The American Antiques Show has always been our favorite show of the January antique season in New York City.  A benefit for the American Folk Art Museum, the exhibition provides visitors the same beautifully edited experience as visiting the galleries of the museum itself. The more than 40 exhibitors are refreshingly willing to talk to anyone who expresses interest in their collections. The dealers come from all over the country, from Maine to Michigan to Pennsylvania. We’ve learned much of what we know about American antiques and folk art from conversations with these dealers over the years, and you can too. Just step right up; the dealers are unpretentious and very knowledgeable. Here are five of our favorite pieces from this weekend’s show:
1. This fanciful Bird Cage, aka. Avian Palazzo, grabbed our attention immediately because it is such an elaborate and detailed structure. The dealer, Stephen Score, from Boston, Massachusetts even put two lovely red toy birds inside to make it feel even more real. The piece is painted its original color. It dates back to about 1840. Contact:  Stephen.score@verizon.net

2. We loved the way this dealer displayed these iconic carved geese in such a modern way as if to show how they could be hung on a wall in one’s home as art. In fact, these six hand carved geese were once used in a barn in Maine to hold childrens’ saddles (circa 1910). In their original setting, they were all attached to a pole horizontally one on top of another for easy access. They have original weathered paint. Contact: The dealers, Ricco Maresca are located in New York City, www.riccomaresca.com.

3. The amazing bead work on this patriotic memorial was made by a Racine, Wisconsin (home of Johnson Wax) woman for her husband, Vincent Digaudio. It dates back to 1924. The piece features flags of the Allied Forces, a son-in-service banner, an eagle underneath the sun, a deer, and medallions with illustrations of Washington and Columbus. If you look closely, in the center of the piece is a small portrait of her husband. Though this was made to commemorate her spouse, it is full of life with bold colored beads and so many elaborate graphic elements. A true work of folk art. Contact: Jeff R. Bridgeman, from Historic York County, Pennsylvania, www.jeffbridgman.com.4. We weren’t quite sure what to make of this unusual object when we walked up to it. The dealer grinned at us as we looked perplexed, but then explained that it is a Windsor-era lighting device that is is rarely found. It was designed to magnify the candle light necessary for the tedious work of tatting, or making lace,  in the late 18th and early 19th century. Once the candle was lit, the water in the globes helped magnify the light projected and allowed the lacemaker to work on into the night. Contact: George R. Allen and Gordon L. Wyckoff from Oley Forge, Pennsylvania, www.racooncreekantiques.com.

5. This very unusual set of American folk art Windsor chairs caught our attention because we love the form of any and all Windsor chairs, especially hand painted ones. The dealer, Jeff R. Bridgmann, from Historic York County, Pennsylvania said that they were probably made in Maine or Philadelphia. They have their original paint and all six chairs are part of the original set. One chair was made slightly shorter than the others due to the special requirements of a family member. Contact: www.jeffbridgman.com. – S & L