Maine Antique Digest, March 2017

Maine Antique Digest, March 2017 35-D

SHOW -

35-D

Annapolis, Maryland

The Sixth Annapolis Antiques Show

by Walter C. Newman

he sixth Annapolis Antiques Show was held January 7 and 8 at the Byzantium,

an events center in Annapolis, Maryland. Thirty-nine dealers offering an

excellent selection of antiques, fine art, collectibles, and curiosities set up in the

multipurpose venue on the grounds of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox

Church. The Annapolis show is produced by Dordy Fontinel Show Management, Inc.

The weekend was forecast to begin as a snow event, and while that did not materialize

as particularly significant, Saturday’s gate was off from 2016. Dordy Fontinel said that

in spite of the iffy weather, 300 patrons did attend on Saturday, and several dealers

reported excellent sales to local buyers

who braved the blustery day. Robert M.

Quilter of Baltimore sold a set of eight

chairs (four period and four early quality

reproductions) to a local buyer. Quilter’s

day continued when he was able to place

red “sold” tags on a nice oil on canvas

and a mahogany drop-leaf table.

Sunday was sunny but windy and very cold. The sunshine brought out the patrons,

and attendance was excellent. Fontinel did not offer attendance figures for the entire

weekend, but I did notice a significant increase in foot traffic over my Sunday visit

last year. By all accounts, attendance did result in increased sales. As is always the

case, some dealers fared better than others, but as a whole, those who commented were

pleasantly surprised by the strong “buyer’s mentality” that seemed to inhabit the hall.

After the show, Fontinel commented in an e-mail: “I really appreciate the loyalty

and enthusiasm of my customers.” Fontinel has managed the longstanding show for six

years, and she has confidence in the viability of the Annapolis market. That confidence

was demonstrated as she announced that her firm is adding a second Annapolis show to

its schedule. The new event will be held in the summer. The first Annapolis summer sale

will be held the weekend of June 24 and 25, and it will also be held at the Byzantium.

For additional information, contact Dordy Fontinel Show Management at (434) 361-

1770 or see the website

(www.dfshows.com

The sunshine brought

out the patrons, and

attendance was excellent.

Michael Gunselman is from Wilmington, Delaware, and trades under his own name. In

addition to displaying more traditional antiques offerings, Gunselman routinely displays

an array of various pieces and parts ready for today’s decorator market of repurposed

items. Here are several items poised to become something other than their original

intended design. The carpenter’s toolbox may find new life as a coffee table. It was tagged

$250. The painted steel clock faces may find their way into a picture frame or a wall

collage. They were $25 each. The convex mirror may enjoy a more conventional use. It

was marked $125. The hard rubber tire buggy wheels were not tagged.

Russell Harrell and W.R. Dillow Jr. of Heritage House Antiques, Bland, Virginia, labeled

each of these miniature portraits as being “hand painted on bone.” The group included

images of 18th- and 19th-century subjects. Five of the examples are housed in some

variation of a “piano key” frame, also bone. Four of the miniatures are in traditional oval

metal frames, and two are mounted in frames made of figured mahogany with decorative

brass inlay. The miniatures ranged in price from $195 to $295.

Brothers Samuel and George

Adams of American Room

Antiques are from Chambersburg,

Pennsylvania. The solid mahogany

bowfront writing desk dates circa

1780. The Adamses believe that it

is from the workshop of one of the

more skilled London makers. The

desk features two three-drawer

pedestals raised on ogee feet. All

of the hardware is believed to

be original. The center drawer

extends its full depth with the aid

of unusual telescoping dovetailed

supports. The drawer is fitted with

an array of small storage boxes,

each with an original removable lid and brass finial. The center section features a deep well with

a tray for writing tools that slides out and can be set on the desk’s writing surface. One of the

storage boxes does not have a finial; rather, it is fitted with sculpted slats that were designed to

accept six pair of spectacles. This very special desk was tagged $4500.

Bob Axelrod is from the Lake Norman area near Charlotte, North Carolina. He trades

as Axe Antiques, Inc. Weaponry is Axelrod’s forte. Here he had displayed a Model 1849

pistol from the family of Colt pocket percussion revolvers. This example was offered in

its custom fitted case, along with various associated accouterments. The pistol is fully

engraved. This is one of the shorter barrel examples of the Model 1849; a photograph of a

long barrel example is shown in the case lid. The craftsman who constructed the case for

this weapon may have been a jeweler. There is a pocket watch in a fitted tray within the

box. The price of this Colt and case was $7500.