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Showtime
The Southport-Westport Antiques Show
celebrates its 40th year with a fresh new look. |
by
ALEXANDRA ZISSU |
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| Left
to right: Kristin Allen, co-chairman of SWAS's
Friday Night Spaces event, in Melinda Eng, available
at Saks Fifth Avenue, Greenwich, CT; Carole Petisi,
former SWAS chairman, and current board member, in Heidi
Weisel, available at Mitchells, Westport, CT; Jane Selden,
SWAS committee member and liaison with Greens Farms
Academy, in Valentino, available at Mitchells, Westport,
CT; and Laurie Lister, former SWAS chairman and current
board member, in Dolce & Gabbana, available at Saks
Fifth Avenue, Greenwich, CT. All jewelry available at
Lux Bond & Green, Westport, CT. Hair and makeup
by Anthony Sorenson at Warren-Tricomi for Redken, Marissa
Battista at Warren-Tricomi and Tessa Clauser at Warren-Tricomi,
Greenwich, CT. Photographed at George Subkoff Antiques,
Westport, CT. |
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| Candace
Raveis, left, and Sandra DeFeo, SWAS co-chairmen. |
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| French
Empire gilt bronze candelabra, from George Subkoff Antiques,
Westport, CT. |
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| Left:
Queen Anne bonnet-top high chest from Wayne Pratt, Woodbury,
CT. Right: Louis XVI lyre clock from G. Sergeant Antiques,
Woodbury, CT. |
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| Left
and right: Tibetan gilt bronze Buddha and English Queen
Anne walnut wing chair, both from George Subkoff Antiques,
Westport, CT. |
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| SWAS's
new venue, Greens Farms Academy, the former Bedford-Vanderbilt
estate in Westport, CT. |
The
Southport-Westport Antiques Show – now 40 – has
had a makeover. Guests attending the show's preview
party on June 17 (or the show itself on June 18 – 20)
are in for a completely refurbished treat. “Everything
is new this year,” explains Candace Raveis, co-chairman.
“We have a new venue, a new time, new partners and new
ideas. Our committee was so energized! As a result, the show
has truly been revitalized.”
What has not been revamped – and rightfully so –
is the beneficiary of the Antiques Show. Proceeds from everything
to do with the show (the aforementioned party, ticket sales
and a few special events) go to the Near & Far Aid Association,
Inc., an all-volunteer, nonprofit, fundraising and fund-granting
organization that helps families in need, the elderly and
the homeless, primarily in communities throughout Fairfield
County.
This year's show will be held at the former Bedford-Vanderbilt
summer estate in Westport, CT, which now houses the prestigious
Greens Farms Academy. It's quite a bit different from
the Fairfield County Hunt Club, the show's home for
the past 30 years, and from the Longshore Country Club, where
the show was kicked off in 1964.
The Vanderbilt heritage will be lovingly showcased at the
June 17 preview soiree, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase and dubbed
“Vintage Vanderbilt.” Claire Vanderbilt of Greenwich,
CT – the daughter-in-law of the original owners of the
property – has even agreed to act as honorary co-chairman
of the show. Vintage automobiles will serve as lawn decorations.
Live music will include golden age jazz and Tommy Dorsey-style
big-band swing.
“It's always a great party,” says George
Subkoff, a Westport antiques dealer and the former president
of the Art and Antique Dealers League of America. “It's
like a mini East Side show opening,” he adds. “It's
large, it's classy and it's interesting to see
and be seen,” says Susan Morrison, Near & Far Aid
president. “We're looking forward to a very special
summer party,” she says.
Guests nibbling on their hors d'oeuvres and taking in
the beautiful views of the Long Island Sound are sure to find
themselves wondering about the property's history. While
the interiors of the Bedford-Vanderbilt buildings have been
changed to accommodate the needs of the school, several of
the original rooms – with details – are still
intact. And worth a peek. The original stone house was designed
by Harrie T. Lindeberg, and has witnessed a fair share of
parties.
