The sixth annual Litchfield County Antiques Show was held June 24-26. For its first four years, the event had been at the Goshen (Connecticut) Fair Grounds, but in 2004 it moved about 20 miles west to Kent, Connecticut, and it was there again this year.

The new location offers access to a significant antiques market. Historic Kent, first settled in 1720, is now the hub of an affluent area where many of the residents are New Yorkers who have homes in both places. People there are interested in antiques and the arts and are knowledgeable about those subjects. The Kent School’s ice hockey rink, a large brick building with a Quonset-style curved roof, provided a spacious setting for the Litchfield show. The event benefits Greenwoods Counseling Services in Litchfield, Connecticut, a nonprofit, non-sectarian referral organization that provides mental health care, education, and related services.

The Antiques Council managed the show, and 31 of its members were among the 39 exhibitors. Old Lyme, Connecticut, dealer Karen DiSaia, who served as the liaison between the council and the show committee, was a founding member of the council and was its president for three years. Her husband, Ralph, is currently a member of the council’s board. Six of the dealers exhibited at the Litchfield show for the first time, and four of them, who were council members, said they had previously done the Southport-Westport show. When that ended, they thought the Litchfield show would be an attractive replacement on their schedules.

The show was certainly an attractive one, with hard walls and room-setting exhibitor spaces in a pleasing pastel blue color, and the floor layout had some creative touches. For example, corner spaces had wide openings to both of their adjoining aisles, creating inviting passageways for visitors. Tasteful lighting added to the attractive decorative appearance of the show.

Karen DiSaia credited two suppliers for the overall effect; Stacy Exposition Service, Warren, Massachusetts, provided the booths, and JLB Electric, Greenville, Rhode Island, did the lighting. David Bernard of Taylor B. Williams Antiques, Chicago, and several other exhibitors said they felt the ambiance at Litchfield was that of an "old-time" show. Stephen O’Brien of Boston, exhibiting at Litchfield for the first time, was also impressed by the ease of the setup process. He said a wide doorway at one end of the building provided direct access to the show floor and made it easy to move in.

Kate Vick, cochair of the show, reported total attendance of 1300 for the three-day weekend, up from 1100 last year. She said there were 450 people at the Friday evening preview party. Weather, however, proved to be a problem for the show. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday climbed to the 90’s, and the skating rink, which is nearly windowless and has little ventilation, was uncomfortable for dealers and visitors. That situation seemed to reduce the exhibitors’ sales results, as compared with past Litchfield shows. Most dealers reported only a few transactions during the weekend, but because many of the sales involved upper-end, rather expensive objects, the income for many exhibitors was still satisfactory.

Jesse Goldberg of Artemis Gallery, North Salem, New York, sold a set of a dozen circa 1795 Connecticut shield-back mahogany chairs for $25,000. Arthur Liverant’s sales included a beautiful circa 1775 New London, Connecticut, applewood secretary; although the price was not disclosed, the piece was obviously of high value. Liverant said he also had orders for a circa 1790 Windsor chair from Connecticut; a folk art painting, a coverlet, and some redware.

Marty Shapiro of The Finnegan Gallery, Chicago, had a buyer for a pair of French carved stone gatepost caps for $9550. He said he had exhibited at the Litchfield show about five years ago when it was in Goshen but had not done it recently until this one. Nevertheless, the purchaser of the gatepost tops was someone whom he had met back in Goshen.

Christine Crossman Vining of Wellington, Florida, reported sales of an étagère priced at $4500, a Boston oil painting at $2500, and several other items. Karen DiSaia sold several rugs, including an 8'4" x 10'7" Heriz and a 7' x 10' Mahal.