Thumbs-up at Rhinebeck Show

May 29th, 2016

Antiques at Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, New York

It was thumbs-up for the quality, presentation, variety, and dealer knowledge at Barn Star Productions’ twice-a-year Antiques at Rhinebeck show at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York, a historic town along the Hudson River, south of Albany and north of Manhattan, on May 28 and 29.

For many dealers such as Missouri Plain Folk of Sikeston, Missouri; Victor Weinblatt of South Hadley, Massachusetts; Judith and James Milne of Kingston, New York; Village Braider, Plymouth, Massachusetts; and Jim Grievo of Stockton, New Jersey, it was a big thumbs-up for sales. Count on this show to be eclectic, colorful, and edgy, and what sells usually is.

The booth of Gloria Lonergan of Mendham, New Jersey, was nicely put together with a large blue chest, priced at $3900; a donkey and cow vane, $3550, on top of it; and, at right, a whirligig of a man sawing, $1650.

The one adjective dealers kept using when I asked what they thought of the show was “beautiful.”

Back in 2009, Rhinebeck exhibitor Tim Chambers of Sikeston, Missouri, told M.A.D. for that show review that “things need to be visually compelling, graphic, colorful, and age is not important to many, especially younger buyers.” His comments have proved on the mark at Rhinebeck. In the first three hours we saw at least one red sold tag in every booth, and they were on visually graphic, eye-catching items—birdcages and folk art, stand-up advertising figures, and concrete and cast-iron fragments of someone’s imagination. The patrons were mainly retail; we saw no dealers that we recognized. But the good news is that many patrons were young, and many were repeat clients, said a few dealers.

Find Weatherly, Stamford, Connecticut, a dealer new to the show, offered an enormous 94" long vane on a “museum stand” for $5975. It came from a New England barn. A 50" x 40" painting of strawberries at a farmers stand by Irma Cavat (b. 1928) of California was $2750. The dealer sold the blanket chest and a trade sign.

“I feel our enhanced ad campaign, use of social media, the contributions of the exhibitors getting the word out, and the buzz about Rhinebeck at recent antiques events contributed to the show’s new direction, like diversifying the offerings to include material that is especially desirable among new collectors as well as our traditional audience. The number of younger attendees [25- to 45-year-olds] coming in the door, families in tow, and leaving with bags and arms full showed a desire from this demographic group to own wonderful objects of art and furnishings,” Frank Gaglio of Barn Star Productions said a few weeks after the show.

Confirming this trend was dealer Jeff Pudlinski of County Seat Antiques, Litchfield, Connecticut, new to the Rhinebeck show, who said he sold out his booth not once but twice, returning home Saturday night to load up again. This 29-year-old only does shows but also relies on Facebook and uses a lot of pickers, and he called his sales at Rhinebeck phenomenal. Signs and lots of other things to hang covered the walls of his booth.

Nutting House Antiques, New Paltz, New York, had a copper horse weathervane, 30" long, tagged $2100. The painting of a young girl, in its original walnut frame, was $1400. The large green cupboard, 7' x 28" x 15", was $950.

James and Judy Milne of Kingston, New York, work hard to find what they offer. Here Jim inspects a small one-drawer stand, in front of a blue apothecary priced at $785.

Another dealer new to the show was Ann Wilbanks of Find Weatherly, Stamford, Connecticut. Of course we had to ask where she got her trade name. “From an America’s Cup boat and my horse, who was kind of a National Velvet horse to me.” Wilbanks specializes in marine and equine art and antiques. She told us that it was a great buying show for her because she met a lot of dealers not in her usual circuit. (New York City-area buyers, are you listening?) She could have bought even more, but on the night before the show opened she didn’t feel well, which kept her less active the next day. The show must go on, though, and she did. She added that the crowd was quite knowledgeable.

Leatherwood Antiques, Sandwich, Massachusetts, was also doing the show for the first time. The perspective of Mo Wajselfish echoed some others who were trying Rhinebeck—different shows, different markets. “Frank has given this show legitimacy. It is not the kind of show I regularly do, but for the past few years I have been reaching out to new customers, and I want to experience selling at different levels. I liked this show,” he said. He added that the author of the Broadway hit Kinky Boots came to the show.

A scarecrow, “the flower lady,” with blazing eyes, $750, was found in Maine. The fish seat for a child (right), from a Spanish or Italian carousel, was $4500 from Leatherwood Antiques, Sandwich, Massachusetts.

Since 1976 there have been Rhinebeck antiques shows on Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends. The number of dealers has ranged from 125 to 200, and three to five buildings are used. There were two main entrances, one up a hill. This year there was only one main entrance, with no hill, close to parking, and flat. Good thing, as the temperature rose almost to the 90s, with lots of sun. There is no air-conditioning at the show, but many dealers bring fans, and Gaglio keeps several water coolers filled for the crowds.

Gaglio added another building to the show this year (he had three last year) and offered 149 dealers, many repeaters, some first-timers, from New England to Florida and Missouri. About 20 states and Canada were represented, with the vast majority from New York. Every dealer we spoke to said, “As soon as we heard Frank was taking over the show, we knew we wanted to do it. He is one of the best show organizers out there.”

Another said, “He is a dealer’s dealer and a show promoter’s show promoter,” and, “This show is diverse and has energy; it is a show that matters.”

The stand-up bakery figure of a woman holding a pie and loaf of bread was $2300; the nifty checkerboard, left of the figure, was $225; the low cupboard in white paint, $750; and the “Charm School” sign, $250; all from Mary and Joshua Steenburgh of Pike, New Hampshire.

Gaglio “took over” in 2015 and seemed a perfect fit, with 42 years in the business then, 21 of them as a show promoter. And he had exhibited at the first two Rhinebecks, under Bill Walters, as well as in the 1980s. Not to mention that Gaglio lives in Rhinebeck.

Gaglio listed both dealer names and phone numbers in the show program—very helpful for callbacks. Plus he had tables covered with trade newspapers and magazines and show cards, even from other promoters, such as the Gurley show held in August in New Hampshire.

“Rediscover the decorator in you” was Gaglio’s theme, and I think most of us did.

Michael Haskins of Palmyra, New York, is known for his Oriental rugs such as the large Karaje, 96" x 139", $8500, displayed on the rear wall. He sold the Tekke Engsi rug on the right wall.

“Rome was not built in a day, and neither were the Rhinebeck shows. When you look at events in the antiques business that have survived the test of time, you will find that many have transitioned through changes beyond management control. However, if the basic bones are there, along with dealer commitment, facility, and date availability, plus a confidence in the overall state of our economy, a show will survive. It will flourish and grow through these changes. Our long-range plan for Rhinebeck is to continue building our customer base, keeping the quality while offering a range of price points, exploring new ways to get the word out, and making the shows family events that attract new collectors and provide meaningful traditions that can be built upon. That would truly be the zenith of my antiques show promotion career,” said Gaglio.

For more information, check the website (www.barnstar.com), and mark your calendars for October 8 and 9, the dates for the fall Antiques at Rhinebeck.

Two Sisters, Baltimore, Maryland, offered the blue-green architectural panel for $1100 and two wicker sconces filled with greenery for $475 the pair. Their orange table was set with blue accessories and invited a sit-down.

Originally published in the August 2016 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2016 Maine Antique Digest