Peabody Essex Museum Antiques Show: Steady at the Helm

Salem, Massachusetts

by Jeanne Schinto

If anyone could herd cats, it would be Christine Crossman Vining, manager of the Peabody Essex Museum Antiques Show since its inception in 1972. It's really no wonder that this annual Thanksgiving weekend event runs as smoothly as it does. She's part taskmaster, part mother superior.

Be assured that you'll be reprimanded if you're a dealer caught eating an apple during setup ("Except during the preview party, there's no eating in the museum!"). You'll be equally chastised if you bring subpar lighting ("You got away with it this year, but bring those again next year, and you're going straight to Home Depot!").

Shows are currently an iffy business for dealers, but after this one, held November 27-29, 2009, Vining seemed more than satisfied with its results. Driving from the airport to her home in Wellington, Florida, she said in a phone interview, "I think the show was much, much stronger than it was last year. Much, much! Yes, there were four or five [out of 28] dealers who didn't do well, but in these times? I think it was extraordinary that most people did as well as they did.

"It was very, very well attended. There was a very positive feeling; it was very upbeat. I think that made a big difference. And, of course, the museum does a fabulous job for us. Move-in and move-out was smooth as silk. I was sitting at the Hawthorne Hotel [a few blocks from the museum] with a beer in my hand at nine fifteen, and that was a kind of record."

What we witnessed and the reports we gathered conformed more or less with her impressions.

The Friday night preview party, the proceeds of which benefit the museum's educational programs, saw some 300 people arrive promptly to eat piles of sushi, drink champagne, and then, at the end of the evening, lick miniature scoops of coffee ice cream from mini sugar cones. For the designated three hours and then some, members of the committee, museum administrators, and curators mingled with Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) supporters as well as major collectors (Ned and Lillie Johnson, for example).

Even when the economy is a challenge, this show works for a simple reason. The people who give money to the museum understand history and the importance of artifacts to its study. They love beautiful things and recognize their value. By the same token, the museum understands how essential it is to interact with the commercial side of collecting. One piece of evidence is its continued willingness to devote a large space right inside the museum to this yearly endeavor.

On Saturday, according to PEM's manager of development and events, Betsy Weisman Viani, 1800 people came through the museum's front door, their admission ticket to the galleries being all they needed to enter the antiques show. Visitors could look at PEM's world-class collections of American furniture and decorative arts, Asian art, maritime art, and a wild temporary exhibit featuring the fashions of Iris Apfel, then wander into the show. Or, conversely, collectors could come to the show and then go see the objects that weren't for sale.

On Sunday, a new tradition, a jazz brunch ($25 per head)—sponsored by participating sponsor Landry & Arcari Oriental Rugs & Carpeting—was sold out, with 60 people in attendance and others turned away. "We thought it was a good idea to add an extra element to the weekend, on the day when traffic is traditionally lighter," Viani said. This event was held in the museum's old library building, a short walk from the museum.

Meanwhile, on all three days, many dealers were selling. Richard Vandall of American Decorative Arts sold a trio of leaded stained-glass screens, a Shaker chair, two Mission pieces, many Stevengraphs (silk pictures), and two pieces of pottery. "I had fourteen good sales," said the Canaan, New Hampshire, dealer.

Hanes & Ruskin Antiques, Old Lyme, Connecticut, sold a two-drawer Federal stand in mahogany, a Sheraton period mahogany bookcase, a set of fire tools, a dated sundial, a miniature portrait on ivory of a gentleman, four pieces of pottery, a set of walrus tusks, and a pair of repoussé brass wall sconces. "We had an excellent show," said Joy Hanes.

Steven J. Rowe Antiques, Hanover, New Hampshire, sold a China trade painted leather trunk, a Classical 1830-40 Boston card table with exotic mahogany woods and carved feet, a pair of bold architectural carved wood lion's heads meant to be used as either a shelf bracket or decoration, a Classical 1830-40 American mirror with original brass medallion, and many smalls.

Herbert Meiselman of CIRCA Antiques & Decorations, Rockport, Massachusetts, said, "We [he and his wife, Deborah Prescott Meiselman] sold quite a few French gilt and bronze frames from the 1880's and a really large group of English Victorian brass frames." Prices for their specialty ranged from $295 to $1500.

Not much higher than that seemed to be the price point for most showgoers. Exceptions were "some great marine paintings that came out of an old-time Salem and Boston family" that were sold by Boston's Stephen Score, a first-time exhibitor at the show; a circa 1790 South Wales oak dresser that Running Battle Antiques, Newagen, Maine, offered at $18,500—and sold; and a circa 1860 English skeleton clock, attributed to London maker Smith & Sons, that another newcomer, Andrew Spindler Antiques, Essex, Massachusetts, sold at the preview party.

