The New Hampshire Antiques Show, Manchester, New Hampshire
“It’s all 100% fresh.” That’s how Waynesboro, Virginia, dealer Christopher Evans described his and his wife’s booth shortly before the 67th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show opened to the public in Manchester on Thursday, August 8. That freshness paid off. Evans said, “It was our best show ever. It was phenomenal.”
The three-day show, produced by the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association (NHADA) and commonly called “the Dealers’ Show,” did it again. It packed in a crowd of serious buyers, drawn to the largest city in New Hampshire by the promise of antiques that have been squirreled away by dealers for a year. When the show opened, people poured into the facility. The show remains a singular phenomenon in the world of antiques shows.
Even more people came this year. Sharon Platt, vice president of communications for NHADA, said, “We’re pleased to report our gate was up, and enthusiastic buyers filled the aisles rapidly, with sold tags appearing in exhibitor booths. The New Hampshire show success story and magic of our show, year after year, is our committed exhibitors that offer ‘fresh to the market’ objects, sometimes from their own collections, along with the dedicated volunteer teamwork of our show committee and board.”
The New England table mat features embroidery, cutwork, and trapunto on a wool ground. It features 16 birds, including eagles, peacocks, roosters, chickens, hummingbirds, robins, and red-winged blackbirds. The urn of flowers features applied strawberries and two appliquéd and embroidered butterflies. Dating from the first half of the 19th century, the 30½" x 53" mat was $39,500 from Steven F. Still Antiques, Manheim, Pennsylvania.
It’s not just locals who come to the show. Edwin Hild of Olde Hope, New Hope, Pennsylvania, and New York City, said, “We sold very well to folks from California, the Midwest, and the East Coast, reaching four new clients.” Hild added, “The show was terrific. Not sure the crowd was any larger than usual, but the energy level was higher with sales. We sold to two major New York designers/decorators, who bought heavily on the floor. It’s good to see designers focusing on Americana once again. At 7:30 a.m. on Friday (the day after the opening) I have never seen so many dealers moving merchandise out, rearranging, and bringing in fresh material before the 10 a.m. opening of NHADA day two. The key to the show is keeping the material fresh and keeping it quiet before the doors open—the element of surprise for the buyers.”
Jeffrey Tillou of Litchfield, Connecticut, said, “We had one of our best New Hampshire shows ever. We sold in all categories: furniture, folk art, paintings, and decorative arts. We sold to folks in California, Utah, Missouri, and all over New England. I would imagine there were record numbers of attendees this year. I heard from dealers at both shows that most were happy with sales, which bodes well for our industry. I think the New Hampshire show is so special because it’s more laid back and has a large variety and levels of dealers. For me, logistically it’s the easiest show I do, with far less expenses. I think it’s becoming one of the hottest shows in the country.”
It’s a buying frenzy, but the crowd is savvy and educated. Jane Turano-Thompson of David Thompson Antiques & Art, South Dennis, Massachusetts, said, “We had a fabulous show and really enjoyed it. We were so busy we could hardly keep up, but it was fun because the customers were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They really seemed to appreciate that we had taken the care to research the history on the items we offered, and they all wanted to be sure we gave them the wall labels with the documentation we had provided.
The circa 1735 gate-leg table, mahogany, white pine, and red oak, tagged as “Possibly the West Indies,” with original butterfly hinges, measures 29" x 46½" x 18" (closed) and 58" (open). The attribution was based on the “finest mahogany wood, indigenous to the islands, and provincial construction.” Kelly Kinzle of New Oxford, Pennsylvania, asked $13,000 for the table. A set of six Delaware Valley ladder-back chairs (five shown), circa 1740, was $19,500. Kinzle noted the chairs’ “extraordinary condition,” with bold turnings, rush seats, and no repairs. The set is illustrated in American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, volume VII, on page 1767. The circa 1830 paint-decorated storage box in original paint is from Ohio and is 13" high with a 20" diameter. Kinzle asked $24,000 for it.
“The show was rock solid and steady as usual,” said Kinzle. “We sold all three days. We sold at least five pieces of case furniture, two good pieces of pottery, and paintings. People flock to the NHADA show because of the wide array of objects offered, the reputation of the dealers, and fair pricing. It was a great crowd looking to buy.”
“One gentleman noticed a small silhouette hanging in our booth and the wall label we had written identifying the sitter as Samuel Batchelder of Northwood, New Hampshire, born in 1775. That name rang a bell with him because he thought he owned a needlework family register by his sister. When we got out the genealogy we had prepared, he was able to find his sister in there. After the show, he sent us a picture of the needlework, with Samuel’s name included. He wrote to us that he was delighted to be able to reunite the two, after all these years. These aren’t just objects to us but pieces of people’s lives. That is what makes this whole process so interesting.”
