Vintage Nirvana Draws Hundreds to Annual Two Rivers Antiques & Art Show

It felt like entering a stately Victorian-era estate upon walking into the 2011 Two Rivers Antiques & Art Show held at , 35 Bellevue Ave.

This wasn’t a typical “garden variety” art and antiques show, this was nirvana for enthusiasts and even non-collectors. Twenty-five renowned dealers – from as far south as Florida and north as Maine – tastefully showcased pieces at large booths set up in the school’s gym, with ample walking room and space between each booth.

Elaborate pieces of furniture, silver, Majolica, rugs, copperware, framed vintage flags were some of the items displayed as well as Americana that included weathervanes, ship’s wheels, tin ware, and hitching posts. Several art dealers offered antique – as well as contemporary – pieces such as placid nature scenes, portraits and other depictions, with most displayed in intricate, gold-gilt frames. A loan exhibition from Monmouth County Historical Society highlighting maritime artwork was also featured in the fundraiser.

The Two Rivers Antiques & Art Show presented by the Monmouth Medical Foundation was a benefit for the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, with the 2011 honorees Judith Stanley Coleman, Lois Levy and Susan Mercy. Proceeds from the show – begun in 1998 – have eclipsed $2.5 million.

The three-day fundraiser began Oct. 14 with a preview party featuring cocktails, light fare and an auction, which drew more than 200 attendees, followed by the show Oct. 15 and 16, all at Rumson Country Day School.

Funds raised this year going toward upgrading the computer-aided device and ultrasound software systems at the Wilentz Center. Antiques and art show co-chair, Barbara Goldfarb, Little Silver, stressed the importance and significance of the center.

“The Wilentz Center was the first institution in the state to institute digital mammography, and has the lowest breast cancer recurrence rate after lumpectomy in the state, and benchmark for the nation. We’ve raised almost $3 million for the breast center,” said Goldfarb.

The inspired Goldfarb was also the brainchild for the show.

“I started the antiques show in 1998 – it was a light bulb kind of event. We also had a garden tour we started in 1996,” said Goldfarb. “We tried to think of a more cultural event for the county. I’m an interior designer, but I’ve done a lot of restoration and placement of antiques, so I knew a lot of the dealers – I called Kara Short who had worked at Sotheby’s.”

Kara Short, Rumson, was a co-chair for the 2011 Two Rivers Antiques & Art Show.

“It’s a wonderful small show. We have quality dealers that appeal to a wide variety of people,” said the humble Short. “We had a great response to the preview party.”

Traditionally, the show was held the same weekend as the foundation’s garden tour in the spring, and the October date was a departure for the antiques and art show.

“It was originally one event, and we split it because we thought October was a better month for antiques,” said Goldfarb. “Our goal is to raise $150,000; I think we have $135,000 to date. We don’t receive any percentage of anything sold at the show. Dealers pay a fee to be in the show, and our money is primarily made with sponsorship, the preview party and the entry fee.”

The show was well publicized, and its ads and brochure were highlighted by an enormous, colorful 1915 carousel horse from Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, York County, Pa.

“It was made by C.W. Parker, a school janitor in Leavenworth, Ks. I bought it many years ago. I got it at auction, and we knew it was his because it was signed,” said Bridgman. “It’s my personal favorite horse I’ve ever seen in 25 years of business, because it’s so colorful and the paint surface hasn’t been altered or restored. It’s not ‘cutesy’ or garish – it’s kind of a masculine horse.”

Parker bought a carousel, and eventually began making carousel horses, yet wasn’t well-known for elaborate horses such as the one at the show, priced at $35,000.

“It was certainly the lead horse on a carousel, an outside jumper,” said Bridgman.

The horse – as well as vintage art posters – was among the more out of the ordinary antiques featured at the show. Draped down the walls and on a few tables at the booth of Vintage Poster Art were hundreds of American and European posters, some with writing, some without.

“I probably have over 500 posters here. I’ve been selling posters since 1994, and I strictly do shows – this is my first year at this show,” said Art Finkel, Monroe Township, owner of Vintage Poster Art. “Kara called me; they were looking specifically for a poster dealer. I’d heard about this show for years, but it always conflicted with another show I’d done. It was a good idea to do a show locally, and I had two sales at the preview. It’s such a great area around here – I’ve done a few homes in Colts Neck and Holmdel. This is a great show; they’ve done a great job.”

Fine art – not in the form of posters, but oils and acrylics on canvas and panels – was also offered at the booth of Island Weiss Gallery, New York City, subtly lit to highlight the pieces. The gallery highlighted primarily contemporary works with a lot by students of the N.Y. Academy of Arts. The booth drew attendees such as Ann Unterberg, president of the Monmouth Medical Foundation, who chatted with gallery owner, Island Weiss, as the couple sat opposite an original charcoal on paper by Edgar Degas, “Etude de Jockey,” ca. 1882-85.

Attendees to the show could essentially decorate an entire home’s interior, from the floor on up, beginning with a visit to the booth of OARC, Fair Lawn. Rugs in mint condition – ranging up to 20 feet, and from 80 to 200 years old – were hung from the walls or placed on the floor of the dealer’s booth. OARC’s antiques included a richly-colored Oriental sumac serape that was 120 years old, and – almost encompassing an entire wall – a 180-year-old French tapestry of wool and silk, and wool Persian afshar.

Next up: The furniture, which was plentiful at the Two River Antiques & Art Sale. Gorgeous antique pieces such as settees, desks and chairs basically created a small living room at the booth of Saje Americana Federal Period Furniture and Accessories, Short Hills, owned by show veterans, Alice and Stephen Shapiro.

“We didn’t do the first year, but we’ve done all of them since,” said Alice. “It sounded like it would be a good show, and it is a good, high-quality show. Several dealers here are members of Antiques Dealers’ Association of America, and that requires a great deal of integrity. We sold a few pieces at the preview party.”

A number of pieces offered by the Shapiro’s were reasonably priced, as were several other items at the show.

“We have very fair price points – we’re trying to spark interest in the younger generation,” said Short.

The antiques and art show did draw a crowd ranging from 30s to 80s, and one younger couple was seen exiting the school with a huge copper cooking pot and lid.

“I’m pleased with the outcome. We’ve had great, very positive feedback from people,” said Short.

Donations to the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center may be made at www.monmouthfoundation.org.