This was not the weekend to sell a painting tagged with six figures, as did Roberto Freitas in 2008.

Speaking of affordable prices, this reporter's husband, Robert Frishman of Bell-Time Clocks, Andover, Massachusetts, was a last-minute entry to the show. Called in after The Country Squire, Milton, Massachusetts, canceled, Frishman sold more than a dozen clocks, along with a Swiss pocket barometer in a fitted leather case, an English sextant in its mahogany box, and a German mechanical singing bird (nicknamed "Freddie").

Some people think it's odd when they learn that he and I e-mail each other throughout the workday, but it's efficient for quick notes, and the habit helped in this case to maintain objectivity. On request Frishman wrote a summary of his results: "I had a great show, selling many clocks, perhaps because (as many people commented) my prices were 'reasonable' and 'fair.'" While he did sell a higher-end gold-front Boston banjo clock, signed by Joshua Seward, his other sold items were more modestly priced. "My prices were among the lowest at the show, so attendees could buy something at a comfortable price point," Frishman's note continued.

"I may have benefited, too, not only from being a new dealer and fresh face (although I already knew several people who came through), but also a 'local' one, which might have been reassuring to buyers of an old clock that might need service someday."

Incidentally, the rumor at the show was that The Country Squire had gone out of business. Not true, said Joseph Barri, spouse of Randy Farrar, who was out of town when we called, exhibiting miniature furniture at the Eastern National Antique Doll Show in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "He pulled out [of PEM] after doing a string of three shows that weren't good for him. He's picking and choosing his shows carefully. We're well capitalized, so we can afford to sit back and wait"—for the economy to improve.

With the demise of Boston's Ellis Antiques Show after 49 years, the PEM preview party seemed to be the new place for the Greater Boston antiques-collecting community to come together to exchange ideas, gossip, and news. On the regular days of the show, the networking continued as dealers gathered in the lounge provided for them in a comfortable building across the street from the museum. (They also ate the delicious food-curried chicken salad, gingerbread cake, homemade soups-that the committee members cooked for them.)

The biggest news of the weekend came via Diana H. Bittel of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. An Ellis veteran who was a first-time dealer here, she brought freshly minted "Save the Date" cards for her new show management assignment. It is the Wayside Inn Antiques Show, scheduled to debut May 14-16 on the grounds of the historic property in Sudbury, Massachusetts (see M.A.D., January 2010, p. 9-A).

Also of note was the purchase of Barbara Fine Decorative and Antique Prints by businessman William Craig, who in the last three years or so has acquired Boston's Guido Frames and Boston Frame Crafters, as well as Haley & Steele.

Craig, who was exhibiting as Barbara Fine Decorative and Antique Prints at this show, said, "Nothing changes. Barbara herself is on staff, and so is Ben, her son." In fact, Barbara, her husband, and Ben were at the preview party, and Ben was helping in the booth over the weekend.

Formerly of Beverly, Massachusetts, Barbara Fine (the entity, not the person) now has moved into a 5000-square-foot South Boston gallery space. Guido Frames is there too, with Haley & Steele in a holding pattern for now. "Barbara Fine, which is a fine addition to our group, is high-end decorative prints. Haley and Steele, when it's ready, will be very, very high-end decorative prints," said Craig. "We have to polish the silver on that one—it got tarnished." That damage, many will recall, occurred after Haley & Steele's former owner, Julien S. Tavener, fled the country in March 2005, leaving debtors in his wake.

Asked about his decision to acquire these types of businesses, Craig said, "I was a customer of Haley and Steele. I got caught like everyone else, and that's what prompted it. I had been in retail prior to this and had participated in some other ventures. And one thing just led to another, and I said, 'Let's try it and get it right this time.'"

Craig added that he would continue to do the show at PEM, although he wasn't sure about doing others, as Barbara Fine herself once did. He said he will send Barbara out to buy. It would seem, then, that she is in the catbird seat, being charged with buying-something she said she loves to do-without the pressures involved with selling.

Even before the show was over, several dealers expressed a quandary that is commonly heard these days. What should they do next? Another show? Attend an auction? The economy is still flummoxing many people in the business.

Hamilton Meserve of Running Battle Antiques, for his part, is trying something he hasn't tried before. The owner of over 1000 references on 19th-century maritime history, he is selling his duplicates at shows; he is also bringing freshly bought copies of some titles. The point is not to make a big profit. "I'm interested in getting something new into the booth and material into the hands of collectors and potential collectors," he said.

For more information, phone (978) 745-9500 or visit the Web site (www.pem.org).

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