Nancy and Gene Pratt noted, “The show was exceptional. We sold several pieces of early furniture along with folk art, paintings, redware, and decorative accessories. There were lots of patrons on Thursday morning, and they were there to buy. The energy and genuine enthusiasm for good antiques at this show is unmatched in our experience. We think what makes this show so special is the response from the buying public. The dealers make their best attempts at having high-quality fresh merchandise, and the patrons respond. The fact that this event is managed by a group of NHADA volunteers who offer their time to pull off exceptional shows year after year is to be commended. The real carrot is that this is a fun show to do!”
“I was very happy with the past show,” said Iowa dealer Thom Rawson. “It was my second-highest-grossing show ever, behind only last year in New Hampshire.... I think Thursday’s crowd was very strong.... Friday was decent, but Saturday was disappointing for me. The show is always special because there are so many wonderful items for sale. We save things the entire year for this show, as do all the other dealers. We spent four days shopping our way home and already have two phenomenal items I’m going to wait a year to put on the market next August.”
Brian Bittner of Shelburne, Vermont, said, “Great show. We sold about as we expected, similar to last year. We also bought well during setup. The show had a great size crowd as always. There is enthusiasm and buzz around the show. Most of the dealers, it seems, really save things specifically for this show, as I certainly do. We have branched out a bit beyond the traditional Americana this show is known for. Some other dealers do this as well. In terms of sales, however, the items we did best with were in the Americana categories. There was admiration of some of the other items we brought but perhaps fewer buyers for those. It would be great to see more, younger collectors and enthusiasts within the broad decorative and other categories. Easier said than done.”
The pair of New England 18th-century interior window shutters with cutout heart designs was $2800 from Sharon Platt American Antiques, New Castle, New Hampshire. They had been found in an attic in an 18th-century Rhode Island home.
Arthur Liverant of Colchester, Connecticut, said, “We did well. We’re always pleased to do that show. I love it when people come in and they’re relaxed, they’re enthusiastic, and they have a smile on their face. They love seeing different things. The show is broad-minded—we have all kinds of stuff on that floor. We always bring a few kids’ chairs, and people will try to put their kids in the kid’s chair. It’s a wonderful environment. It’s a very family-oriented event. Everybody is in a good mood, and it’s a very positive event. It’s great for the business. People look at the New Hampshire show as a thermometer—to see how the business is doing.
“We sold across the board. We sold an Indian rug, smalls, and a terrific [Ebenezer] Tracy Windsor chair with nineteenth-century red paint. Every time I looked at that chair, it made me smile. Somebody took a green Windsor chair and put bright red paint on it with gold highlights. Whoever did it must have said, ‘I’m going to fancy up this chair.’ And they did. But it worked. It sold within the first half-hour.”
Liverant also pointed out another aspect of the show’s success. “No sales tax. It’s such a major thing. It makes a difference. If we sell something for $5000 in Connecticut, the sales tax is over $300. People can buy a candlestick or a basket for that. People love not having to pay sales tax. It’s also the summer. It’s relaxed. People don’t have to dress up in a raincoat or a snow coat, boots, and all that. They can wear shorts. That people are so relaxed is a tremendous advantage.”
Allan Katz of Madison, Connecticut, new to the show this year, said, “It was great. We sold quite well. There were new people, which is always great to see. It’s one of those places that still have a terrific level of activity and energy. We were delighted to be there.”
For more information, check the website (www.nhada.org).
The circa 1840 view of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Kittery, Maine, side of the Piscataqua River is by an unknown Maine artist. The 27" x 35 3/8" oil on canvas was offered by Olde Hope, New Hope, Pennsylvania, and New York City, for $95,000. Provenance includes Peter Tillou and the M. Austin and Jill Fine collection. It was exhibited in the traveling exhibit Nineteenth-Century Folk Painting: Our Spirited National Heritage in 1973-74 and in Where Liberty Dwells: 19th-Century Art by the American People at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1977.
The hall stand from the first quarter of the 20th century, tagged $4750 by Olde Hope, sold almost immediately. It was cataloged as “possibly Canada” because the drawers are lined with Canadian newspapers. The pine, foil, glass, and mirror plate stand is 84½" x 45½" x 16½" and is reportedly headed for a home on Cape Cod.
