I have recently returned from Manchester, NH and thought I would present my perspectives and experiences. Enjoy.
As usual I flew out of Milwaukee, about 90 miles from Oshkosh where I live. There is a regional airport only 30 minutes from me, but Southwest is much less expensive, so I hit the highway and head south. My flight is at 7 am – nice in the summer to try to avoid summer storms (there is irony in that statement, see below). So up at 2:30 am. The flights into Baltimore and then Manchester are both full but on time. The rental SUV awaits me. The hotel is only 5 minutes from the airport. A tiring day but a good start. I have trouble syncing my iPhone with the vehicle; the latter is several years old.
Tuesday morning, I do not go to the show in Concord. I am not like likely to find anything there, so I head to the West Townshend (MA) group shop instead, about a 50-minute ride from Manchester. I spend an hour shmoozing with David Hillier, the owner, about the state of the market, how he is doing, and the like. I do not find anything, but the trip is always fun. I learn it absolutely poured rain at the Deerfield outdoor show.
Back to Manchester where I purchased flowers for Karen, the promoter of the Collectors Fair. I do so every year in thanks for her giving me a presence when my first book was published a few years ago. Dealers are setting up everywhere. Karen and I have a good talk, and I leave cards asking for contributors to the book I want to edit with stories from collectors.
An early breakfast Wednesday morning before I head to Karen’s show. Someone with a lot of information about the American antiques world tells me that the Concord show was depressing, not enough dealers, and that he would not be surprised if this was its last year. Not having attended I have no opinion myself.
I am in line early for Karen’s show as much to talk with fellow collectors as to walk the floor before most others. I spend a long time talking with the dealer Don Olson, always a pleasure, and other collectors. Karen tells me to be at the entrance/exit of the show at noon, and she will have a table for me to talk with anyone interested in contributing to my proposed book. She actively walks the show floor passing out my information cards – how very kind of her.
I only find one small item at the show – a pair of sterling silver British serving spoons, Circa 1821, at a very nice price. My wife and I give them as wedding gifts and young friends are getting married next year. I talk with Peter Eaton, one of the owners of Crocker Farms Auctions, and the auctioneer, Jeffrey Evans. Several people stop to talk with me about the book, and I hear a great story or two. Will they follow up by contacting me? So far once I am home the response is tepid. There are some very nice pieces at the show but once I get home, I hear that buying was slow. Again, I am only reporting on what I heard and cannot comment on the validity of the report.
Thursday I am packed (fly out later in the day) and leave the hotel to be in line for the Dealers Show about 7:15. It turns out, as usual, that had I arrived an hour later I would not have been much further back in line. The time goes quickly talking to collectors and hanging out. In we go at 10:00 am. There is color everywhere in the show and its offerings are to my taste. I make a great find – a redware plate with “Lafayette” on it – Norwalk, CT probably the 1830s after Lafayette’s visit to our country. I have never seen one. The plate is in excellent condition, and the price is most fair. I also purchase a Woodlands Native American basket from Olde Hope, again fairly priced. I walk the floor several times. Olde Hope has a sweet Dunlap candlestand in old red over the original blue! The cleat is chamfered and inset. I have never seen one partially inset. But we do not need another candlestand, so I pass. I talk with Jeffrey Tillou with whom I have done business, Kevin from Liverant Antiques, and Sheridan Loyd. She and my wife and me go back years and years. Bob from Z&K Antiques who I know says they are having a great show. Buying looks good across the show floor although I may be biased as I found two pieces.
And then the travails begin. My 3:30 flight into Baltimore is on time. Summer storms ground the plane I am to fly to Milwaukee in Sarasota for 4 hours. We leave Baltimore at 11:30 pm and are on the ground in Milwaukee at 1 am. I face a 90-minute ride home. I am up for 22 ½ hours. Kudos to Southwest for getting us there. The pilots did not time out and they made the journey. Last year I stayed an extra night and left Friday morning to avoid summer storms. The morning flight is 5:00 am out of Manchester. Even so I may do it again next year. Flying in the summer is always a risk. This year there were storms in Florida, the airspace around Minneapolis was down for several hours, and Baltimore had lightning. Sigh.
Do I have any regrets. I do not. I did not see a piece I wish I had purchased, and I purchased nothing in the heat of the moment. As for travels. I may stay Thursday night. Southwest as of now has a 5 am flight Friday morning. Up in the middle of the night I shall be.
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