April 2008

April 2008, One Man Exhibition

I am delighted to announce that I have been asked to exhibit antique American flags once again at New York's venerable Union League Club. One of the city’s most exclusive institutions, the Union League was founded in 1863 by a group of concerned and influential citizens, to aid President Abraham Lincoln in his quest to preserve the Union. Over ensuing years, the club has quietly rendered distinguished service to the nation. Its members were instrumental in establishing The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870, played an essential role in the founding of the American Red Cross, and helped to erect both the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and the Lincoln Monument in Union Square.

Many prominent civic, state and national leaders have enjoyed membership in the ULC. Theodore Roosevelt managed his early political career from the Club’s chambers and chose them as a place to hold interrogations during the time when he served as New York’s Chief of Police. Fifteen Presidents, seven Senators, many Congressmen, cabinet members, diplomats, and scores of CEO’s of major corporations have been members during the past hundred and forty years. J. Pierpont Morgan was a regular, along with John Jay, William Cullen Bryant, Chester Arthur, and Thomas Nast. During this time the Union League has become home to important, original oil paintings of all but one of the Republican American Presidents, as well as other significant works of art.

Hours:
Gala Opening: Thursday, April 3rd, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm (no reservations needed)

And on the following two days I will be personally available to greet clients:

Friday, April 4th, 11:00 am – 6 pm
Saturday, April 5th, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

The exhibit will be up all month in the first floor gallery and I can meet those with significant interest by appointment with advanced notice. Call me at (717) 676-0545 or email me at info@jeffbridgman.com.

Please note the dress code: smart casual, no jeans, no cell phone use in the building.

The Union League Club is located at 38 East 37th Street, New York, New York 10016

June 6 - 8, 2008

The Two Rivers Antiques Show and Garden Tour focuses its venue on a small group of very high quality dealers who are each well-known for their pursuit of a particular specialty. It is a classy event that benefits the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center, and there are concurrent tours offered of spectacular, rarely viewed gardens.

The show is to be held at the Red Bank Armory Ice Complex. Red Bank is directly south of Manhattan, in a lesser-known and very beautiful part of the New Jersey that juts back out toward the Atlantic between the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. The peninsula is a short ferry ride from Southern Manhattan and an easy drive from Philadelphia via Rt. 195, or from other parts of New Jersey and New York by way of the Garden State Parkway. This area is home to Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, who have been regular patrons of the show over the years.

There will be a Benefit Preview Party on June 6th from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Tickets are $175 in advance and $195 at the door, with proceeds going to the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center. Regular admission is $15 and regular hours are Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Click here for driving directions.

June 20 - 22, 2008

Let me start by saying that there will be TWO TRACTOR-TRAILER SIZED AIR CONDITIONERS again next year at the Litchfield County Antiques Show.  The three-day fair is held in the beautiful town of Kent, along the Connecticut / New York State border, 15 miles north of New Milford and about 25 miles west of Litchfield proper.  It is a classy, vetted, indoor event, managed by the Antiques Council.  Here you can expect to find some of the best dealers in the nation, exhibiting formal furniture and accessories, garden antiques of the season, country furnishings, plus high quality folk art, paintings, oriental rugs and jewelry.  The show will be held on the beautiful grounds of the Kent School in the hockey rink and it benefits Greenwoods Counseling Services, a non-profit organization providing free mental heath referrals in Litchfield County.

There will be a benefit preview party on the evening of June 20th from 6:30 – 9:00. For tickets call (860) 567-0613.  Regular show hours are Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-4.  Click here for directions.

July 31 - August 3, 2008

29th Annual Nantucket Historical Association Antiques Show.  One of the most highly coveted antiques events of the year also happens to be located in one of the most beautiful and historic New England vacation destinations, Nantucket Island.  Come see 38 of the nation’s top dealers at this benefit charity for the Nantucket Historical Association, which maintains several properties and holds marvelous collections that are not to be missed while you are on island.

August 28 - 31, 2008

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is a huge, 550-dealer event to be held downtown in Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor at the Baltimore Convention Center. The show is in its 28th year, but two years ago marked a major change for the show as it was taken over by the Palm Beach Show Group. This new, aggressive promoter has revamped the event and up-scaled the dealer list to include some of the exhibitors from its prestigious, Palm Beach show that takes place in February and bears a two-million dollar ad budget. The result is a much different show than its long-time predecessor. Merchandise ranges widely in price, starting at less than $100 in many booths and ending at several million in a few. My neighbor at the show two years ago offered a 41 carat clear diamond (the only one known to exist) and a case full of the largest canary diamonds I have ever personally seen, all accompanied by a wired, armed guard in black tie attire. So there is truly something for everybody on the price and quality scale. 60 antiquarian book dealers are included, which is a nice feature.