The large circa 1870 redware spaniels are attributed to John Bell of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. One has a Rockingham glaze, and the other is unglazed. Christopher and Bernadette Evans Antiques, Waynesboro, Virginia, asked $8500 for the pair.
The small Portsmouth, New Hampshire, bowfront sideboard, 1810-15, has feather birch panels, inlay, reeded legs, a single-board mahogany top, and original brasses. It was tagged $24,500 by J & G Antiques, Amityville, New York. The pair of 18th-century brass candlesticks, 1750-55, with scalloped bases and bobeches was $2750. The sterling silver repoussé bowl was $950, and the sterling silver egg cups, a wedding gift from the third Duke of Norfolk said the tag, were $450. It was J & G’s first time exhibiting at the annual NHADA show.
The oil on canvas portraits of William and Electa Stoddard Hale by Massachusetts artist Edwin Plummer (1802-1880), circa 1830, each 33½" x 28½", were tagged $16,000 by Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Litchfield, Connecticut. The couple married in Upton, Massachusetts, in 1819. The graduated set of 13 early 19th-century blown chestnut bottles, New England and New York, ranging from 10 5/8" to 4 7/8", was $10,500 and sold. The wooden mantel, New England, 1800-29, painted to appear like King of Prussia marble, 57" x 73¾", was $7500.
The spoon rack from the Hudson Valley of New York, dated “1757” and initialed “AD” and “MR,” was $12,500 from Jonathan Trace of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The silk and linen sewing pocket, circa 1830, “A Gift to Jane Hankinson,” was $2150 from Pat and Rich Garthoeffner of Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Jeffrey Roelof of Kalamazoo, Michigan, asked $2900 for the circa 1940 folk-art whirligig that had been found in Iowa.
Framed crazy quilt, $950 from Brian J. Ferguson of Swansea, Massachusetts.
The early 19th-century paint-decorated wall box in an unusual form, New England, was $2750 from Baker & Co. Antiques, Delmar, New York.
The pair of leather fire buckets once belonged to Rufus Greene Amory (1760-1833), a prominent Boston attorney. The buckets are stamped “Fenno,” a Boston fire bucket maker. The pair was $11,000 from Martha Boynton of Townsend, Massachusetts.
The New England chest of drawers, 1700-30, with early 19th-century paint over the original reddish brown and original brasses, was $14,500 from Period To Mod/Brennan and Mouilleseaux Antiques and Design, Briarcliff Manor, New York. The American blown-glass ice bucket on it, 1920-50, was $565; the late 19th-century deep olive demijohn bottle was the same price. The nine scrapbook pages artfully displayed are English, 1790-1850. They have prints cut out and pasted on along with pen and ink riddles, a popular parlor game of the period. The set was $3800.
The Shaker miniature hanging cupboard with ten drawers, Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1860-80, is a rarity—it’s the only example of a miniature cupboard of this form known. Scott Bassoff, Sandy Jacobs Antiques, Swampscott, Massachusetts, asked $85,000 for it. Made of pine and cherry with iron and brass hardware and traces of chrome-yellow paint, it has a paper label on the interior with the printed initials “N.W.R.”—which might refer to the room it was kept in or the identity of the Shaker owner. The cupboard is on the cover of Shaker Design: Out of This World (2008). Previous owners included David Schorsch and John Keith Russell. Sandy Jacobs said, “New Hampshire was great. The show was very well attended, and people were buying.”
The New York mantel, 1800-10, with a triple sunburst design and freestanding columns, 60" x 72½" x 10", was $3950 from Steve Sherhag of Early American Antiques, Canfield, Ohio. The horse toy was $1495.
Dover, Maine, oil on panel, was $2880 from Adam Irish of Old as Adam, Warren, Rhode Island. According to Irish, Garey left Dover when he was 19, traveled the country, was wounded in the Civil War, and became a master railroad car builder with the New York and Harlem Railroad.
The Queen Anne New Hampshire six-drawer chest-on-frame is attributed to John and/or Samuel Dunlap. With original brasses and an old finish, the circa 1790 chest was $7500 from Peter Sawyer of Exeter, New Hampshire. The painting, Haying, North Conway Meadows with Mt. Washington in the Background by Benjamin Champney (1817-1907), was $9500. It had been exhibited in Beauty Caught and Kept at the New Hampshire Historical Society in 1996.
Jeff (on the ladder) and Holly Noordsy take a sold “Speed Limit 15 Miles” sign off the wall for a customer.
Dealer Douglas Wyant of Cassopolis, Michigan, waits for a customer to pick up their new treasure.
Originally published in the October 2024 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2024 Maine Antique Digest
