Date: Mon 26-Jan-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

DCAShow

Full Text:

Washington Show Finds Its Niche

w/cuts - EWM

By Pam Guthman

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It seemed unbelievable. After a number of years of slower

shows and fewer crowds, the 43rd Washington Antiques Show pulled through.

With a move back up to the ballroom (from the garage) and back to January

(after a few years in December), the show seemed full of luster. From preview

party on Wednesday evening through show closing on Sunday afternoon, the

crowds flowed.

According to Margo King and Cynthia Redick, the event's co-chairpersons, the

gate was up more than 40 percent. "In addition to much larger attendance,

we've had overwhelming response to the educational and social aspects of the

show," they said. "There are fewer conflicts with events during the month of

January, which is one reason our attendance has been bigger. This is the major

social event of the New Year, and we feel very good about how it is going."

Art Jackson, the show's manager, added, "The new dates and new space

contributed to the success. This is the first premier show of the New Year.

And, while move-in was more difficult, coming home to the ballroom brought no

surprises. The show looks cleaner and the attitude among dealers has been

upbeat."

All three said that the theme of the show, needlework, brought in new groups:

the preview saw more young people than in the past and new faces.

Dealers were impressed. The majority seemed more than pleased with the steady

attendance. And, while sales were spotty during the preview and opening day,

there were still significant transactions taking place. By the weekend, most

dealers were enjoying active buying. Many major purchases occurred on Sunday,

too.

"I have had a very good show, and it began with preview," Richard Worth of

West Chester, Pa., said. "I've sold a good deal of furniture, including a

walnut Pennsylvania Chippendale chest, circa 1780, to a New England collector.

I also sold an English bagatelles table, circa 1740, which is going to

California. A Federal New Hampshire secretary is going to Potomac, Md. I've

sold a number of chairs, porcelain, a good quantity of Eighteenth Century

blown glass, a portrait, and accessories."

James M. Labaugh Antiques of Pound Ridge, N.Y., also did well. "We've sold

Meissen figures, Chinese porcelain, Staffordshire figures, English glass.

During preview we had a lot of interest, and sales have been consistent since

opening day."

Leather Bucket Antiques of Philadelphia had an active show, selling an Edmond

D. Lewis watercolor, 1882, with original frame; Chinese Export porcelains; an

English slantfront desk, circa 1780; a nice English piecrust table with great

carving on the knees, circa 1770; a New England candlestand; and a lot of

silver. "Every day has been good," the dealers reported.

Valdemar F. Jacobsen Antiques of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., had been selling

nicely right along, with patrons buying Chinese porcelain, brass, and a

painting. On Sunday they sold two major pieces of furniture, including an

important Eighteenth Century Welsh sideboard. "The attendance has been way up

by several thousand," Jacobsen said. "I like the show much better up here in

the ballroom."

John Boyd of Irvin and Dolores Boyd Antiques of Fort Washington, Pa., agreed

that "the show looks great in the ballroom. The committee and the dealers are

more upbeat, there's a lot of activity and interest, and it is stronger than

in the past." Some of the items they sold were a Virginia corner cupboard, New

Jersey breakfront, a set of Windsor chairs, a Queen Anne farm table, prints,

stands, two long rifles, and Staffordshire. "It's been a great show for us."

Kyser-Hollingsworth, Inc, of Millsboro, Del., dealing in American Federal

furniture, had a good show. "It is much stronger than it has been in the

past," one of the dealers said. "We feel very good about it, and there has

been a consistent volume of people coming through. Sales and interest have

been strong. Being back in the ballroom has created an uplifting ambiance. The

committee has done a terrific job with PR and advertising, too."

The duo sold a Baltimore Pembroke table ("which is going back to Baltimore"),

a set of six late Federal chairs, Eighteenth Century Chinese Export porcelain,

and report "serious interest in four other pieces of furniture. We have

follow-up appointments the week after the show for a carpet, mirrors, a

sideboard and a sofa. This is the best show we've had here so far."

Elinor Gordon of Villanova, Pa., sold quite a bit of Chinese Export porcelain

and was happy. Gordon has been an exhibitor at the event since it started and

was glad to see the show return to the ballroom and to January, although it

made it difficult to head directly to New York City for the Winter Antiques

Show.

A number of dealers did not return this year because of that proximity in date

to the Winter Antiques Show, allowing for a number of new exhibitors. In

addition to Gordon, other dealers who participated at Washington and went on

to New York City included Gary Young and Lori Cohen of W. Graham Arader III.

Malcolm Macgruder of Millwood, Va., said that this was "the best show I've

had, anywhere. I've sold in every category: six paintings, eight silhouettes

and miniature portraits, a mirror, three small pieces of furniture, vertu,

Georgian mourning jewelry, English pottery. I was pessimistic about being

moved [dates and location] because I had two very good shows downstairs. But I

was proved wrong."

Tim Mertel and Alan Pate of L'Asie Exotique, La Jolla, Cal., had a good show,

with more sales than last year. Japanese dolls, scholars' items, a Sukhothai

bronze Buddha head from the Fourteenth Century, Chinese textiles, embroidery

with the forbidden stitch, and a Japanese basket found buyers. "We are very

pleased. People here are generally interested and are purchasing with

confidence. Of our 12 shows a year, this one and the Pacific Asia shows in New

York City are the only East Coast shows where we exhibit."

William Hutchinson of Mendenhall, Pa., also had a good show. "I've sold a

broad spectrum of books from the decorative arts to American history to

Nineteenth Century travel. Being upstairs is a major improvement, and the

committee has done a wonderful job. The crowds are bigger and better."

Fred Ahlberg of Edwin C. Ahlberg in New Haven, Conn., had a fair show. "It has

been good to us, and we've sold a reasonable amount, including lap desks,

stands, and a miniature chest. The attendance is much better upstairs and the

attitude is very positive. It is a very nice show with good quality and nice

exhibitors."

Tom Farkas of Shaker Square Antiques in Shaker Heights, Ohio, said the show

has been "pretty solid. We've sold some smalls, furniture, Staffordshire, a

copper chocolate mold in the form of a lion, a Nineteenth Century watercolor,

a walnut chest, and a pair of Milanese commodes. There has been lots of

interest, and the crowds are improved, especially on Friday."

Michael J. Whitman of Fort Washington, Pa., was new to the show this year and

did well with his brass and copper and early metalware. "We sold a pair of

brass New York andirons, set of four brass English candlesticks, a large

assortment of copper and various other items. The show has been better than we

expected and we have had a very good reception."

Gary Young of Centreville, Md., said Saturday was bigger than ever. The show

for him resulted in the sale of seven major pieces of English furniture,

including a dining table, a slantfront desk, and side tables. He also sold

some smalls and a few good miniatures. "The public response is much better up

here [in the ballroom]," Young said.

Jill and Chuck Probst of Charles Edwin, Inc, of Louisa, Va., exhibited for

their eighth year. "This is the first time we've been in the ballroom, and I

now see why the committee and dealers who had been here before loved it. It is

a much more intimate atmosphere. We've done well so far, with very strong

prospects for follow-up. We sold four ammonites, two dial barometers, a

telescope, and some clocks are being considered. We're delighted."

The show proved to be a happy and enthusiastic success for committee and

dealers. The move in location and dates, and heavier publicity, resulted in an

event that seemed full of luster. The crowds flowed, money changed hands, and

merchandise moved. As they say, "a good time was had by [almost] all."