There is no preview. The show opens at noon on Thursday, August 31st and the hours are as follows: Thursday 12 noon – 8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am – 7pm, and Sunday 11am – 6pm. For more information visit the www.baltimoresummerantiques.com.
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September 17 - 21, 2008

The Theta Charity Antique Show is one of the nation’s most prestigious formal antique events and has been widely acclaimed as the highest caliber show in the South. Its exhibitor list includes top dealers from around the globe, with a host of specialties represented. I am privileged to have been included in the 2008 show, and look forward to another adventure from Pennsylvania to the Loan Star State.

As one of our nation’s eldest shows, the Theta Charity Antiques Show is practically an antique itself. Since its inception in 1952, the Theta Show has donated more than five million dollars to medical research, cultural arts and educational endeavors in the Houston area. The show is to be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX. Click here for Show times and ticket prices. Click here for Directions and Accomodations. 

October 2-6, 2008

I am excited to join Chris Kennedy and his staff once again at the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair’s fall event. This is a high end, primarily formal and decorative antiques show at Chicago’s famous design center, owned and managed by the son of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy. The fall show will include a contingent of Americana dealers, which should be a great addition.

This was a new show to my schedule in 2007 and I am grateful to have another venue where I can more effectively serve my Chicago-area clients and greet interested parties who have not yet had the opportunity to view my collection of antique American flags and paint-decorated folk art in person.

There will be a benefit opening on Thursday, October 2nd, from 7-9 p.m. Tickets will likely range between $150 and $500 per person for this charity event. Regular admission is $15 and regular show hours are Friday 11-8, Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-5, and Monday 11-3. Click here for the latest details. Click here for directions.

October 10-11, 2008

When I first walked through the door to the ADA / Historic Deerfield Antiques Show in 2003, it didn’t take me long to decide that this was, hands down, the highest quality American antiques event that I had ever seen.  My mouth fell open numerous times as I walked from booth to booth and I recall the overall quality as extraordinary, especially in light of the continual drop in quality across the board at antiques shows.  Having exhibited at more than 500 of them in my seventeen plus years as a dealer, I regarded this as a milestone of no small significance.  I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to become involved in the event and am eager to return for my sixth year.

This year’s show takes place on the beautiful autumn weekend of October 6th & 7th, which makes it the perfect time to view Western Massachusetts foliage and tour the hallowed streets of this 18th century town.  For those unfamiliar with Historic Deerfield, know that it is one of the best places in America to view carefully preserved 18th century houses, filled with the best collections of early American antiques in the nation.  Make sure to take extra time after your visit to the show to tour the mile-long stretch of Deerfield village, which also includes the Flynt Center Museum, a repository for the best in early Americana.

November 6-9, 2008

The 45th Annual Delaware Antiques Show.  I am privileged to participate in this icon of the antique show world that benefits the educational programs at Winterthur, the former estate of avid antiques collector and horticulturist, Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969).  The show has a heavy focus on American antiques, particularly those of Pennsylvania origin, and, in my opinion, is one of the top three American antiques shows in the nation.  The show is unique because all items are sold with a written guarantee of the dealers, backed by the Winterthur Museum, which hand-selects the show’s participants.  For those unfamiliar with Winterthur, you should know that it was, in some senses, the DuPont answer to the Vanderbilt’s Colonial Williamsburg.  Winterthur is not a village, however, but a huge country estate with many buildings and extensive gardens, far and away less commercialized than its Vanderbilt counterpart.  Its academic programs for the study of antiques and conservation are among the very best in the nation.  I encourage you to take the time to tour Winterthur when you visit the show.

December 4-7, 2008

I am privileged to return again to Antiquarius, a prestigious, formal event that features distinguished exhibitors from around the world. The show is to be held at the Greenwich Civic Center, located at 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich, CT, and is a charity fund raiser for the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich. Designers like Tommy Hilfiger are regular attendees of the event.

There will be a gala benefit preview party on Thursday, December 4th from 6:30 – 9:30 PM. Regular show hours are to be announced. There will be an array of special events and lectures, for which tickets are required. Please call (203) 869-6899 for preview tickets and further details. The show is managed by Keeling Wainright Associates, Inc. Click here for DIRECTIONS.

December 7, 2008

Wilton Holiday Antique Show. If you are looking for Americana and folk art of the highest quality, there are few better shows that those which take place in Wilton, Connecticut, about an hour north of Manhattan, with a prestigious list of Americana and decorative arts dealers. You would be wise to attend if your sights are set on the finest accessories for your home. The December show is to be held at the Wilton High School Field House. Show hours are Sunday 9 – 5. Managed by MCG Antiques Promotions. For more information call (203) 762-3525. Click here for directions.

** NOTE: I am exhibiting at two shows this weekend, and those who wish to come see me specifically should know that I will physically be at the Greenwich show most of the day.