Click here to subscribe to M.A.D.

Deerfield, Massachusetts

The ADA/Historic Deerfield Antiques Show

by David Hewett

Hands down, the ADA/Historic Deerfield Antiques Show in Deerfield, Massachusetts, is the best-looking show in New England. The quality offerings on the floor lead many of the exhibitors to say they feel it should be compared to shows with a national standing, such as the New York Winter Antiques Show, the Philadelphia Antiques Show, the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association show in Manchester, and a select few others.

All of the great shows have their strengths, but the Historic Deerfield show may be the only sponsored show in the East to group outstanding exhibitors in a single room setting in a very small town for a two-day-only happening. Although it draws an enthusiastic crowd on opening day, exhibitors feel it should draw many more both days.

It's strictly vetted—all repairs and restorations are described in print, and each offering is fully guaranteed in writing—the exhibitors are among the best the industry has to offer, and, much like at the NHADA show, there's a wave of buying that follows the opening of the doors on the first day.

Perhaps the things we New Englanders like the best about the show is that it brings us some of the top Mid-Atlantic dealers. H.L. Chalfant, Christopher Rebolo, Olde Hope Antiques, Van Tassel-Baumann, and Sumpter Priddy III join some of the best in the business all under one roof. To top it off, it was at the October 9 and 10, 2004, show (actually, in the aftermath) that we first heard word that a major sign of optimism had risen among those in the business.

Rifton, New York, exhibitor Jonathan Trace said, "One of the things we noticed is that there was a lot of dealer buying pre-show; that's very encouraging." If dealer buying is back, then perhaps retail buying will follow.

Other dealers spoke of strong retail buying. Scott Bassett of the Exeter, New Hampshire, firm Peter Sawyer said, "We had pretty good retail sales, including some from young collectors, those in the thirtyish age range. That was surprising and a very healthy thing to see." He also said, "The people I saw in our booth were pretty well educated about antiques. I didn't have to explain about woods and finishes; they already knew those things."

Jonathan Trace echoed Bassett's observation. "The people through our booth knew their antiques pretty well," Trace noted. "I didn't have to keep saying the same thing over and over. I wasn't bored a single minute."

The non-furniture and non-folk art specialists exhibited too. Trace had silver (and furniture); Wayne and Phyllis Hilt of Haddam Neck, Connecticut, offered pewter in depth; and William and Teresa Kurau of East Lampeter, Pennsylvania, came with historical Staffordshire and glass.

Wayne Hilt said, "We had good sales from one end of the spectrum to the other. We did better than last year, and we did very well last year."

The Kuraus were new to the Deerfield show, but Bill Kurau said they did quite well. "I think we did pretty nicely, considering it was the first time in that area," he said. "We sold across the board, both china and glass, with historical porcelain and even some historical textiles selling."

The show opened at 11 on Saturday, and by a little after noon, Sumpter Priddy had sold a mahogany Maryland or Georgetown, D.C., server and a red-painted tavern table; Olde Hope Antiques sold a smoke-grained cupboard; Artemis Gallery sold a bowfront four-drawer chest; and Thomas Schwenke sold a Connecticut cherry highboy and a Federal convex mirror.

Also, Samuel Herrup sold a Rhode Island six-drawer high chest; Arthur Liverant sold a pair of North Shore Massachusetts side chairs and a walnut shell-carved, balloon-seat side chair; Samuel Forsythe and David Good sold an eagle weathervane; Brian Cullity sold an early Connecticut paneled chest; Elliott and Grace Snyder sold two redware loaf dishes, a hooked rug, and a paint-decorated New York chest; and John Keith Russell sold at least two very special swing-handle baskets. Others also made sales during this brief period.

The comments were uniformly favorable. Variations on "The quality is unsurpassed here," and "I don't think I've ever seen a prettier show," were the theme of the day.

It was hard to ignore the vision of people feeling upbeat and encouraged, not just the exhibitors who were selling, but the attending dealers we met in the aisles. It was a very welcome experience.

For more information, check the Web site (www.adadealers.org).