Collectors, antique hunters, and those of you on the lookout for that special “something” to grace your living room should consider heading up to Chestertown this Saturday or Sunday. Maybe you’ve been to the KART Thanksgiving weekend Antiques Show & Sale in its past 47 years, and you think you know what it’s about. Not so fast. This year it’s all new – and worth another look.
Start with the new location – at the Washington College Lifetime Fitness Center off Campus Avenue – literally across 213 from its previous location at the Middle School. Why the move? Lots more space – even this year’s expansion to 44 exhibitors doesn’t come close to meeting its potential – and a configuration that locates all the exhibitors in one room, making for a unified presentation and better flow. And then there’s diversity – increasing the size by more than a third allowed for a broader representation of categories. And with this much space, the layout becomes quite upscale, complemented with copious holiday decorations by Sandy Hudson, whose fabulous creations have graced the entrance of the show for years.
But no worries – the fundamentals of a range of prices and styles are unchanged. You can still find a treasure, regardless of whether your budget is $20, $200 or $2000. Yet the show retains its intimate size, and remains ideal for collectors to interact with dealers and to consider their purchases without the pressure to cover a lot of ground quickly.
And for the price of admission ($6, or $5 with a promo card available throughout the County), you not only get to look but also learn, with Booth Talks on topics such as English Antiquing by Charlotte Whitenight of Curiosities Antiques at 1:00 p.m. Saturday; Antique and Estate Jewelry by Carolyn DePrince of Crawford DePrince at 2:00 p.m. Saturday; Chinese Export Porcelain by Peter Stiltz of Mimi’s Antiques at 1:00 p.m. Sunday; and Linen Care and Repair by Claziena Borlik of The Vintage Linen Lady, who invites people to bring in problem pieces to identify solutions and repair options, 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Show-goers will find many familiar faces among exhibitors, and will be more than pleasantly surprised by the expanded offerings in categories such as Modern, Oriental rugs, Chinese Export porcelain, Civil War and Militaria, antique decoys, furniture and fine art. Veteran and new exhibitors are coming from as close as Chestertown and as far as South Carolina, contributing to the fresh, new feel.
The show is presented by the Kent Association of Riding Therapy (KART), a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their developmental growth, physically, emotionally and cognitively, through a multi-faceted program that involves therapeutic horseback riding, grooming and caring for the horse and comprehensive classroom instruction. KART President Leslie Price believes that while adding quality exhibitors to the show, it remains a show that offers a wide range of choices – you can take home a Christmas ornament or a period cupboard. “Our timing on Thanksgiving weekend consistently attracts out of town visitors and buyers, along with a loyal local following. This Thanksgiving weekend gem provides a delightful introduction to the holiday season, and the perfect antidote to shopping malls and cookie cutter gifts.”
Following up on last year’s special exhibit of contemporary make-do furniture, the show will feature “Recycling Nature” – an exhibition of furnishings and decorative objects incorporating natural elements, displayed in a complementary room setting.
The Show runs Friday, November 25, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 27, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Washington College Lifetime Fitness Center, Campus Avenue in Chestertown. Tickets are $6 at the door. A complete listing of exhibitors is available at www.kentridingtherapy.org; for general information about the show call 410-810-4898.
A grand opening catered reception ($25 per person) on Friday at 5:00 p.m. honors long-time KART volunteers Sally Mangels and Elly Wierda. Tickets to the reception are available by calling 410-810-3837.
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