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36-C Maine Antique Digest, May 2015
- SHOW -
Michael Hall of Nashville was a longtime exhibitor at Heart of
Country where he displayed important American furniture, art,
and accessories including regional pieces. At the A & G show, his
emphasis was on a decorative presentation of political and patri-
otic history. The Rand McNally 18" terrestrial library globe, 1920-
25, was $8500. He had sold the Tennessee state flag, 1955-63, at the
center of the back wall. He also brought an American yacht ensign
dated 1918 at lower left, and on the right wall hangs the Alabama
state flag, 1940s-50s, with the big red X. Smart idea—Hall took
this panoramic cell phone shot of his booth at the start of the show.
Photo courtesy Michael Hall.
Steven Martin of Sonny
Ideker, Bookseller, Ros-
well, Georgia, set up a
display very similar to the
one presented at last year’s
final Heart of Country. He
was able to join the A & G
show this February when it
had a last-minute cancella-
tion; he was determined to
continue doing a show in
the area.
Steven Martin showed off an early 19th-century book
printed in Dedham, Massachusetts, that contained “A
Selection of Masonic Songs.” It was priced at $625.
Nashville landscape architect Phillipe Chadwick created
the perfect union of antiques and garden in “The Living
Room.” Moss is much more comfortable than horsehair.
Bursting with tropical plants,
the “Haute House” garden
designed by landscape architect
Ann Daigh was an oasis at the
center of the show floor.
Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs, Lex-
ington, Kentucky, has exhib-
ited at the Nashville A & G for
many years, plenty of time to
develop repeat customers. The
large Serapi, Northwest Persia,
circa 1900, 10'2" x 12'2", was
$18,500.
Jerry and Marsha Ritch of J
& M Antiques, East Amherst,
New York, had already sold a
secretary from their inventory
of 18th- and 19th-century furni-
ture. The tiger maple and cherry
multi-drawer stand, circa 1825,
was $950.
Marty Shapiro and Kaye Gregg of the Finnegan
Gallery in Chicago do a lot of botanic garden fairs,
offering a mix of antique garden, architectural,
and industrial objects. Regular clients look for
them, and they work with local landscape archi-
tects to find special pieces. The French stag, priced
at $15,000, sold later. The cider press wheel at the
back was also French and priced at $8500, but the
1910-20 auto headlight lenses on mounts came from
vintage American autos and were priced from $495
to $625.
Nashville metalsmith Ben Caldwell is
the son of Dr. Benjamin H. Caldwell
Jr., noted collector and authority on
Tennessee silver and its makers. The
young craftsman makes his own
unique designs in copper and silver,
which he sells at shows and through
his website.
From Memphis, Thomas M. Fort-
ner had filled his hanging French
shelves with an array of English
porcelain including an array of
colorful cans for $125 to $175.
Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, had a well-de-
signed display that included a sturdy and adaptable
workbench for $2650, topped by a “3 Jacks” game
machine for $1250.
Now based in Atlanta, George Getlik
was originally from New Jersey, where
he went to Rutgers. He does many art
shows and noted, “It’s been about ten
years since I’ve seen this big a crowd.
It’s great to see people coming out again
and shopping. Every single person had
been friendly and willing to talk.” He
holds
Boats in a Harbor
, 10" x 14", by
artist David Francis Schwartz (1879-
1969), who was born in Kentucky and
later moved to San Francisco.
Dealers on the garden side have more flexibility
about what they offer. Alice Brown of Stony Lone-
some, Spring Hill, Tennessee, said one son was a
picker—the Georgia drugstore counter was $2750—
and one was a welder—the old gear table was $2300.
She makes those shell boxes, which were selling like
crunchy hotcakes.
Collectors who missed the preview
party Thursday night could come to
the Friday night “Bourbon Party” with
southern food and music, 6-8 p.m., for
only $50. The bartender is pouring out
Woodford Reserve made in Shively,
Kentucky, at a distilling site that dates
back to 1780.