I can remember when, yes, I am waxing nostalgia I know, Maine Antique Digest and The Bee regularly had show sections. Dealers in the show would showcase an item with a photo and description, oftentimes more than one. Some of these sections ran for several pages, far longer for important shows. And then they largely faded away.
With the rise of the Internet dealers had websites (and still do) that show case items for sale and typically past sales. Shows also used the Internet, especially social media to market and publicize the upcoming event. Why pay for a show section when all was available to be seen for free to the dealers and show promoter?
I always liked show sections. They were a break from the regular order of pages in publications and often dealers who did not advertise regularly if at all in paper publications were included. They helped me train my eye and once in a great while I would see a piece that I fantasized about owning, or at least seeing in person and making up my mind.
Show sections still exist for a few, typically well-known shows, and I devour them the way I used to. But I miss the great number of them that used to be available for viewing. What prompted my nostalgia and thinking about show sections was that a new show in Connecticut had such marketing recently. The show was not huge, and the section was not overly long, but it made its point – look at us – we are here, come visit and browse, and of course unspoken, buy! The same can be said for the show section for the prestigious Delaware Show coming up shortly.
The past is gone except in memory and as a collector I do not know what the future holds. But I hope sections make a resurgence. I would like that.
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