Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Bridgehampton

Full Text:

Bridgehampton, Antiques Show

w/cuts

By Joyce Ruskin Hanes

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y. -- The Hamptons are another world, where summer people

include film stars, supermodels, literary giants, and all other forms of the

talented, rich, and beautiful. It takes something special to attract such a

crowd to another antiques show at the Bridgehampton Community Center, a

popular facility for such events.

Morgan MacWhinnie and Jean Lauer, two Long Island antiques dealers, get

together every summer to hold two shows in this building (one in mid-July, the

other the weekend of August 14 to 16). The August show distinguished itself

this year by its list of prominent exhibitors; many were local dealers, but

there were also exhibitors from four New England states, as well as Maryland,

North Carolina and Florida.

It wasn't the typical "pillow show" (a term for shows filled with only

decorative objects, and very few antiques of substance) or table-top show.

Rather there were booths with period American and English furniture,

Eighteenth Century delft, real folk art, early quilts, Eighteenth and

Nineteenth Century English ceramics, and early prints.

The show opened Friday night, with a respectable line of people waiting for

the 6 pm start. Sales throughout the event were mixed, as at any show, with

some exhibitors reporting phenomenal business, and others just barely breaking

even.

The front porch of the center held the display of manager MacWhinnie. He

featured an open stepback cupboard in red paint for $2,450, filled with

pewter, ranging from simple HMS Diomedes bowls for $12 each to a 16«-inch

English charger for $300. A period Queen Anne maple highboy received lots of

interest, and MacWhinnie reported selling a period chest of drawers.

Just inside the front door was Dorset, Vt., dealer Judd Gregory. Included in

his display of American furniture was a Massachusetts Federal bowfront chest

with simple inlay, circa 1820, priced at $3,900. He also had a wonderful

English Georgian looking glass in mahogany and gilt, and a charming New York

lady's secretary with a tambour top, as well as several examples of

Continental faience in various forms.

Gregory reported a good show, selling a Federal pier table, a horse

weathervane, and a variety of smalls.

Mike Dunklin of Hendersonville, N.C., was exhibiting for the seventh year. He

sets up unusual and decorative smalls. Outstanding was a Sheffield supper

tray, which consisted of a large tray to hold hot water beneath a central

covered serving bowl.

Around this were four individual covered dishes and four each of open salt and

pepper pots. Four carved wood handles were attached at the sides. The entire

set makes quite an elegant presentation, and at $5,800, it didn't seem like

too much of an extravagance for the right person.

Frances Trachtenberg of Massapequa, N.Y., has also exhibited at this event for

many years. She reported having a good show, selling two oil paintings and a

large watercolor, as well as a variety of her other smalls: porcelains,

bronzes, silver and jewelry. She commented that the show "has a very relaxed

atmosphere that you can only find in the summer. [Patrons] have a wide range

of interests; some just want something little to remember their vacation,

while many others are fairly serious."

Paul Ludwig and Charles Giustiniani were first-time exhibitors. Although their

business is fairly new, both have been involved in the trade for many years as

employees of the now-retired Valdemar Jacobsen. Knowing their background, it

was not surprising to find their booth filled with period English and American

furniture, good prints, pottery and fireplace accessories. A superb quality

convex girandole mirror, circa 1805, was $6,800, and beneath it was an English

slantfront desk, circa 1790, for the same price.

The dealers reported selling prints, mirrors, a jacquard coverlet, and some

pottery. "But we're sending lots of pictures out next week," Giustiniani was

quick to add.

Circa-Prescott Meiselman, Inc, of Natick, Mass., had a display of every color

and shape of Victorian bulb vases ever made. Dramatic as a collection, or

elegant individually, they were priced from $195 to $595. The vases sat atop a

French Nineteenth Century baker's table with steel and brass base and its

original marble top. There were also several examples of high style English

country furniture, including a wonderful one-drawer tavern table with a

stretcher base that would rival any American table of the same style.

J. Augat Antiques of New York City displayed a cabinet consisting of a

compartmentalized wooden frame holding Havana Cigar tins from the 1920s. Each

tin was dated with the name of the tobacconist, who was a pharmacist from Oak

Park, Ill. Augat said he found the piece in Massachusetts; the asking price

was $2,250. Although the piece did not find a buyer, Augat had a good show,

selling a large hutch, a 1920s mailbox, a Tiffany tantalus, a pair of

girandoles, and other smalls.

Lawrence Perna of Medfield, Mass., offers American furniture, and was

exhibiting on Long Island for the first time. He was quite pleased with the

show, selling two chests of drawers and several mirrors. Mary B. Ross of Great

Neck, N.Y., had a booth filled with American country furniture and

accessories. A green painted dropleaf table from the Robert Fulton Homestead

in Hogansburg, N.Y., was available for $795. A circa 1840 Rhode Island

dropleaf table with faux rosewood graining was $825.

"I sold a lot of smalls," Ross said. "A good painting, prints, mirrors, and

boxes. I love this show because it's casual, yet the quality of the

merchandise is so high."

James Butterworth and Michael Donovan of Nashua, N.H., and Littleton, Mass.,

set up in a large room with upholstered wicker and painted furniture and

appropriate accessories. They featured a pair of late Nineteenth Century

benches from a Newport, R.I., estate. The pair's tromp l'oeil decoration in

shades of gray gave the illusion of intricate French carving.

Rinehart Antiques' owners, Eddy and Stanley Rinehart, were weary on Friday,

having taken a late ferry back from the Nantucket show on Thursday night to

travel home to Katonah, N.Y., to reload, in order to drive out to

Bridgehampton to set up -- all without sleeping.

A yellow-painted blanket chest from New England with its original decoration,

including pinstriping, was available for $3,500. The booth also featured a

collection of doorstops (one of the Rinehart's specialties).

Only Yesterday of Miami, Fla., is the partnership of Faustine Pace and Hilda

Langdon. They describe their merchandise as "eclectic." It ranges from Lloyd

Loom woven furniture to silver jewelry encompassing Native American, Mexican

and Scottish creations to a chinoiserie style birdcage. They reported a good

show, saying they sold a little of everything.

Gurari Antique Prints had not only a fine selection of prints but also a nice

assemblage of scientific instruments. Also showing prints was Egon Tiegert of

Happague, N.Y., who had exhibited at the show since its beginning. Joyce

Settel specializes in Chintz ware and reported her best show ever. Bellport

Antiques and design set up here as their first show ever and were very pleased

with the results.

E.L. Oakes of Brookville, N.Y., displayed formal American furniture and

paintings, and Jean Herlihy of Frederick, Md., showed country furniture and

accessories, including a set of six Windsor chairs with a single arrow splat

in the center for $900. Pat Sacco displayed early gold jewelry, and Theodore

Mancuso of New York City had a selection of Native American jewelry and

vintage watches. He reported having his best show ever. Also reporting a very

good show was Victoria Hoffman of Brooklyn, N.Y., who sells quilts of all

vintages.

What's the secret to a successful show in the Hamptons? According to Morgan

MacWhinnie, "Diversity of merchandise, with a lot of different choices for

both the collector and the casual shopper. And it's important to maintain the

high quality of merchandise found in this show."