Ohio Antique Shows

Antique show finds: chalk pig, samurai sword, wooden weather vane

Tom Brown of Antiques & Art holds a lock of hair from the original owner of a piece of antique furniture that made its way from Vermont to Ohio. The hair and the blueprint of the property where the furniture came from were among items Brown had for sale Sunday during the Original 157th Semi-Annual York Antiques Show & Sale at the York Expo Center. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Paul Kuehnel) There's a bit of history behind every piece at the Original 157th Semi-Annual York Antiques Show & Sale.

Show manager Melvin Arion makes sure that history is authentic, adding that his years as an exhibitor and dealer enable him to find others who deal with integrity.

When he took over the show in 1996, he solicited dealers; now they seek him out, he said.

"He expects perfection, and he has his dealers bring in quality things," said Arion's sister, Faye Bush-Tostevin.

Here are some of the more unusual finds at Sunday's show at the York Expo Center:
 
Chalk pig, circa mid- to late 1800s , by Greg K. Kramer & Co., of Robesonia, Pa. Price: $1,950.

The hollow pig -- which also looks a bit like a cat, or maybe a badger -- was from a mold, said Eric Kramer, who helps his father with the business.

Most hollow pigs were used as piggy banks. When it was filled up with money, the owner would just smash the pig. But this one does not have a hole in the top, Kramer said.

"Other than decorative, it really doesn't have a purpose," he said.
 
Bagatelle game, circa 1820-1890 , by Fred and Jane McClafferty, of Bloomfield, Conn. Price: $795.

The game, played similarly to billiards, has its origins in France -- named after the Chateau de Bagatelle, a castle in Paris -- and later made its way to England, then to the U.S.

"People, by and large, like the idea of it," Fred McClafferty said. "I don't know how often they play it -- it's a conversation piece, basically.

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Each week, auctioneers sell thousands of items at this event in Crumpton, Maryland — from $10 necklaces to $10,000 case pieces from the 19th century. If you get hungry while exploring the 25 acres of auction tables, Amish cooks are on hand to provide hand-rolled pretzels, hearty breakfast foods, and farm-fresh cheeses at the on-site Crumpton restaurant. (Every Wednesday) If you’re patient, you’ll discover fantastic finds like vintage fabrics, 1930s record players, and iron garden furniture at this 1,000-dealer Bouckville, New York show. And don’t miss the great deals the week before, when local vendors sell all manner of collectibles along Route 20. (Autumn Antique Show October 22 & 23 2011. Winter Antique Show January 21 & 22 2012) At this Sandwich, Illinois market, the large, parklike fairgrounds are split in two: one side for newer crafts and flea-market items; the other for 19th- and 20th-century antiques and collectibles (all of which must be at least 20 years old). When you get tired, take a break underneath the 100-year-old shade trees. (June 20, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24) These weekly festivals in Mount Dora, Florida, offer visitors three ways to browse the antiques of 200 dealers: along the quaint “Street of Shops,” inside the cool (air-conditioned) antiques building, and at tables casually arranged outside on the lawn. Don’t miss the third weekend of the month, when 100 additional dealers join the ranks. (Every Saturday and Sunday)

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