I thought I would share some experiences and observations on Manchester this year. I attended once again and enjoyed myself thoroughly. As a collector I find I learn a great deal about the market and what is available.
I heard that the outdoor show at Deerfield has become primarily a dealer to dealer show with retail sales less important. I do not know the truth in that statement, but I did hear it from more than one person. The Concord Show on Tuesday had more energy than in the past I was told. Another vibrant show during the week would be good.
I attended Karen’s show, the Collector’s Fair on Wednesday. Arriving at my usual time of 7:15 I found that for the first time I was first in line. The responsibility was awesome. It looked like the show had the usual number of people in line when it opened but I think they arrived to wait for the opening a little later than in the past.
I had talked with the person who arrived after me. It is interesting how the same people typically are at about the same place in line each year. When talked he took out his phone to show me his most recent acquisition. I now know who purchased the $243,000 Shaker cupboard at auction recently. The conversation in line with him and others made the time go quickly.
When the show opened, I immediately made a beeline for Grace and Elliott Snyder’s booth. They had a Circa 1750 Connecticut highchair – original paint, wonderful turnings and arms, etc. – that I had seen on an email from them but had paid little attention to because I thought it would be too expensive. The day before the show opened (Tuesday) I brought flowers for Karen (the show’s promoter). I do that every year because a few years ago she let me have a booth to display and perhaps sell a few copies of my first book (Come Collect with Me). It was thoughtful of her and an act of kindness. While talking with some staff by the main entrance as dealers set up for the show Grace Snyder walked by. I asked her about the highchair was surprised at how affordable it was (buy the dip as Clayton Pennington wrote in his Maine Antique Digest editorial). The chair was even better in person. It should arrive here in Wisconsin after Labor Day.
I did not find anything else to love at the show, but the venue is wonderful, and the antiques dealers have in their booths present well.
The next morning (Thursday) was the NH Dealers Show. I was in line about 7:15 again but not number one. As an aside the weather was the best I can ever remember for Manchester during Antiques Week. Again, the time flew by. Alas, I found only one piece, a small red painted basket at the Dealers Show but walked the floor many times – no Black dolls my wife loved, no redware with writing on it, no redware banks worth pursuing, and the like.
Painted boxes must be “in” as they were everywhere. Some weathervanes but none that caught my eye. Almost all or nearly all the blanket chests were New England.
There you have it. Recognizing many of the people in line brought home to me that the American Antiques’ world needs new collectors. If you have any ideas on how to get people interested in collecting American antiques and get more folks at shows, let me know.
Come Collect With Me 