Wells Antiques Show and Sale, Wells, Maine
June 28 witnessed the 25th edition of the Wells Antiques Show and Sale produced by John and Elizabeth DeSimone of Goosefare Antiques & Promotions, Saco, Maine. It was the last time the show would be held in June. Next year’s show and future shows will be held in late September. Why?
The show is held on the grounds of the Laudholm Farm in Wells, Maine. The 2000-plus acres are owned and operated by the Wells Reserve and Laudholm Trust. It is an active nature reserve dedicated to preserving and restoring the ecosystem of coastal Maine. The trust has determined that as a result of climate change, a certain type of plover that raises its young on the grounds of the reserve now nests later in the season, and mowing the large parking area used by the show would be harmful to the breeding pairs of these birds.
The Wells show has long been a staple of the summer show season in Maine. There were about 70 dealers under tent, and some were set up in the large dairy barn, which was originally part of the farm and still shows visitors what an old-time milking parlor looks like. The show draws a large crowd. Refreshingly, it included a large number of the younger crowd that all show managers and auctioneers have been trying hard to attract. Many attendees were wheeling toddlers, and others were carrying small children. These younger attendees were actively buying. One of the attractions for dealers is that the crowd calls many different areas home. A quick check of license plates in the parking area showed cars from seven different states. And for the buyers, there were eight different states represented on the dealer list.
Derik Pulito of Kensington, Connecticut, had these early chairs, a tavern table, and a selection of early ironware.
It was the first time at the Wells show for Jane Butler of Tools and Trades Books, Antrim, New Hampshire. She filled her booth with books about Maine. She said that next time she’ll bring a wider selection to appeal to a wider range of customers.
Derik Pulito of Kensington, Connecticut, was one of the dealers and prominently displayed early furniture. There were two splat-back Queen Anne chairs dating to the early 18th century plus a grain-painted oval-top tavern table. There was a selection of early ironware as well as a large Frost-pattern lion hooked rug, which was $1800. Robert Foley of Gray, Maine, had a grain-painted four-drawer tall chest, which was priced at $485. From time to time, unexpected things will turn up in his booth, and this time there were two fossil fish, which were $25 each. At least one other tall chest was offered in the booth of John Hunt Marshall of Westhampton, Massachusetts. A listing of dealers who brought furniture included Heller Washam Antiques, Portland, Maine; and Martin J. Ferrick Antiques, Lincolnville, Maine.
John Hunt Marshall of Westhampton, Massachusetts, offered this 19th-century tall chest and early delft.
The quality of the offerings was uniformly high and included 18th-century furniture and 17th-century delft along with hand-painted china. The roster included a dealer who specializes in 20th-century art pottery. For the first time, there was a book dealer who specializes in books about Maine.
We spoke with Jane Butler of Tools and Trades Books, Antrim, New Hampshire, a few days after the show. “The crowd was there and ready to buy. The selection of books that I brought differed from what I offer, and I think I’d have done better if I had offered a broader selection. It was a knowledgeable crowd, and although I had several town histories, I was asked for those I didn’t have. It was good learning experience for me. Now I know what they want, and that’s what I’ll bring next time.”
Michael Hingston of Manchester, New Hampshire, was set up in the barn with his selection of art pottery. After the show he said, “This year was better for me than last year, which was the first time I had done the show. I sold several pieces of Dorchester pottery and some Rookwood, so it turned out to be a pretty good day for me.” Dorchester Pottery Works, which was founded in 1895 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, closed in 1979. Fire destroyed the family residence and main production building in 1980. In 1985 the only surviving original building, which housed the large kiln, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This food chopper made by Laroy Starrett was offered by Peter Murphy of Bath, Maine, and was priced at $525. Harry Hepburn of Harrison, Maine, a clock dealer set up across the aisle, provided the history of the chopper. See the story for details.
One of the fun things about antiques shows is that you’re likely to learn things you didn’t know. In this instance, Peter Murphy of Bath, Maine, had an unusual-looking cast-iron food chopper, which was priced at $525. His label noted that it was made by Laroy Starrett. Harry Hepburn of Harrison, Maine, a well-known clock dealer, was set up opposite Murphy’s booth and saw us looking at the food chopper. He informed us that he once owned it and had done some research on it. He told us that Starrett had grown up on a farm in China, Maine, and watched his mother chopping meat and vegetables by hand for their daily meals. He thought he could invent something to make that easier for her and designed this chopper. In 1880 he founded the L.S. Starrett Company in Athol, Massachusetts, which is still in business today, manufacturing tools for cutting and measuring.
After the show, John DeSimone said that attendance had increased from last year. “The turnover is really low; we had only three new dealers this time. Truthfully, I don’t think there were any dissatisfied exhibitors, and we hear about it when they’re not happy. All in all it was a strong show for everyone. We’ve been using social media to attract the younger generation, and it works.”
For more information, contact Goosefare Antiques and Promotions at (800) 641-6908 or [email protected], or check the website (www.goosefareantiques.com).
David Weiss of David M. Weiss Antiques, Sheffield, Massachusetts, had several decoys and stoneware. Many of the decoys were made by Madison Mitchell (1901-1993), who worked in the Chesapeake Bay region. Mitchell combined decoy making with his profession as a funeral director.
Emily Lampert of Salisbury, Massachusetts, priced this late 19th- or early 20th-century carved tree of life at $295.
Jim and Kathy Twining of Raven’s Way Antiques, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, specialize in decoys. They priced this gull at $225.
Lucinda Seward of Pittsford, Vermont, along with her husband, Michael, offered this satin-stitch sampler depicting a bird in a tree. It bears the name “Margaret Riley,” is dated “1841,” and was priced at $2250.
Michelle Genereux of MG Art and Antiques, East Kingston, New Hampshire, had an unusually small Grenfell mat depicting an Inuit mother and child. It was priced at $185.
Nancy Douglass of Rexford, New York, was set up in the barn and brought a wide selection of small baskets. Most were priced between $50 and $225.
Robert Foley of Gray, Maine, was one of the dealers offering painted furniture. He was asking $485 for this tall chest.
This mocha selection belonged to Ted and Jennifer Fuehr of American Spirit Antiques, Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Prices ranged from $500 to $1000.
Originally published in the October 2026 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2026 Maine Antique Digest
