Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Winnetka

Full Text:

Winnetka Antiques Show Remains Consistently Strong

w/cuts/pix to come

By Pam Guthman

WINNETKA, ILL. -- True to form, the Winnetka Antiques Show pulled in a huge

crowd that was both knowledgeable and eager to part with money. The gate was

packed from the Thursday evening preview to closing hours on Sunday, and sales

were active. While this show is typically an active one, this year had a few

noticeable differences.

"People were making decisions and paying right away. We were seeing early

sales. The people came here to spend money," according to Nancy Gancer of

Malcolm Franklin Antiques of Chicago and New York. Gancer said that they had a

great show and sold a lot of accessories as well as expensive and mid-range

furniture.

Mongenas Antiques from Loveland, Ohio, did well, too. Kathy Mongenas was busy

throughout the weekend selling English and Continental furniture and

appropriate accessories. "We've had a very nice show and sold a chest of

drawers, two cupboards, a desk, set of six Queen Anne chairs, smalls," she

said. "This show is consistent each year. The people are easy to deal with and

very pleasant."

AVlene SchoinK of W.M. SchwindIAntiques in Yarmouth, Me., also had a good

show. "We bring an eclectic mix of American and English furniture from William

and Mary to the Aesthetic period, paintings, ceramics, glass, hooked rugs. We

tend to be more eclectic at this show than elsewhere because the audience is

so diverse and knowledgeable about a variety of merchandise. The mood is

always very upbeat. We sold very well, including country American furniture,

paintings (landscape and still life), a coverlet, an Oriental rug, glass. This

year was the best preview we've ever had here, and we have sold every day."

Nimmo & Hart of Middletown Springs, Vt., did very well, too. "We sold an

English Queen Anne card table with shell carvings, a big Regency tray on

stand, antique Shirvan carpet, brass andirons, export mug, pair of period

Worcester platters with scale-blue ground. We're delighted. The mood is very

upbeat."

Rhes Galleries of New York City had a very good show with their paintings. "We

sold still lifes, landscapes, and a good cross-section. This is our second

year, and we've had a very good reception with an interested audience. The

people are knowledgeable and genuinely interested. They want to learn, and

they read the descriptions. We have had good sales.

Frank and Barbara Pollack from Highland Park, Ill., were back at the show

after a six-year hiatus. "It's been good," Barbara said, "and there were so

many more people here than I remember from the past. They were interested and

seemed to like what we had. We had good sales, including a paint-decorated

chest. The people seem more upbeat and appreciative. And, they are very

responsive."

Sally Kaltman of Sallea Antiques in New Canaan, Conn., said her show had been

good. "I sold a lot of tortoise shell, tables, silks, and boxes. The crowds

have been terrific as usual. Friday was an outstanding day."

Ralph DiSaia of Oriental Rugs, Ltd, of Old Lyme, Conn., said, "The pace was

even more active than normal. The numbers and interest level was up. We sold

small mats to oversized carpets, and we are very pleased with the show. We

have some important follow-up, and if it comes through, this will be a

tremendous show."

Gordon Converse & Company of Strafford, Pa., had a wonderful display of clocks

and was also a featured speaker on Sunday morning. "As usual we've made

relative sales all along. By the time the show is over, we usually have pulled

together a pretty good show. We expect the same this year -- there have been a

lot of people here and lots of talk. Generally this is a strong show. I always

bring my best items here because I am always surprised at the quantity I sell

each day here," Converse said.

Lee Hanes of Hanes & Ruskin Antiques of Westbrook, Conn., remarked, "These are

heady times in the antiques business. It's like the 80s. Sales come easily.

This show has been very good. We've sold silhouettes, furniture, andirons,

ceramics, across the board. I love the way the show is managed and the way the

committee treats the dealers."

The committee is supportive of the dealers. Not only do committee members set

aside a dealers' room that is always stocked with food, but twice a day they

bring a courtesy cart around the floor to offer food to dealers. It's a

welcomed treat as dealers are usually too busy to leave their booths.

Gail Kahn has been active on the committee for more than 15 years. She

presently serves as dealer exhibits chairman. "The dealers this year are

ecstatic," she said. "Some have had the best show they've ever had. The crowds

have been good, and the gate is up. Except for one dealer, everyone is happy

with their location this year and extremely pleased with the interest and

desire of the crowds who have come here to both learn and purchase. The show

really looked great this year, and the move-in was a lot easier."

