COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 44, NO. 40 FRIDAY OCTOBER 4, 2013
ORIGINAL SEMIANNUAL YORK SHOW BRINGS IN TREMENDOUS GATE By Karl Pass
he 161st edition of the Original Semiannual York Antiques Show and Sale took place in Memorial Hall East on the York Fairgrounds in York, Pa., August 30 to Sept. 1. One of the longestrunning shows in the country, it began in 1934. There were 96 dealers. The attendance on Friday, prior to the 10 a.m. opening, wrapped inside the hall further than usual. “I don’t remember the line ever being this long before,” said one show goer. “We were ahead of last year for the opening day gate and about equal on the other two days,” said show manager Melvin Arion. Statistically, the winter edition of the show boasts stronger gate numbers. The semiannual York show is held every Labor Day weekend and also the last weekend in January, following Americana Week in New York City. The dealers polled stated that business was steady, with sales being good over the course of all three days. Some exhibitors
T
reported having had a better show on Labor Day than they did last January. For some, it was the opposite. Mark Saylor of Bertolet House Antiques sold six pieces of furniture at the show, which amounted to a much higher gross than what he sold at the January show. There are no certainties in the antiques business. The dealers who bring fresh merchandise priced accordingly to today’s market are typically well-received with current buyers. Arion certainly did his job bringing shoppers to his show. He invests heavily in
advertising and it pays off for him. The York show has a following from the Metropolitan D.C. and Baltimore regions. It also draws people from Philadelphia and New Jersey. The show has a reliable roster of dealers with little turnover, yet a few new faces were there. “We had seven illnesses (among dealers). Some came early and some at the last minute, but we filled the show and those that filled in were pleased and want to come back,” stated Arion. An extremely diverse variety of offerings were available. Quality material rang-
ing from many periods could be found. The show had an array of American and English ceramics; textiles, including quilts, samplers, hooked rugs and Oriental rugs; formal and country furniture; holiday material, including vintage Christmas ornaments; and metalware, including iron, silver, and pewter. There was also nautical material, folk art, jewelry, pottery, lighting, toys, carvings, glassware, a wide selection of prints and paintings, and much more. Local dealer Kelly Kinzle of New Oxford, Pa., sold an excellent Pennsylvania paint-decorated Dutch cupboard, a lowboy and a very rare Pennsylvania walnut linen press dated in inlay 1767, possibly from Chester County. He was just one dealer who (Continued on page 2)
James Wm. Lowery of Baldwinsville, N.Y., had a show stopper with his large mounted 7’-by4 3/4” long and 4’-by-2” wide hooked rug depicting leopards. Found in Scriba, N.Y., the circa Steve Still of Manheim, Pa., asked $35,000 for the spread-wing eagle attributed to famed 1860 rug (according to Lowery) was offered for $125,000. carver Wilhelm Schimmel (1817-1890).
Nancy and Gene Pratt are from Victor, N.Y. They asked $2,750 for their fancy paint-decorated bird house and $7,500 for the early folk art rocking horse.
These five wooden decorative flag pole toppers were priced at $4,800 from Scott Brasseur of Prospect, Pa.
This life-size elk head with antlers from an Elk’s Lodge in Rochester, N.Y., was $12,500 from Robesonia, Pa., dealer Greg Kramer.
Michael and Diana Ogle of American Garage of Los Angeles, Calif., were new exhibitors to the show. This rare three-dimensional cast iron fish trade sign found in a fish shop in Iowa was $11,500. On the wall behind was a large 9-by-12 foot hooked rug in the “hit or miss” pattern, priced at $4,800.
Flint, Mich., dealers and collectors Bette and Melvyn Wolf are pewter specialists and exhibited at the show.