Talk of the Trade: I Can Take the Heat

Talk of the Trade:
The 29th Annual Maine Antiques Festival

By Randall Decoteau

Paul Davis’ Maine Antiques Festival celebrates its 29th year at the Union Fairgrounds this summer.
Conveniently located just off Route 17 in Union, the show is less than an hour from Augusta and about a half hour from Camden. The festival is Maine’s largest show and has an old-fashioned atmosphere featuring dealers from across the country with a wide variety of antiques from formal to folk art.

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Talk of the Trade - July 2010
Shop ‘Till You Drop:
Brimfield May 2010

By Randall Decoteau

The Brimfield shows this past May saw huge crowds on opening day. The weather was seasonably cool and sunny and the buying public was scooping up lots of good items. I spent a pleasant hour at Sturtevant’s, interviewing shoppers as they had lunch.

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Talk of the Trade:
June 2010
The Young and the Restless -
Attracting the next generation to antiques

By Randall Decoteau

At many of today’s antiques shows, a quick turn around the floor will reveal not only sumptuous displays of antiques, but an assortment of aging clients as well. Oftentimes, there are few customers under the age of 45. I made some inquiries to two prominent show promoters to ask for their opinions on the subject:

FRANK GAGLIO, Barn Star Productions, 7 Center Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, (845) 876-0616, www.barnstar.com

BOB JAMES, Armacost Antiques Shows, 3625 Upton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 537-1169, www.armacostantiquesshows.com

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Talk of the Trade: May 2010
Discovering the Connecticut Art Trail

By Randall Decoteau

Recent studies suggest that Americans are spending less time buying nonessential items and more time taking part in experience consumption. In an effort to capitalize on the trend, Sandra Betner, director of Connecticut Art Trail, suggests that Connecticut museums offer a host of affordable experiences for vacationers. The Connecticut Art Trail is a nationally recognized partnership between 15 world-class museums and historic sites, created to promote Connecticut’s rich cultural assets as part of a travel experience.

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Talk of the Trade: April 2010
Living with History

By Randall Decoteau

One of my earliest memories as a child was a visit to Fort Ticonderoga. I remember posing next to a soldier getting ready to fire his cannon. I trudged across the parade ground and I descended into the bowels of the old fort. I have been hooked on history ever since. Living history museums bring their visitors to the very edge of historical experience. We’ve interviewed directors at four museums where you can easily step back into time. Our panelists include:

Stephan Jost, director, Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, P.O. Box 10, Shelburne, VT 05482, (802) 985-3346, www.shelburnemuseum.org.

Amy Moy, director of marketing and communications, Strawbery Banke Museum, P.O. Box 300, Portsmouth, NH 03802, (603) 433-1100, www.strawberybanke.org.

Margaret O’Connor, executive director, Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, 815 Gilbert Stuart Road, Saunderstown, RI 02874, (401) 294-3001, www.gilbertstuartmuseum.org.

Michael O’Farrell, director of public relations, Mystic Seaport, The Museum of America and the Sea, 75 Greenmanville Avenue, P.O. box 6000, Mystic, CT 06355, (860) 572-5315, www.mysticseaport.org.

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Talk of the Trade: March 2010
Busy day of shopping

By Randall Decoteau

A dreary February afternoon is as good a time as any for antiques shopping. On this particular Sunday, snow was in the forecast for later in the day, so anticipating cabin fever, I decided to check out the sale at Sturbridge Antiques Shops. As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one. When I turned into the lot, I discovered two dozen cars and vans whose owners had the same idea as I did. I poked through hundreds of antiques on two floors and interviewed six shoppers who seemed to be having a pretty good time.