Historical Focus
Exhibitors in the third annual Nantucket Summer Antiques Show present fine art, antique furnishings, silver, décor and ephemera
Hosted by the Antiques Council, the third annual Nantucket Summer Antiques Show will gather international fine art and antiques dealers to the Massachusetts island from August 10 to 13.The show, which allows attendees to view and purchase items, includes everything from historical pieces to contemporary fare with the majority of the offerings dating from before 1980. Marty Shapiro, president of the Antiques Council, expressed his enthusiasm for the 2018 event by saying, “We are feeling very positive about the reception we have received and are dedicated to continuing the tradition of fine antiques shows on the island.” A commitment to providing an assortment of items of high quality is paramount to the show, according to the Antiques Council’s director of shows, Kaye Gregg. She says that collectors will notice,“the variety because we do try to mix in as much as possible from fine period furniture—be it continental, English or American— to mid-19th-century art…dealers are vetted and their merchandise is reviewed.we vet before we invite them, and it’s reviewed on the floor of the show and conforms to our standards and is show worthy.”
Among the dealers participating this year are Alexander Gallery in New York; Callaghans of Shrewsbury from the U.K.;THE Cooley Gallery of Old Lyme, Connecticut; Rehs Galleries, Inc. of New York; Roberto Freitas American Antiques of Stonington, Connecticut; and Charles Edwin Puckett, of Akron, Ohio, to name a few.
At the Rehs booth, collectors can expect to see work dating from the early 19th through 21st centuries, with historic artists including Hendrik Bakhuyzen, Edouard Cortes, Jean B.C. Corot, Rudolf Ernst, Daniel Ridgway Knight, Louis Aston Knight and
Maurice devlaminck.“the Nantucket show has a solid footing on the island and each year attendance continues to grow,” says gallery president Howard L. Rehs.“it is now part of our regular summer exhibition schedule.”
The Cooley Gallery booth will have a similar timeline of pieces on display. Collectors will find a selection of American art of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, with work by Warren Sheppard and Charles Ebert being among the highlights.
To kick off the Nantucket Summer Antiques Show will be the return of the Strawberries and Cream Brunch on August 10 at 10 a.m. to benefit the Nantucket Preservation Trust. On Saturday, August 11, Dr. Stuart Frank, former curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and a scrimshaw expert, will lead a lecture on the topic that benefits the Nantucket Historical Association. Sunday, August 12, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., performers from the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket will present selections from Oklahoma! in celebration of its 75th anniversary. Monday, August 13, at 10 a.m., will be the final lecture, benefitting the scholarship fund of the Nantucket Garden Club Inc. The show will be open to the public August 10 from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door.