Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Gladstone

Full Text:

At The Gladstone Antiques Show Crowds Were Stable But Buying Was Stalled

w/cuts

By Pam Guthman

GLADSTONE, N.J. -- The setting could not be more conducive to an antiques

show: beautiful stables and a riding ring set up with a great mix of formal

and country antiques. The blend of dealers was inviting and exceptional, and

crowds poured in each day. According to show chairman John Schott, attendance

was up, and by at least 38 percent on opening day.

Held at the US Equestrian Team headquarters, the show attracted a steady flow

of lookers. Few dealers and collectors were noticeable. However, there was

buying in both the lower ring and the stalls.

Elisabeth de Bussy of New Canaan had a good preview, selling "mostly ceramics.

I had a lot of small sales." Carrying Northern Continental European Eighteenth

and early Nineteenth Century delft, brass, Export porcelain, pottery, and high

country furniture, the booth attracted quite a few lookers. "Everyone was

nice, and I was very busy. But there were mostly lookers and I talked a lot."

Newcomers to the show this year, Dixon-Hall Fine Art of Malvern, Penn., had a

great show. According to Tim Dixon and Audrey Hall, "This show is one of the

smoothest-running events in which we've participated. And the crowds were

great. There were always groups of people coming through and so there was a

good energy throughout the show. We sold well -- Nineteenth and Twentieth

Century paintings, portraits and landscapes. We have strong interest right now

in a still life, too. There seems to be a broader interest in art here. We're

very pleased."

Will Hutchinson from Mendenhall, Penn., said that he had a good show, selling

from his "eclectic mixture of books in all fields and periods, from Nineteenth

Century cookery to decorative arts and illustrated volumes. People knew what

they were looking at." He felt the show carried a good mix of dealers with an

enthusiastic attendance.

Down the brick aisle in a nearby stall, Owen Groark of Madeleine L. Groark

Antiques, New Canaan, Conn., said, "we've had a very good show, selling

furniture, brass, Canton, and Chinese Export porcelain. There have also been a

lot of favorable comments from the public."

Julia Barringer from Stockton, N.J. was happy with her show, selling quilts, a

tiger maple table, delft and silver. "This is a gorgeous show and more people

keep coming through. We're very busy."

Jane McClafferty of New Canaan, Conn., said she was having a "very nice show.

There's a great crowd here, and we've sold smalls, furniture and some very

good Staffordshire."

Norma Chick of Autumn Pond and Harold Cole, Woodbury, Conn., said they had a

lot of interest and sold some Delft and some furniture.

"The show is very well organized." said Victor Weinblatt of South Hadley,

Mass. "Diana has done a great job, but the sales just aren't here." Weinblatt

was something of an exception. He sold a blue chest with scalloped and

bracketed base; a green Quebec blanket box; a small, brown, scalloped dough

box; smalls; and architectural shutter; and some lemon-gold mirrors.

Christine Vining had a good show. She sold a pair of Nineteenth Century China

trade beds, miniature China trade chest of drawers, tole, porcelain, a cane

stand, and a bergere chair. "Some of those sales came at the start of the

show, and at the last half hour of the show," said the Massachusetts dealer.

Arthur and Robin Kaplan from Baltimore did well selling Nineteenth Century

Victorian jewelry. "We sold eclectic items, including a bracelet woven from

human hair with gold clasp holding an ivory miniature. We also sold five rings

and other items. We had an excellent show, but mostly at preview."

Charles Edwin, Inc, of Louisa, Va., did quite well, selling two barometers, a

lamp, telescope, and a double dial station clock. According to Jill Probst,

"We had three people lined up to buy that clock." The Probsts said that there

had been a range of people coming through. "Each year it grows."

W.M. Schwind of Yarmouth, Me. had a very good show. Arlene Schwind said, "We

sold country furniture including a tavern table and Windsor chairs, a very

good painting, hooked rugs, ceramics and glass. But it wasn't as strong for us

in smalls this year. It was mostly furniture. The crowds were wonderful."

Show chairman John Schott added, "We were up in counts for every event and

each day this year. The lecture was filled and the crowds were there. We had

both repeat customers from last year and many new faces. This is our fourth

year and we see the show continuing to grow. There's a lot of support from

across the country for the US Equestrian Team."

During the last half hour, Richard Worth of West Chester, Penn., had a

knock-out show. He moved his set of eight Hepplewhite shield back Philadelphia

style chairs and an Eighteenth Century mahogany Philadelphia desk, "all

original." Richard also said he sold $10,000 from his glass case.

"We have a great mix of dealers, a beautiful setting, a hard-working and

cooperative committee, wonderful merchandise, great advertising and publicity,

and a great crowd each day," said Diana Bittel of Wynnewood, Penn., show

liaison for the Antiques Council. "Everything is in place, except for buyers.

New Jersey continues to be cursed with a lack of major, knowledgeable buyers

attending local antique shows."

That seemed to be the feeling of most of the dealers at the show. For four

years, Gladstone has been an industry "sleeper." Those who were not there this

year, missed out. They should stop stalling and high tail it down to the

stalls next year.