December 2017

December 2017 Newsletter
 
The Vermont Antiques Dealers’ Association met at the Middlebury Inn on November 14th.  Vermont Week for 2018 was discussed and as of yet, definite dates have not been finalized; however the shows will be in late September/early October as usual. The Antiques at Stratton Mountain show managed by Greg Hamilton will now become the Vermont Antiques Dealers’ Show and join Vermont Week. The VADA show has previously been held in July. In other show news, the Ludlow Antique Show and Sale will now be managed by Kris Johnson and Steve Sherhag.  VADA welcomed a new member, Herbert Barup, whose business Hogback Vintage is located in Johnson, Vermont, 260 Langdell Farm Road; telephone 802-644-5647. His large barn is full of early American furniture and other Americana. Following the business meeting and lunch there was a “show and tell”. A number of people brought things to share: among them was Jean Tudhope who brought an interesting brass button which was a topsy-turvy; Holly and Jeff Noordsy brought a redware bottle (c1815) with an unusual form and glaze and was from a local Middlebury potter, Caleb Farrar. Another item with a Middlebury provenance was brought in by Andy Gardiner—a small, sweet portrait (1817) of a young girl from Middlebury.
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Dues letters for VADA membership will be sent out shortly and must be returned by February 15th in order to ensure being included in the Directory brochure and on the website Directory. Associate VADA members will be included in the reprint of the Directory brochure. If you would like to join VADA, contact Brian Bittner (bittnerantiques@gmail.com) or Jeff Noordsy (jeffnhol@shoreham.net).

Greg and Mary Beth Hamilton have opened another shop, Stone Block Art Gallery, in Vergennes, 10 Green Street. It’s just up the street and around the corner from Stone Block Antiques. The shop will feature estate art from local artists including, but not limited to, Lois Foley, Mitzi Goward, and Arthur Healy as well as decorative furniture and accessories. Winter hours: 11:30-4:00, Saturday and Sunday; telephone: 802-989-1158. It’s a great space for viewing art—stop by and have a look. We wish Mary Beth and Greg luck in their new venture.

As promised, from time to time we will profile a VADA member in the newsletter. This month, Lucinda Seward is our featured dealer. Lucinda is a partner in Michael and Lucinda Seward Antiques. Lucinda’s background is in fine art and she sold her watercolor still lifes while working part time as a veterinary technician. What prompted her to become a dealer?  In her free time she shopped for props for her still lifes at flea markets. Eventually her prop collection got out of hand so she decided to set up at Brimfield--she made $700 and from then on she was hooked and another dealer was born! She and Mike are very active doing many shows throughout New England. Lucinda has a space in Thos. Bartlett Antiques and Oddments in Chichester, New Hampshire, and Mike has spaces in Stone House Antiques Center in Chester and in the Cambridge Antique Center in Cambridge, New York. Lucinda’s specialty is American textiles, hooked rugs, samplers, quilts, and small cloth sewing items. She has more recently begun to focus on folk art, especially school girl art. I asked Lucinda if there was anything in particular that she collects and she said that like so many other dealers, she and Mike have their share of broken furniture, mistakes, and things they bought that they couldn’t sell! Sound familiar??

We were very sorry to hear that Howard Graff of Townshend, Vermont died on October 22. Howard had a shop, Colt Barn Antiques, for many years and did many shows. He was very active in VADA and was always one of the first to greet everyone who came through the door of an antique show. Howard had been ill for quite some time and will be missed at the many shows in which he participated. Our condolences to his family and friends.

VADA wishes everyone a happy holiday season and all the best in the New Year, 2018!
Vesta Urband
vkurband@gmail.com
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