“The Vanderbilts loved to entertain,” recalls
Claire Vanderbilt. “When the magnolias began blooming,
they would host the spring party. Mr. Vanderbilt would roll
out a stainless-steel bar cart onto the lawn and stock the
bar with all different kinds of rum. Julia, one of the house
staff, would prepare the sugar syrup, and Mr. Vanderbilt would
mix up rum drinks in a silver shaker. He always made the drinks
himself.”
The Vanderbilt theme will also be in full effect at the entrance
to the antiques exhibitor booths, housed in one of the new
buildings on the Greens Farms complex. “We really want
to bring that era to life,” explains Linn Cassetta,
chairman of decorations. “There was a wonderful sophistication,
but many of the grand hostesses of the time were open to more
lighthearted experimentation.” Cassetta says yards and
yards of Elsie de Wolfe-style green-and-white-striped fabric
will be “swooped and festooned” (don't know
who de Wolfe is? Quietly ask your decorator). Cassetta will
also employ tropical palms, “dramatic” urns and
latticework to transform the entryway into “an elegant
conservatory.”
Just past the entrance: 42 dealers from all over the country
(mainly the Northeast) who will have descended on Westport
to set up shop. “This event was for many years considered
one of the best shows outside New York City in the country,”
Subkoff says. Last year it drew about 4,000 visitors. “It's
an interesting show, a diverse show. It's middle of
the market to toward the upper end of the market. It is not
over the top by any means.” Translation: There is something
for every buyer.
Still, Subkoff calls the show's facelift a “challenge.”
“It has moved to a new venue, and it has changed its
time frame. That is always a difficult situation to overcome,”
he says. “Be that as it may, it is going to be a rebirth
in a different form, which is not always a bad thing.”
Karen DiSaia, member of Near & Far Aid and Antiques Council
Liaison, contends the new setting lends itself to more interaction
between dealers and browsers. Which is a good thing. To help
guests find their way through the new space, there will be
treasure maps available at the reception desk. “We realize
that many visitors have specific interests, but with so many
booths and so many beautiful items to look at, it can be a
little overwhelming, particularly for those new to antiques
collecting,” explains co-chairman Sandra DeFeo. “We
wanted to provide a fun way for visitors to navigate through
the show and find things they were looking for.” Each
map identifies booths offering items grouped under a certain
collector or decorating theme. The “Grand Tour”
map highlights furnishings and objets d'art from big
European cities, while the “Toys for Big Boys”
map highlights collectibles with a “male sensibility.”
The master planners have also whipped up two special show-linked
events to benefit Near & Far Aid. The first is a vintage
house and garden tour sponsored by William Raveis Real Estate
and Home Services. The second event, called Friday Night Spaces,
is perfect for anyone harboring an addiction to the interior
decorating shows that have been popping up all over cable
television lately. In 90 minutes, guest designers will create
vignettes using antiques from the show. Chris Madden, noted
author, television personality and interior designer, will
be on hand for the live action demonstrations. And so should
you.
Alexandra Zissu, a New York-based writer, has written for
The New York Observer, The New York Times and Bon Appétit,
among other publications. She is currently at work on her
first novel.
 ON
THE COVER
Kristin Allen, Co-chairman of the Southport-Westport
Antiques Show's Friday Night Spaces event.
White organza dress by Melinda Eng, available
at Saks Fifth Avenue, Greenwich, CT. Jewelry from
Lux Bond & Green, Westport, CT.
Hair and makeup by Anthony Sorenson at Warren-Tricomi
for Redken, Marissa Battista at Warren-Tricomi
and Tessa Clauser at Warren-Tricomi, Greenwich,
CT.
Photographed at George Subkoff Antiques, Westport,
CT.
Photograph by Richard Ballard. |
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| Photo
credit: group shot, Richard Ballard; Greens Farms Academy,
Naru Photography, courtesy of Plazadesign |
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