Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Bagdade-Lake-Forest

Full Text:

Five New Exhibitors Join The 38th Annual Lake Forest Academy Antiques Show In

Illinois On June 3-6

(with 23 cuts)

By Susan & Al Bagdade

Once again, the grounds of the former J. Ogden Armour estate in Lake Forest,

Ill., were the lovely setting for the 38th Annual Lake Forest Academy Antiques

Show June 3 to 6. Built in 1908 by the son of meat-packing pioneer Phillip

Danforth Armour, the estate is included on the National Register of Historic

Places. Additionally, the surrounding formal gardens were designed by noted

landscape architect Jens Jensen in the early 1900s.

Forty prestigious antiques dealers set up their exhibits in Reid Hall, the

former home of the Armour family that now houses Lake Forest Academy. This

fund-raising show is hosted by the Parents' Association to benefit the

school's scholarship fund. Five new exhibitors joined the Lake Forest regulars

at this year's event.

A festive preview opened the weekend events with early buying privileges,

cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. This year's lecturer was herbiere and author

Rosemary Divock discussing herbs from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

and herbal folklore. Her book, Growing and Using Herbs in the Midwest , was

available for purchase. Ms Divock runs Thyme From Rosemary, an organic herb

farm, and Rosemary's Courtyard Garden in Lake Geneve, Wis.

Newcomer The Country Squire from Boston, Mass., was very pleased with the high

level of interest in his papier-mache trays, tole tea canisters, miniature

chests and boxes, doll furniture, and Chinese Export porcelain. Jim Shaffer

said, "people were interested in the finishing touches of a room, not just

furniture."

Since he carries a large selection of unique smalls, his antiques were perfect

for the Lake Forest Show. Jim reported "interest across the board, and it was

a great looking show. I am happy to be included in such terrific company."

From New London, N.H., new exhibitor Lee Burgess Antiques had an excellent

location right at the top of the stairs where all the traffic was directed.

These dealers were doing well, were happy to be in Lake Forest, and thought

the show had a lovely setting. They were showing small American furniture,

Canton blue and white china, children's mugs and some fine garden furniture

and accessories.

Lots of red sold stickers were the story in Elinor Gordon's exhibit of Chinese

Export porcelain. It would not be a lake Forest show without Elinor since she

was an inaugural dealer and has been at the show ever since. Elinor was very

pleased to see so many of her loyal collectors who came to see her again this

year. Her sales were excellent.

Rehs Gallery from New York City, making his first appearance at Lake Forest,

brought a fine selection of oil paintings. Early in the show a painting by

French artist Edouard Cortes and one by Thomas Worsey wore "sold" tags.

Excellent quality French Quimper, Jaspe pottery and fine French furniture were

in the exhibit of first-timer Olivier Fleury, Inc. from West Chester, Pa. By

Saturday, Olivier had sold a beautiful carved armoire, four Quimper plates and

a commode.

Charles L. Washburne Antiques from Chappaqua, N.Y., the final new dealer at

Lake Forest, was pleased with his sales of excellent quality majolica. Charles

loved the show and was happy to be included in it. As we heard from numerous

exhibitors, Charles reported that the best quality pieces were what was

selling the best.

Spruce Antiques from Naples, Fla., reported excellent sales this year. Moving

to new homes were two chests, three small tables, a pair of Chippendale

armchairs, lots of smalls, and a porcelain dessert service.

From Philadelphia, Pa., print dealer W. Graham Arader III was pleased with

sales of Audubon prints, important Chicago maps and views and Seventeenth

Century botanical prints.

Augusta House International from Palm Beach, Fla., was selling a lot of smalls

in silver, porcelain and sconces. They also sold some of their smaller

furniture, but had a lot of measurements out and expected additional Sunday

sales.

Gem Lake, Minn., exhibitor Anthony Scornavacco said that good collectors were

buying lots of small objects including silver, porcelains and jewelry. He also

sold a fine lead fountain.

