Full Text:

AA/lm

ANNUAL LAKE FOREST ACADEMY ANTIQUES SHOW w/23 cuts

By Susan and Al Bagdade

LAKE FOREST, ILL. - The former J. Ogden Armour estate, which now houses the

Lake Forest Academy, was the scene for one of the finest antiques shows in the

Midwest June 5-7.

For 37 years, prestigious antiques dealers have set up their exhibits in Reed

Hall on the school's campus, and an appreciative, serious crowd always

attends. Prior to the show's opening, a festive preview featured early buying

privileges as well as outstanding food. All proceeds will benefit the Lake

Forest Academy Scholarship Fund.

Attendance was steady during the three days of the show. This year the

lecture/luncheon was eliminated from the schedule. The 39 exhibiting dealers

occupied both floors of Reed Hall as well as the exterior courtyard, with

several new dealers participating. One of them, The English Chimney Pot from

Indianapolis, Ind., set up in the courtyard entrance, and enjoyed excellent

business. By Saturday afternoon, most of their chimney pots were already sold.

Car after car at the end of the preview evening were seen loaded with these

interesting English Victorian chimney pots that dated from 1840-1880 and had

crowns patterned after chess pieces. Dealer Nancy Fernandes was delighted with

the excellent reception these 50 pound chessmen, that reached the height of

popularity in Nineteenth Century England, received. For present day use, they

make excellent garden planters and/or architectural artifacts for the

outdoors.

Elva Needles Antiques from Kansas City, Mo., reported a good show across the

board. Sales included four pieces of furniture, including a maple drop leaf

table, a one drawer Hepplewhite mahogany stand, a Chippendale mirror and a

gilt mirror. Paintings, silver, glass, three lamps, and transferware rounded

out the sales. Elva was pleased with the attendance and felt the crowd was

steady throughout.

Across the hall was Joseph M. Hayes Antiques from Columbus, Ohio, who reported

that he "ran out of smalls." His cases, filled early in the show, were

practically empty by Saturday. "Good things sold well," he reported. Hayes had

to bring in additional pieces to fill out the display. Furniture finding new

homes included a dining room table and a Biedermeier chest. Presales to

dealers also went well during set-up.

Next stop was at John and Patricia Snead's display from McLean, Va. Early in

the show they had already sold a drum table, a server, library steps, and a

lot of Shelley china. Buyers showed much interest in their clocks too, and

several clocks were sure to sell before the conclusion of the show.

One of the new exhibitors was Augusta House International from Palm Beach,

Fla., who took Taylor Williams' space since he was in London during the show.

Another newcomer, Donald Bethune, reported that "he always wanted to do this

show and was delighted when an opening occurred for him." Bethune continued,

"the dealers are treated very well at this show. The people attending know

what they are looking at and know what they want." These two dealers sold a

lot of silver, ceramics, treenware, decorative arts, and English porcelains.

They hope to return next year.

Fiske and Freeman from Belmont, Vt., were making their second appearance at

the show and were delighted with the sales. By Saturday afternoon they had

sold a Regency dining table, an early English pewter cupboard, a married

Connecticut highboy, and some artwork. Lisa Freeman reported that "people

definitely came to buy this year."

Another dealer who reported terrific sales this year was W. Graham Arader III

from Philadelphia, Pa. Director Lori Cohen told us that celestial prints by

Bayer, Ferns, Audubon bird and mammal prints, botanicals, and lilies and roses

by Pierre Joseph Redoute were all selling well.

Jackson-Mitchell, Inc, of Wilmington, Del., and Betty Willis Antiques from

Marlborough, N.H., both reported good sales. Other dealers who had good sales

included American Spirit Antiques from Shawnee Mission, Kan., who sold six

paintings, an eagle weathervane, a tiger maple desk, three sets of leather

bound books, two pieces of redware, a spatter plate, and a pair of

candlesticks. There was also interest in a corner cupboard and a secretary.

Another item of interest was a circa 1880 copper American horse weathervane

with hollow body, sensational color which was tagged at $6,500.

Chinese Export dealer Elinor Gordon has been at all 37 shows, and reported

that she saw many of her regular collectors. A couple, who always come to see

her from Notre Dame, Ind., was picking up their purchases as Gordon stated "my

customers have become like family and good friends over the years."

Richard Reed Armstrong from Chicago had "sold" tags on several Nickelson

English alphabet prints and Essex, Conn., dealer Hastings House Antiques

reported excellent sales across the board, including a variety of textiles,

paintings, furniture, architectural elements, gates, and other unusual

objects.

Winsor Antiques from Woodbury, Conn., was pleased with the crowd and sales of

furniture as well as smalls and stated "a good show continues to work for you

after you close up on Sunday night."

George Spiecker of Fine Americana of North Hampton, N.H., reported selling two

half hulls, a large mountain boy horse weathervane, a maple slant lid desk, a

Chippendale mirror, an English wing chair, a sailboat weathervane, and a

cherry slant lid desk.

From Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Gwynby Antiques sold a table as well as a set of

chairs.

Brickwood Antiques from Gloversville, N.Y., returned for the third year and

did a lot of repeat business with Staffordshire figures, pottery and

porcelain. First year exhibitor C.R. Brainard Fine Art from Cleveland, Ohio,

stated that he would like to be invited back to Lake Forest after selling

sporting prints, English caricatures, landscape paintings, and other odds and

ends.

Lynda Willaueer Antiques from Easton, Conn. and Nantucket, Mass. also reported

having a very strong show. Sales covered all areas of their display including

boxes, tortoiseshell, tartan ware, majolica, paintings, stools, Chinese

Export, and pillows. Lynda also wanted everyone to know that her shop is now

open for the summer in Nantucket.