Date: Fri 24-Jul-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: LAURAM

Quick Words:

Brimfield

Full Text:

Round Two Of Brimfield

(W/8 million cuts, no about 60)

By Laura Macaluso

BRIMFIELD, MASS. -- Round two of Brimfield's 1998 shows, July 7-12, drew in

the expected crowds but business was said by many to be a bit slow. "Not

unusual for the summer," many dealers commented. The July show is always the

slowest, since so many people are on vacation. Though the mood seemed to be a

bit slow, many dealers reported good sales, and overall attendance was high.

Brimfield Antiques and Collectibles Show, the 3,000-dealer site that spreads

out from Route 20 just across the border from Connecticut, has been a

antiquing phenomena for years. The shows, which run in May, July and September

of every year, have much to offer the seasoned buyer as well as the novice,

since objects range from a few dollars to thousands.

Brimfield is a walking show, with the dealers spread out on 21 different

fields in maze-like patterns. The pervasive feeling of the July show was one

of friendliness. From the show managers and staff, to the dealers and the

visitors, everyone was there to browse, picking up deals and carrying objects

along in bags of all sizes.

Some of the more experienced buyers knew enough to bring metal push carts to

haul away their goods. Most others had at least one plastic bag draped on the

arm. Regulars to Brimfield also knew where the best places to park were,

though parking, at $4, was only a short distance from Route 20.

Brimfield is a mecca for antiquers from all over, due in part to the unusual

items which can be found in between more traditional items such as country

furniture and garden ornaments.

Edward and Linda Gelson of Warwick, R.I., for instance, drew people in to look

and touch the rows of taxidermied animals that hung on the rear wall of their

tent. Gelson said he has built a clientele here, and people come and find him

at Brimfield to buy a set of stuffed caribou or a stuffed beaver for their

homes. Linda, who works so hard to pack everything up for shows that she has

earned the nickname, "the wrapper," also said that theirs is one of the only

booths in the fair with a floor, built out of plywood by her husband. Floors

come in handy whenever weather turns ugly, and rain did visit Brimfield, but

only in light bursts throughout one afternoon.

Pearl Hoffman from Colts Neck, N.J., stood in the midst of her china display

and said that it was a "typical summer, slow show," but she was happy enough

to be there, meeting up with old friends, like Chuck, a dealer from New

Hampshire. He said the show has changed, and people "are now in such a rush

for a bargain." They race in early on opening morning, buy what they want and

leave, instead of staying, relaxing and browsing.

But many dealers reported strong sales, including Anne Hall and Mark Brady

from San Francisco, who run an antique prints booth. Inside this enclosed

booth were prints of botanicals and animals hanging in rows along the canvas

walls as well as stacked in boxes on a table. The prints, which range in date

from the Eighteenth through the Twentieth Centuries, are beautifully colored

and ready to be matted and hung. Hall said that she had already sold a whole

series of red flowers to be hung together in someone's house and that she

provides guidance to buyers who are not sure what kind of matting to use to

frame the prints. Hall also said that people often search for a certain

"look," and she helps pull together prints that may fit into a room's color

scheme.

The way dealers feel about objects and why they work in the antiques business

was summed up by Richard Lumbra and friend Timothy Taylor, who were hanging

out in Lumbra's booth with dog Timmy. Lumbra said, "You feel warm and content

with your objects." Lumbra also stated that he liked the way older things are

made, things that have "lasted and lasted" through the years. Lumbra and

Taylor echoed the sentiments of many dealers at this show, who said that there

were many "BLT's" here; meaning people who browsed, looked and touched, but

did not buy.

Rich Kaye from Dallas Kaye Antiques in East Setauket, L.I., N.Y., said the

first day of the show was the best. The opening was set for 6 am, but by 4:15

am there were lines of buyers prowling under tents with flashlights. One of

his early sells was a wrought iron console table that went for $800.

A bit of international flair was provided by Adrian Williamson and Gerard

Derry, who had come to work the Brimfield show from County Armaugh, Ireland,

for Derry's, Ltd. For Derry and Williamson, it was the first selling time at

Brimfield. They brought with them lots of pub memorabilia, including mirrors,

beer signs, and whole interior fittings. Both Derry and Williamson said that

Irish pubs will be the next craze to hit the United States, and that every

corner will have an Irish pub on it, much the way Chinese restaurants are so

easy to find today. Derry, Ltd, has already supplied many restaurants in the

Boston area with replicated pub interiors and original furnishings taken from

demolished sites.

Though Derry, Ltd, was disappointed with sales at Brimfield, the dealers did

come up with one strong positive: meeting and working with Greg Renshaw of

Renshaw Architecturals, who was set up next to them. Derry, Ltd, and Renshaw

Architecturals have talked about doing business together in the future,

perhaps at Renshaw's site in Putnam, Conn., which is an emerging antiques

district.

Renshaw Architecturals displayed a variety of objects, including a huge hippo

sculpture that came from Guido Murphy's Pub in Putnam and an appealing

painting of Venice signed "J.P. Manship," who may be a relative of American

sculptor Paul Manship. Greg Renshaw said that he had just finished interior

design projects for restaurants like Outback Steak House and the Brick Yard

Cafe, in which he supplied the furnishings and decorative objects.

Another interesting display on J & J Field turned out to be the work of three

dealers, Dana von Goetz, Randy Bentley and J. Hohnstine. The three displayed

their very different wares, which were ceramics, oriental carpets and Pakistan

furniture, in an cozy arrangement within a large open-sided booth. Low wooden

tables with touches of bright paint were set upon intricate carpets, and fresh

fruit was laid out, waiting for someone to nibble. Von Goetz, who runs a shop

called Oxus River Gallery in Lambertville, N.J., said the day before, July 7,

had been a mad rush, and that "today they were resting." Von Goetz also said

that carpets always sell well, but it is hard to predict the "hot" item at any

antiques show.

In recent years architecturals have become one of the "hot" collectors items,

and there were plenty to be found at Olde Good Things, which had to bring in a

huge truck to unload the massive stone architectural details and wrought iron

pieces. The staff at Olde Good Things called themselves "architecturologists"

due to the way in which they acquire the remnants. Displayed along with the

objects were photographs of staff members on top of huge buildings cutting

away pieces of architectural details -- an indication of the long hours and

hard work required to get at these pieces before the wrecking ball demolishes

a building. One of the latest finds for Olde Good Things was the J.L. Hudson

building in Detroit, Mich. The building, slated for demolition, was bid upon

by several different firms. Olde Good Things won the bid and set about cutting

away most of the details, like moldings, cornices, and iron work. The building

has since been demolished.

Another successful, though a bit odd, sale item was in Eino Kivisalu's

display, called Old World Craftsman. In addition to displaying camp-style

furniture, the dealer also had rows of stuffed birds, mainly peacocks and

chickens. Kivisalu said they were popular -- though he did not know why -- and

the "sold" tags showed he was telling the truth.

Some of the other items found within Brimfield's trenches were collections of

Nancy Drew books, fishing equipment, rolling pins, kitchen wares, decoys,

Raggedy Ann dolls, painted furniture and other items too numerous to mention.

No doubt the crowds will come again in September for round three of the

country's largest antiques market.