., "We had a really excellent show --

better than we've had in a long time. We had a very good preview, and very

good weekend. We sold Continental porcelain, Staffordshire, English porcelain,

and decorative things. We had both moderate-size and good-size sales. The

energy at this show has taken a jump for the better last year and this year.

We've done very well."

Well, a wonderland it was -- despite the snow, and despite the political

activities. The energy, crowds and sales were up and active. The question is,

should the show be shortened another day?

Having the crowds over the weekend made a major difference in energy and

sales. There are very few shows today that run the length of time as this one.

On the other hand, if the show had been shortened a day, and the snow fell

over the weekend, would anyone have had the chance to attend? That's a

question for another year.

Right now almost everyone seems to be delighted with the outcome of this

year's show and activity. Not only did it snow outside, but it poured inside:

people and sales. The Washington Antiques Show was a winter wonderland in

1999.