Shenandoah Antiques Expo

By Jordan Thomas Hall

The beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was the center of my travel over the weekend. One of the largest antique shows in this part of the country was being held there with excellent offerings. Also in the Valley is Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. Touring the masterpiece I was able to learn a lot about Jefferson and enjoyed a wine festival held there that evening.

I awoke before daybreak Saturday morning to leave the house at 7:30 and pick up my girlfriend Morgan. We left her house in Carrie shortly before 8:00 and were in Coeburn, Virginia before 9:00 when light rain appeared. The overcast skies blanketed us through the Virginia Highlands to Abingdon.

In this quaint Colonial town we made our first stop at the exceptional Foxglove Antiques. We talked with owners Karen and Mike McClanahan who were very warm and welcoming as always. The store always has a great selection of French country and English formal pieces, lamps and quality artwork.

Joining I-81 we journeyed north to Wytheville where I had planned for lunch at 1776 Log House Restaurant. The historic structure houses a fine Southern restaurant. However, after being the first patrons seated for lunch we sat down behind an unsatisfactory limited lunch menu and left for a nearby Wendy’s. But it wasn’t a total loss, as we paid a quarter for what read as an equally uninspiring copy of the history of the restaurant.

We made a dreary drive to the Shenandoah Mountains in the north-central part of the state. In Fishersville, conveniently located off the interstate, we arrived at Augusta Expoland, a 200-acre site fully dedicated to expositions and fairs. Taking residency there over the weekend was the vast 54th Annual Shenandoah Antiques Expo. Over 300 vendors were set up within the 60,000 square foot facility.

Staging the event is Heritage Promotions and its co-owner Raymond Stokes graciously greeted us and took us around the large show. We walked to the many well-displayed booths talking with vendors and traveled to the various buildings of the show. Rain had scurried away the outdoor dealers but over 100 usually form between the buildings.

Ray and his wife Martha were antique dealers who in 1986 saw the need for a venue to showcase antiques in their region. That year they formed the first annual Shenandoah Antiques Expo with another dealer couple, Mary and Sam Ferguson. The show was met with great success in becoming a bi-annual staple of the region. However, its attractiveness extends to customers across the country and even internationally.

And even other dealers!

“We had a dealer on Friday go through the show and find a painting cheap from another vendor,” said Ray. “It’s worth $15,000. You just never know what will turn up.”

The majority of the dealers at the show specialize in 18th and 19th century folk art and primitive country pieces. Booths are arranged in an attractive manner that displays well, even as the show was closing and most of the vendors had sold their wares. One building sat the antiques on a carpet of sawdust, a nice throwback to when sheep and other livestock was sold in a similar manner.

Catskill Antiques from the Mohawk Valley of New York specialize in early iron and were set up with their collection. Dealer Joseph Weaver showed me how 19th century iron candlesticks were also used as a hog scraper. Morgan became petrified at the thought until it was explained to her that it was *after* the hog was killed.

Of the recent explosion of antique-related cable television shows, “I feel it negatively affects the business,” expressed Ray. “Shows like Antique Roadshow distort the industry because of the uniqueness of the items. It’s misleading the public about antiques and making them think there is instant high value. Antiques are far better made than the process used today. I challenge young people looking to furnish their home with contemporary furniture to take the same amount and use it on antique furnishings, for it’s better quality for the money.”

Some dealers, such as Peter Nee of Millwood Home near Washington D.C., feel the right approach today is a blend of antique and modern. I’m inclined to agree with that in the vein of using well-blended contemporary pieces for functionality and antiques for decoration. Nee’s booth displayed mid-century modern sculptures and furniture among early 19th century furniture and turn-of-the-century paintings.

One in particular caught my eye, an oil on canvas of several ships docked in a harbor. The impressionist style played well to offset some light craquelure. The painting was signed and dated 1905 by English artist James Christie Bruce. I worked with Peter Nee on the price and was able to get it for nearly half of his asking price. I like a show full of agreeable dealers willing to sell and this one has a great deal of that.

The 55th Annual Shenandoah Antiques Expo will be held October 10-12 in Fishersville. For more information visit the show’s website at www.heritagepromotions.net.

“We do 30 shows a year and this is our 30th year,” said dealer Joyce Williams of Hoot Nana Antiques in Paris, Kentucky. “There’s nothing more spectacular than the Shenandoah Mountains in fall.”

But there was more to see in the Valley that day and we were about to enter the world of Thomas Jefferson.

Series continued next week.

Find the Troublesome Creek Times at local stores in Knott and surrounding counties or subscribe to the Times at (606)-785-5134