New to the show this year was Paul Vandekar of Earle D. Vandekar of

Knightsbridge, Inc, in New York City. Vandekar came directly to the show from

his exhibition booth in London at Olympia. "Our look is new to this show with

our wide variety of early Nineteenth Century English and Continental

porcelains, opaline, Chinese exports, English woolworks, miniatures. I'm told

that it does take a few years for people to get to know you here. But I've

found it very encouraging, and we've had some good sales. In addition, we've

reconnected with former clients from the Navy Pier Show that we did in Chicago

back in the 1980s. We're very pleased to be here, and I see tremendous

potential. This year, I've done well and sold across the board, with the

strongest sales in miniatures," he said.

Amy Finkel of M. Finkel & Daughter of Philadelphia celebrated her birthday at

the fair. "This is the best Winnetka Show we've ever had. We sold two

important samplers, a half dozen other needleworks, a corner cupboard,

hitching post, blanket chest, various smalls. I think the mood is gangbusters,

upbeat, and the crowd is a happy, buying crowd. There's really a lot of

enthusiasm," she said.

Harvey Pranian of Harvey Antiques of Evanston, Ill., also had an excellent

show with his Nineteenth Century American painted furniture, Native American

art, and antique jewelry. He has exhibited at the show for about 24 years and

stated that it "is always very strong. I'm always amazed at how the committee

is able to turn out as many people as they do. Especially for the Midwest.

Eastern shows usually are better informed and attended because collectors have

been exposed to this for a longer time. Winnetka is the best attended and most

knowledgeable show in the country. It has been consistently like this each

year. I've had a strong show and have sold two good quilts, jewelry, game

board, a red bench. The general sense here this year is that people are

parting with their money."

John Suval of Philip Suval, Inc, from Fredericksburg, Va., had very good

sales. "We've sold a good balance between Chinese and English pottery. We have

a nice following out here with good repeat business. Plus, we have made some

new customers this year. There's a good feeling here. This is always such a

delightful show to do."

Julia Lund of Captain's House from Portland, Me., was very happy with the show

for two reasons. Lund had a good show and she's having a baby, her first, in

two weeks. "We have sold Chinese Export porcelain and paintings. We carry

American furniture, which has had some good interest. The mood is very

upbeat," said the mother-to-be.

Robin Kaplan of Arthur Guy Kaplan from Baltimore, Md., was having a very good

show selling jewelry, too. "It's been good, but different from past years.

We've not sold the same volume, but we've sold more expensive pieces. The

crowd is always good and enthusiastic, the people are always interested and

knowledgeable. I find the people are always nice."

Steven J. Rowe of Newton, N.H., said his show was "terrific. I brought mostly

Classical, Federal mahogany furniture and I sold nine pieces: tables, chest of

drawers, sideboard server, card tables. I've also sold some folk art. The

preview was stronger than ever this year, particularly the early buying."

Ricky Goytizolo of Georgian Manor, Fairhaven, Mass., sold expensive

accessories including tea caddies, candlesticks, dog carvings, paintings, and

a pair of chairs. "It has been a good show. Last year I had tremendous

follow-up and I think I will have that this year, too."

Tom Brown of McMurray, Pa., said he was "happy. The diversity at this show is

fantastic, and the show is beautiful. The attendance is always good and

enthusiastic. This show is a class act and the crowds are hungry to see

things."

Bette and Melvin Wolf from Flint, Mich., have been in the show for 15 years

and do a good job with pewter. "We sold a broad range, and major collectors

have bought a number of pieces. It is very exciting and sales have been

strong. The show is beautiful and has good diversity. Most of our clients so

far have been repeat, but I did have a good sale with a new customer."

Nan Greenough, the show chairman, and her co-chair, Karen Templeton Fell,

said, "The show has run very smoothly this year and both the gate and the

dollars are way up. The feedback from all perspectives has been wonderful --

from dealers, committee, the Community House and the public. We've had more

dealers than usual telling us how great things have been going along. Our

publicity is always good, but this year it worked out even better. We think

that the Antiques Road Show has a lot to do with the increased interest. Our

appraisal clinic was way up -- more than triple."

Perhaps it is the television show that brought out many new faces. Whatever

the reason, true to form, the Winnetka Antiques Show pulled in a huge crowd of

informed, acquisitive shoppers.