Winsor Antiques from Woodbury, Conn., who always has a good show in Lake

Forest, sold two pieces of furniture during the preview and continues selling

across the board with smalls, ceramics and furniture. Delft was also selling

well to repeat customers.

Fine American from North Hampton, N.H. sold some English pieces during set up

and leather books during the preview. By Saturday, he had already sold a desk,

a linen press, a Pembroke table, a pair of chairs and a single chair, another

table, a book shelf, an oil painting of a ship, and a lot of spatter and

pearlware.

Although Joseph M. Hayes Antiques from Columbus, Ohio sold two oil paintings

in preview, plus a small chest and a tilt-top table, he was waiting for

results from all of the measurements that went out during the first two days

of the show.

Kansas City, Mo. dealer Elva Needles Antiques sold a cherry slant lid desk

with ogee bracket feet, a William Merritt Post painting, two mirrors and

smalls in every category including glass and transfer printed china.

"People have to think about clocks for a while" said Patricia Snead from

McLean, Va. Along with her husband John, these exhibitors had outstanding

clocks including an English Regency period table or mantel clock signed Peter

des Granges, London. With the original eight day double fusee movement that

strikes the hours and quarter hours on eight bells, this original condition

beauty was tagged $18,500. Early sales included an English Booth Art Deco

chocolate set, a pair of hall chairs and a bench.

Constance St Clair Fine Antiques from Laconia, N.H., sold her picnic basket

during the preview, sold silver during the show, and had two pieces of

furniture pending when we stopped in her lovely exhibit. Constance pointed out

a wonderful hand-carved wood American eagle attributed to carver Bellamy

Boston from the roof of the entrance to the home of an important family from

Falmouth, Me.

Another New Hampshire dealer, Betty Willis Antiques sold a wonderful giraffe

screen, tables, pictures and some small furniture.

Hastings House Antiques from Essex, Conn., has been in the Lake Forest show

for over thirty years. His excellent sales included a huge Chinese bench, a

Neo-classical table, a large porcelain urn, and Arts and Crafts screen, a

bronze bowl, a wine cask, lamps, smalls, and an altar table. Although last

year's show was the best ever for him, this year was quite respectable. Sales

to old customers were expected, but this exhibitor was also quite pleased to

sell to a lot of new customers.

From nearby Winnetka, Donald Stuart Antiques sold a pair of chairs, a Chinese

tureen, two tortoise boxes, a tartan ware cigar case, porcelains and early

crystal Eighteenth Century glasses.

Sharing his exhibit room was Louis Wine, Ltd., from Toronto, Canada who sold

late Nineteenth Century Viennese silver mounted claret jugs, silver, jewelry,

pewter and a circa 1900 Art Nouveau two handled jug with great relief by Loie

Fuller.

A Lake Forest regular, Malcolm Franklin, Inc., from Chicago sold two very good

pieces of furniture including a large chest of drawers and an oak gateleg

table. He was pleased to see many people from the preview party return to the

show on Friday.

After selling two paintings during the preview, American Spirit Antiques from

Shawnee Mission, Kan., sold a wing chair, a table and a Stanley Woodward

painting.

Ceramics exhibitor Brickwood Antiques from Gloversville, N.Y., was pleased

with sales of Imari, Staffordshire, Delft and Chinese Export porcelain.

Todd Miller of Charlecote from Kansas City, Mo., sold a mahogany veneered bow

front chest, a mahogany Chippendale chest, a small bureau, silver and

accessories. He was pleased to be seeing his regular Lake Forest customers who

returned to purchase items from him.

Racine, Wis. dealers Terry and Angela Brinton always had a crowd in their

room. Moving to new homes were a work bench, a small painted wardrobe, a

walnut Pennsylvania blanket chest, three country Sheraton stands, four

paintings and two mirrors.

Aside from doing a lot of dealer business, Buzz Norton of the Country House in

Lake Forest sold his large center table, both big and small pieces, and noted

a lot of interest in the old upholstery examples he brought. "It's been a good

show" said Buzz.