Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SS

Quick Words:

Americana-Pier

Full Text:

americana at the piers

(with cuts)

NEW YORK CITY -- A steady flow of yellow cabs started moving onto the

passenger ship terminal piers 90 and 92 on Saturday morning, January 16, as

early as 7:30 am to deliver people planning to attend Stella Management's

Americana at the Piers. This popular event, with over 400 exhibitors, opened

at 9 am and drew a steady gate all day long. It appeared that most visitors

went to the country-folk art pier first, and then moved on to number 92 where

there was a more formal and classical look.

Despite the weather, which was cold and rain on Friday, move-in for the

dealers went very well. "We have been at this for a good number of years now,"

Irene Stella said, "and it is now down to a science." She mentioned that "we

kept our construction crew here for a few extra hours and the dealers were

given some extra time on Friday, so all was ready to go on Saturday at opening

time." Irene Stella manages the pier operation, driving about the piers on her

battery powered cart, while her daughter, Leanne, runs Antiques At The Other

Armory during the same time period.

There were not many avenues of collecting not covered by the exhibitors.

Speciality dealers included Charles Edwin of Louisa, Va., with a collection of

tall case clocks and other instruments, including several American stick

barometers; Leah Gordon of New York City with a display of art pottery;

wonderful miniature pieces of furniture, including chests of drawers in the

Classical style, were shown by Chew and Formicola, Rosemont, Pa.; and Sharon

Koota of Delhi, N.Y. displayed several rack of coverlets in all manner of

design and color.

A Queen Anne drop leaf table, surrounded by a set of chairs of the same

period, were in the front of the booth of Joan Boardman of Ithaca, N.Y., while

one of the large clock faces available at the show was on the end wall in the

booth of Deborah and Stan Rohd, Owings Mills, Md. They also showed a number of

weathervanes, including a Black Hawk and Ethan Allen horse. A large pair of

copper lions which once decorated a building were shown by Larry Mulaire, West

Barnstable, Mass.; an early workbench complete with vice was shown by Jef and

Terri Steingrebe of Bradford, N.H.; and Dennis and Valerie Bakoledis of

Rhinebeck, N.Y. came up with another large banner weathervane with good

patina. Probably the largest vane in the show was the eagle shown by Mason

Antiques, West Cornwall, Conn.

The booth of another West Cornwall dealer, The Fishing Room, was a sportsman's

delight as it was filled with mounted fish, kreels, nets, and even a full size

canoe which appeared to be in perfect condition. Janet Whalen of New York City

had a booth filled with pond boats, many of which had been photographed for a

soon to be published book. Forager House Collection of Nantucket had a large

collection of flagpole balls, some painted and some copper, while Laura

Fisher, New York City, not only rolled out a large selection of rugs, from

scatter to room size, but also offered piles of quilts of all description.

It takes a good deal of time to fully cover this show, but judging from

comments made on Saturday, most people were going to take in both piers. And

there seemed to be a good deal of buying happening, but without the frenzy we

have seen in the past. With a show this large, not everyone is going to have a

hit and this time was no exception. Most did well, but there were some

disappointments.

In any case, the show looked well, dealers put effort into their displays, the

gate was good, and the management excelled in directing the crowds, arranging

for porters, and generally making Americana At The Piers a most pleasant place

to shop.

Stella's next venture in the city will be the new Gramercy Garden Antiques

Show on February 26-28 at the Gramercy Park Armory, 26th Street and Lexington

Avenue. Sixty exhibitors will be on hand to get people thinking about spring

and the many ways available to "decorate" a garden.

--RSS