Date: Fri 21-Aug-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Cape

Full Text:

Cape Cod Antiques Expo

w/cuts

By Joyce Ruskin Hanes

ORLEANS, MASS. -- The 28th annual Cape Cod Antiques Exposition was held the

weekend of July 31. For 22 years, the show had been housed at the Nauset

Regional Middle School until, in 1992, the venue was changed to the Charles

Moore Skating Arena. This year, the skating arena decided to keep the surface

iced for the summer -- with the hope of attracting more business -- and the

event was moved back to the school.

Many of the regular customers commented that they much preferred the school,

as it is brighter and allows for a more interesting setup, with exhibitors in

the foyer, the gymnasium, and the cafeteria. Nauset is also in a central

location, right on Route 28, so the potential for more traffic exists. Show

manager Phil Balcom reported that the gate was the same as it had been last

year at the skating rink, which was good, considering that the weather was

about the best it had been all summer: bright sun, a few clouds for accent,

and almost no humidity.

Fifty-five dealers from nine states participated, most from New England,

although the lineup included representatives from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New

York and Florida. A great vacation spot, the Cape also has a core of

year-round residents who are knowledgeable collectors.

The show opened on Friday evening at 6 pm for 3« hours. As usual, there was a

long line waiting to get in, and most people left with at least a purchase or

two -- mostly smalls, but also some smaller pieces of furniture.

The variety of merchandise reflected the varied tastes of the customers,

ranging from Queen Anne highboys to cottage bureaus. David Hutton displayed

one of the latter, a three-drawer version with fluted columns, complete with

its matching mirror, for only $350. He also showed a pond model sailboat on

stand for $225. Bruce A. Sikora, in the next booth, had period Eighteenth and

early Nineteenth Century American and English furniture, as well as a case

filled with early delft and brass. He and his partner were busy opening night

selling many of their smalls.

Van Slyke and Bagby of Sandwich, Mass., have exhibited at antiques shows for

only one year, and already they have 30 events on their roster. They enjoy the

Orleans show because it is local. They displayed a set of Gaudy ironstone from

the mid-Nineteenth Century. A tureen, a platter, eight soup bowls and eight

dinner plates were included. They found the set in North Dakota, where they

had gone to deliver a piece of furniture.

Militia Hill Antiques of Flourtown, Pa., had a booth filled with high style

country furniture and accessories, including a set of fancy chairs and a

gateleg table. Outstanding was a Sheraton four-drawer chest in bird's-eye

maple with tiger maple banding, a walnut top and sides, turned legs, and a

pretty scalloped apron. It was made in Pennsylvania, circa 1830, and was

available for $4,600.

Moonstone Antiques of Mansfield, Mass., specialize in jewelry, Native American

items, and glass. Its display of glassware had something for everyone, with

historic American flasks priced from $100 to $300 and English poison bottles

and American and English ink bottles in the $10 to $25 range.

Charles Wibel of Farmington, N.H., had furniture, folk art and signs. One sign

read "Silent Woman-Stop!" Wibel said it was from an antiques shop in Candia,

N.H., but for anyone with memories of Colby College in Waterville, Me., it

brought back images of meals at the restaurant of the same name -- the kind of

place where one took one's parents on Parent's Weekend. The sign was priced at

$250. Above it was another sign, this one reading Winannwood Farm, available

for $395.

Lois Wood of West Harwich, Mass., showed blue and white ceramics. Some

historical blue and other blue transferwares were offered, as well as a

five-piece Flow Blue turkey set, consisting of four plates and a platter,

circa 1895, priced at $750. Henry Callan of East Sandwich, Mass., also

specializes in ceramics. His display included English earthenwares, Chinese

Export, as well as glassware; his walls were arrayed with American and English

samplers, another of his specialties. His selection of Rose Medallion included

a top quality, circa 1830 sauce tureen for $865 and a Rose Canton milk

pitcher, circa 1830, for $475.

Sears and Tither have exhibited at Orleans for many years and have a strong

following for their silver and glass. They also deal in ceramics, and this

time displayed a complete set of 12 Wedgwood plates showing views of Yale

University. They were made in 1931 and were available for $780 (or $65 each).

William Nickerson of Yarmouth Port, Mass., had a booth filled with American

furniture. A pine dry sink with its original zinc lining, circa 1840, was

priced $1,100. It was displayed filled with American pewter, including a

coffeepot, candlesticks, plates and chargers.

Thomas Slaman exhibited at the expo for the first time. Having had a shop on

the Cape for many years, he seemed to know everyone who walked through the

door. His country furniture was accented by a large fan window taking up the

back wall of his booth. Priced at $1,400, it didn't last long.

The prize for most unusual item goes to Antiques and Flowers of Hingham, Mass.

A wooden rowboat was displayed on its side, complete with original oars and a

Scott-Atwater vintage engine. The ensemble was priced at $1,750. Nestled near

the boat was a bull dog doorstop and a birdcage.

Hanes and Ruskin, Westbrook, Conn., displayed an Irish pine farm table with

three drawers and old red paint on the base. A gentleman from New York liked

the table, but decided he would buy it only if it looked good with a set of

chairs from the booth of Bob Burns. It did, and he bought both the table and

the chairs, making all parties involved very happy.

The show was generally considered successful by most exhibitors; as always,

there were a few unhappy and a few very happy, with most others falling in

between. The tradition of the Orleans show is strong, and the Cape is not an

area that is "over-showed," which makes for eager customers. The event is

expected to remain in the school, at least for next year, while the skating

rink determines which is the bigger moneymaker -- ice or antiques.