Newport This Week: Newport Antiques Show Has Come a Long Way

July 19, 2024

July 18, 2024

By: Newport This Week Staff/Marion Laffey Fox

When the Newport Antiques Show debuted in 2007, it was con­sidered a noble experiment by naysayers and benevolent cogno­scenti. Now, it is acknowledged as one of America’s most consistently successful and summer shows.

Reverberating with the can-do gusto of its founder, Anne Ham­ilton, the event has remained true to its philanthropic mission of benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County and the New­port Historical Society. To date, the show has raised over $3 million, which has been divided between the two nonprofits.

“After 17 years, it is amazing to realize how that initial show has blossomed,” said Diana Bittel, one of the show managers along with Karen DiSaia.

Hamilton recalls the event’s inception, when volunteers often compared it to the popular chil­dren’s book, “The Little Engine that Could.” Today, it is a fixture on Newport’s summer calendar, with a core of invited dealers.

Enjoying its position as a must-attend annual event that dominates the last weekend of July, this year’s show opens on July 26, at 5 p.m., with a gala preview party at the ice rink at St. George’s School, sponsored by Meg Braff and John Peixinho. Known for its festive atmosphere, the spirited party showcases a curated selec­tion of fine and often rare offerings.

“We have 38 dealers, with around 15 that have participated since the beginning,” said Bittel. “The 2024 show is proud to welcome four dis­tinguished new and two returning members, representing 12 states, as well as entrants from France, England and Portugal.”

Among them is Barbara Israel, who returns after several seasons with her exceptional collection of garden ornaments that includes statuary, plinths, columns, plant stands, figures and furniture. In addition, Janice Paull, the world’s leading authority of “English Iron­stone China,” notably Mason’s ironstone China from 1790 to 1850, has secured a booth for her pop­ular wares. Paull, who consistently magnetizes world-wide collec­tors to her Warwickshire, United Kingdom shop, has served on the Advisory Board as well as the vetting committees of major American shows.

Carolle Thibaut Pomerantz, au­thor of “Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends,” makes her debut with a refined collection of vintage wallpaper panels that span several centuries.

Silla Antiques, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, joins other first- timers with an outstanding mix­solid ture of American and European art and antiques from 1860 to 1930, as well as fine estate jewelry. CM Leonard, from South Salem, New York, debuts with unique 18th and 19th century French and En­glish antiques that often creatively “make a room.”

By virtue of a respected inter­national network, French Accents, from Baltimore, Maryland, evolves as a tour de force of high-style fur­niture and decorative objects that include Louis XVI, French Empire, Italian Baroque and Austrian Bie­dermeier.

Fashion-conscious women always gravitate to Gem de la Gem, where Shahn Rosler fea­tures a plethora of choice vintage clothing, including dramatic capes, handbags, scarves and accessories from bygone eras. Rosler enjoys a reputation as a seasoned ex­pert, able to discern copies from originals.

I love the fact that each year, this local, very sweet spot-on Aquid­neck Island, in the tiniest state in the country, mobilizes disparate dealers to showcase important and unusual worldwide objects to seasoned collectors,” said Rosler. “In an incredible way, the Newport [Antiques] Show has become the catalyst that draws a sophisticated audience to the island.”

At the show’s entrance, the loan exhibit highlights the city’s history. The current collaboration of the Newport Historical Society and South County Museum in Narra­gansett, called “Stitches in Time,” features textiles and rarely shown needlework.

“During research of this exhi­bition, we were captivated by the color and texture of these trea­sures,” said Rebecca Bertrand, NHS executive director, who worked with Rebecca Kelly, executive director of South County Museum. “Hand­crafted textiles frequently carry personal stories. Quilts and needle­work particularly, are passed down through genera­tions to narrate fa­milial connections, milestones and memories. Our hope is that these seemingly humble objects will give visitors pause to consider how they preserve tradi­tions, document social change and provide a tangible link between the past and future.”

This year, the addition of New­port Design Week events creates another smorgas­bord of innovative reasons to visit town. The brain­child of architect Anne Fairfax of Fairfax & Sammons Architects, and interior designer Carol Swift of Swift Morris Interiors) the forum begins with a cocktail party on July 24 at the Newport Art Museum.It will be followed by three days of lectures, panels and book-signings at Ochre Court and the Young Building at Salve Regina University. Registrants are also in­vited to subscription dinners.

“It’s wonderful to see our city encouraging new events around long-time staples, such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Newport Flower Show, annual induction ceremo­nies of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and our show, to mention a few,” said Hamilton. “While we enjoy our stardom on the island’s summer calendar, we always wel­come new entrants to join New­port’s remarkably lively scene.”

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