California Country
Alice Kaufman | August 28th, 2012
Tom Baker of Soquel, California, the show's former producer and promoter, asked $265 for this circa 1930 double-sided painted roadside sign from Litchfield, Connecticut. Baker said he'd had so many sales, he "almost sold out."
This unsigned folk art still life of grapes in a basket, reminiscent of the wine country, was $650 from Halliday House Antiques, Napa, California. The painting's backboard dates to 1860. |
Los Altos, California
by Alice Kaufman
All the elements that make California Country a perennial spring/summer delight were in place on June 10 at the Hillview Community Center in Los Altos, California. There was clear, warm, sunny weather, banjo music, hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill, and everyone's favorite, strawberry shortcake. Plus, of course, the main attraction, the folk art and antique American country accessories and furniture that can be so hard to find on the West Coast. As always, the show was a benefit for the Los Altos History Museum, just steps away.
No wonder that the show attracted about 400 people, even though, as one dealer said, "It's too nice a day." What was missing were about 20 dealers who used to exhibit at the show. This year there were 30 dealers. "It's a smaller show," one dealer said, "but we've gone back to our roots."
Tammy Martin, who took over the show's management from Soquel, California, dealer Tom Baker, agreed, saying the emphasis was on "good American country antiques." Although Martin is herself an antiques dealer in Modesto, California, she doesn't exhibit at the show. She said she is too busy seeing whether the dealers need anything, making sure that the dealers' lunches are delivered, checking that the rest rooms are clean and stocked, etc.
The next California Country show will be held in Los Altos on October 21. Come for the autumn soup and apple pie, and stay for the American country antiques.
For more information, contact Martin at (209) 606-5483; Web site (www.californiacountryshow.com).
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 A circa 1925 Adirondack miniature settee—"for dolls and teddy bears"—with original upholstery, $110 from Eton Studio, Berkeley, California. |
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Toad's Haul Antiques, Merced, California, asked $125 for the framed 1920's advertising poster.
This mid- to late 19th-century sheet metal horse weathervane cost $2450 at Ordeshook's Antiques, La Canada, California.
David Pool of Ben Lomond, California, asked $395 for this early 19th-century Nanking Chinese export porcelain platter. What was selling on this summery June day? "Christmas things, mostly," he replied.Originally published in the September 2012 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2012 Maine Antique Digest
