Triple Play in Manchester, New Hampshire, for Americana Week
Antiques Week in New Hampshire is always highly anticipated among Americana collectors. The “week,” which actually extends beyond seven days, focuses on three major shows in Manchester, starting on Wednesday, August 10th. There is something truly magical about this trio of shows; they are the highlight of the annual summer antiques scene, with collectors traveling from far and near. A bit further afield, the New Americana Celebration Antiques Show opens in Concord on August 9th for one day (two other one-day shows in Milford and Goffstown were held on Sunday).
The material at the Manchester shows is not to be missed and the dealers are among the best in the business—and they're looking forward to talking with you about what they've brought and what you're interested in acquiring. Whether a seasoned enthusiast or just learning about the wonderful world of collecting, there is no better environment to have fun and to see and purchase wonderful Americana with price points across the spectrum; there's something for everyone. So put on your comfortable shoes and head to New Hampshire!
Antiques in Manchester: The Collectors’ Fair
Wednesday, August 10: 10am-7pm; Thursday, August 11: 12am-6pm
Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, 101 St. Anselm Drive
860.908.0076
Now in its fifth year ( its second at Saint Anselm), The Collectors’ Fair provides guests with wide aisles and plenty of space to discover the treasures offered by exhibitors. The show is known for its spectacular range of antiques, Americana, and fine art, as well as its top-notch roster of dealers, which includes Mark & Marjorie Allen, Joan Brownstein, Peter Eaton, Greg Kramer & Co., and Jeffrey Tillou Antiques. A shuttle bus will run between Antiques in Manchester and MidWeek in Manchester from 12pm-6pm on Wednesday, August 10.
Treasures at Antiques in Manchester will include early American furniture and an exceptional early-eighteenth century needlework picture depicting the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham from Elliott & Grace Snyder; a magnificent, Centennial-era ceremonial coat patterned in the style of a coat worn by George Washington from J&R Ferris Antiques, who will also be exhibiting four works by Rockwell Kent; and a spectacular selection of folk art carvings from Steven S. Powers.
MidWeek in Manchester Antiques Show
Wednesday, August 10: 1pm-6pm; Thursday, August 11: 11am-4pm
JFK Memorial Coliseum, 303 Beech Street
914.474.8552
First opening in nearby Bedford in 1994 and returning to the area after showing in Concord for the past few years, it’s wonderful to have MidWeek’s energy within the realm of Manchester again. Fifty-six dealers from twelve states will present material from the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, including Thurston Nichols, Stiles House Antiques, and American Primitive Gallery. Offerings include American and English furniture, folk art, fine art, samplers, redware, Oriental rugs, weathervanes, and early ceramics. For the first time ever, this year’s show will also include vintage poster art, estate and vintage jewelry and watches, and Black Forest collections. Frank Gaglio, MidWeek’s show manager and founder of Barn Star Productions, says, “There is always something special about a ‘homecoming’ and our return to Manchester will be just that. Our new facility, the JFK Memorial Coliseum, will highlight and showcase our exhibitors and their material.”
59th Annual New Hampshire Antiques Show
Thursday and Friday, August 11-12: 10am-7pm;
Saturday August 13: 10am-4pm
Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm Street
The New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association sponsors this Americana Week standard. Attendees line up in the wee hours for the doors to open, rushing in to see the material offered by the sixty-seven regional dealers. Guests at this year’s show can browse offerings from such industry leaders as Stephen Score, Inc., Frank & Barbara Pollack, Olde Hope Antiques, and Kelly Kinzle Antiques. Each exhibitor is a NHADA member, adhering to the highest standards of the antiques business.
Among the myriad must-see objects is an American nineteenth-century painted standing desk and an exquisite pair of painted torchieres from M. Finkel & Daughter, and a stunning collection of art and design from Brock & Co., including several site-specific White Mountain works by the Old Lyme Impressionist, William S. Robinson; ethereal still lifes by Robert Moore Kulicke, which have been in the artist’s family since they were created in the 1960s; and a selection of works by the influential contemporary metal sculptor, Albert Paley.
In addition: If you’ll be in the area the following week, Northeast Auctions is holding its annual summer American Furniture, Folk Art, Marine & China Trade Auction at 93 Pleasant Street, Portsmouth, N.H., from August 20–21. For information, visit www.northeastauctions.com.
Feel like a road trip while in the area? The Saco Museum in Saco, Maine, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the exhibition Art, Artifacts, and Anecdotes, through October 30, 2016. Among its holdings is the largest collection of paintings by and attributed to folk artist John Brewster, Jr. (1766–1854). For information visit www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.
There are many wonderful museums and historic sites in the region, so if you're in the area for an extended visit, be sure to take advantage of the collections and sites that New Hampshire and Maine have to offer.
This Highlight was originally published (and has been amended) in the Autumn 2016 issue of Antiques & Fine Art magazine, a fully digitized version of which is available at afamag.com. AFA is affiliated with InCollect.