For 12/31

Slug: Hope Springs Eternal At New Hope Autumn Antiques Show

#613626

TG - 11 cuts

Review and Photos

By Nancy J. Vozar

NEW HOPE, PENN. — Not far from New Hope, George Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas of 1776 and defeated Hessian mercenaries in a turning point of the Revolutionary War and on November 20 and 21 at the New Hope Autumn Antiques Show, under the direction of Mancuso Show Management, a number of patrons and dealers were victorious in buying or selling furniture, textiles, artwork and other treasures.

“This show is holding its own in a climate of mega shows,” said David Mancuso, who, along with his brother Peter, has been overseeing this show at the Eagle Fire Hall, in Bucks County, for more than 17 years.

It is always a good sign when you see dealers adding merchandise to their booth on the final day of a show, and Brian Gage from Hopewell, N.J., was one dealer who was doing just that. On the first day of the show, Brian had already sold a pair of Sheraton wingchairs, a farm table, an apothecary cupboard, majolica and American oil paintings. Doug and Bev Norwoods’ Spirit of America, Timonium, Md., also kept up a strong sales pace. Items that moved off their booth walls and into new homes included folk art drawings, a miniature portrait, American samplers, a Lancaster County hooked rug with a basket design and several advertising signs.

Candlesticks were hot in the booth of Campbell & Campbell from Basking Ridge, N.J., where eight circa 1750 English examples left their inventory. They also sold an English hunting print and an intricately executed three-person silhouette with children. Also proudly shown was a circa 1770 wine cellar, made in London, that was popular with both English and American officers during the Revolutionary War. Jonas Ewing from Bethlehem, Penn., displayed a mega-sized Nineteenth Century, hand carved camel and items leaving with new owners from Jonas’ booth were two jelly cupboards, a small blanket chest and a desk.

Alison Gibson and Ian Wright, proprietors of John Reeder Fine Art, exhibited a circa 1630 Jacobean plank top coffer with unusually fine strap work carving, a late Seventeenth Century oak gate leg table with its original leaves, a late Eighteenth Century oak tripod table and a rare Seventeenth Century statue of Abraham and Isaac that was executed in pipe clay.

Just in time for holiday entertaining Michael and Susan Olsen from Oldwick, N.J., served up sterling silver flatware along with their fine furniture selections. Included in the mix was a Kirk Rose pattern service for eight with 13 serving pieces, and extensive services from Watson, Towle, and Westmoreland.

Making a strong statement in the booth of Ackerson Homestead Antiques, Park Ridge, N.J., was a circa 1820 cherrywood tall case clock by Christian Bixler from Easton, Penn. Complementing this clock was a Chippendale carved mahogany tripod tea table and hanging on their booth wall was an oil on panel scene of the 1899 America’s Cup Race between J.P. Morgan’s Columbia and Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock I off Sandy Hook, N.J., by J. Clark.

Along with their museum-quality selection of early lighting and tools, Windles Antiques, from Wilmington, Del., offered a grouping of Indian wood engravings by George Catlin from his book Letters and notes of the manner, customs, and conditions of the North American Indian, circa 1859. They also exhibited a rare kettle lamp, an early 1800s table with a tripod form and a pair of rare 1800s hog scraper candlesticks by Whitesmith.

The Mancuso’s next show at the Eagle Fire Hall in New Hope will be held on January 15 and 16. For information, 215-862-5828.