Date: Fri 24-Apr-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SS

Quick Words:

Bedford

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Bedford Show Review

BEDFORD, N.Y. -- "The show was just wonderful, the preview drew our largest

attendance to date, and the overall gate was up from last year," said Nancy

Cody, manager of the annual Bedford Spring Antiques Show.

This event, staged at the Rippowam-Cisqua School on Route 22, had a Friday

evening opening on April 3 and then continued for the next two days.

"The show looks really snappy this year," one of the exhibitors commented as

the preview began, adding that "it is a good mix of dealers (37 exhibitors)

and everyone has worked to present attractive booths." Apparently the public,

2,000 people over the weekend, thought so as well and did some serious buying

around the floor.

"Several dealers reported to me that they had done very well this year," Nancy

Cody mentioned. "Cecelia Williams said she had the best show ever this time."

Also on Nancy Cody's "did well" list were Jane McClafferty, Skevington-Back

Antiques, Solomon Suchard Antiques, Charles Edwin, Curran & Curran and

Elizabeth de Bussy.

Known for selling Oriental works of art, Hastings House Antiques of Essex,

Conn., showed a painted silk panel of Buddha with disciples, Chinese,

mid-Eighteenth Century, measuring 47 by 33 inches, along with a French School

oil on canvas of a mother and daughter with lamb and ewe. Several

architectural elements were in the booth including a French cast-iron overdoor

arch, 29 by 34 inches, with old grey painted surface.

Against the back wall in the display of the Robertsons, New Hope, Pa., was a

large drugstore cabinet, 1860, with a grouping of small drawers in the center

portion, flanked by doors on the ends. The drawers were labeled according to

the original contents, such as musk soap, bandages, hair pins, and puff boxes.

A comfortable and large Chesterfield sofa was centered in the booth, and at

the front was a pair of large terra-cotta seated dogs, French, which were

about 150 years old. They were found in England and had to be dug out of a

large and dense crop of ivy. Each measures 45 inches tall and the bases are

also 45 inches long.

Matthews & Shank Antiques of Shepherdstown, W. Va., new to the show this year

along with Richard Jenkins of Canton, Conn., presented a booth filled with

both English and American furniture. A Classical sideboard in mahogany and

bird's-eye maple, Philadelphia, circa 1820, was shown with a large blue and

white transfer tureen and stand, Dresden pattern, Clews factory, circa

1818-34, center on the top. English pieces included a George III writing

table, Gillowe design, in mahogany and dating from the late Eighteenth

Century.

Variety defined the booth of Ferguson & D'Arruda of Swansea, Mass. Items

ranged from a turn-of-the-century breakfront in oak and a cast-iron bench and

table, to a hand-carved screen door in old green paint with a horseshoe in the

design at the top.

It is always interesting to view the collection of nautical paintings offered

by Quester Gallery of Stonington, Conn. Many of the well-known and popular

marine artists were represented, including William G. Yorke with "Schooner

Alarm Leading Sloop Wizard, NYC Fall regatta, September 1888," an oil on

canvas measuring 24 by 34« inches. Antonio Jacobsen's oil on canvas "The

British Clipper Ship Polynesia" was also hung, a signed and dated 1883 work,

22 by 36 inches. An oil, "The Famed N.Y. Steamship Pacific" of the Collins

Line, 29« by 43 inches, was attributed to Samuel Walters.

Webb & Brennan of Pittsford, N.Y., came ready to satisfy the needs of those

who collect iron pieces. The dealers offered a cast-iron hat tree marked

"James Yates, Rotherham," circa 1850; two cast-iron benches, one in the fern

and blackberry pattern, circa 1880, probably Kramer Bros Foundry of Ohio; a

pair of cast-iron lamp posts in the form of griffins, circa 1880, from the

Philadelphia area; and a cast-iron fountain head, Philadelphia, 1870-1800, of

a boy holding a duck.

Schorr & Dobinsky of Reading, Pa., had things to dress up the yard and garden,

including a spring steel patio set of four chairs and a table, cast-stone

birdbath, staddle stones, and any number of urns.

One wonders how Leatherwood Antiques of Sandwich, Mass., ever gets set up in

time judging from the vast number of objects in the booth. In addition to an

array of bronzes and Black Forest carvings, the Staffordshire cup collection

alone included the names of William, Joseph, Charles, Betsy, Rose, Margaret,

Martha and Patrick. Lynda Willauer of Easton, Conn., and Nantucket also

presents a full booth offering collections of Staffordshire castles, majolica

and some furniture including a Pennsylvania tripod birdcage tea table in

walnut with a two-board dish top.

Clocks and scientific instruments lined the walls in the booth of Charles

Edwin of Louisa, Va. Of note was an English West Country tallcase clock by

Joseph Eplett of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, with a rocking ship at the top of the

dial, and a formal George III period longcase clock in mahogany, silvered

brass dial, William Travers, London. Another longcase clock was by William

Webster, Exchange Alley, London, of the George I period and in walnut.

A Federal four-drawer chest in mahogany, New York State, circa 1810-1820, was

shown by Curran & Curran, Wilton, Conn., and among the smaller items in the

booth was an unusual flying Brandt decoy with canvas wings. This piece was by

Harry Scourdes of Tucherton, N.J.

Jenkinstown Antiques of New Paltz, N.Y., showed a Hepplewhite sideboard,

Connecticut, circa 1790-1810, mahogany with mahogany inlay, similar to an

example in the collection at Boscobel. An Eighteenth Century barrel-back

cupboard from the Hudson Valley more than filled one corner of the booth.

Nancy Cody of Pound Ridge, N.Y., when not carrying out the duties as manager

of the show, wears the hat of a dealer and among the pieces offered from her

booth was a Regency sofa table in elm, top with reeded edges, satinwood and

ebony stringing, English, circa 1810. She also showed a George III fall front

secretary bookcase in the Hepplewhite manner, in mahogany with the original

brasses and measuring 99 inches high. It is English, circa 1810. There also

was an oil on canvas titled "Berrytime" by American Impressionist Edward

Dufner.

Each year this show features a special exhibition and filling the entrance

area and the hallways were items representing "Bedford Collects: Scenes from

Childhood." Paintings, and even a large, fully furnished dollhouse, were on

view, all on loan from local residents. In addition a silent auction offered a

custom tree house, studio tours, blanket chest, and portraits both by camera

and hand.

Due to the dates of Easter next year, the show will be on the second weekend

of April, same location and management.