Antiques Show

My very generous neighbors gave me tickets for the Chester County Antiques Show Preview Party on April 4, and not just general admission passes either. These were the coveted early-admission tickets that give you first crack at the food -- er, rather, the antiques. Which were wonderful, as always: beautifully crafted furniture, blindingly polished silverware, delicate porcelain, charming equestrian artwork, rustic old signs and ads and -- this year in particular -- lovely paintings. I especially loved one of a bank barn with chickens.
One dealer took the time to give me the dramatic stories behind two pieces of 19th-century embroidery he had on display. One sampler was stitched by a Westtown School girl who later made a disastrous marriage to a religious fanatic. After she tried to get him committed to a mental institution, they divorced and he emigrated to Palestine. The other piece of embroidery was done by a woman to commemorate her four children, all of whom died as young adults. Shading the grave markers depicted in the sad piece were trees that she embellished using hundreds of tiny French knots.
I also liked a public service poster that warns against letting your dog run free, as it might kill livestock that could serve as food: "Whoever allows a dog to run free, day or night, is a SLACKER in this World Food Crisis."

And speaking of food: the preview party catering was by Jimmy Duffy, so it was a far cry from the average passed hors d'oeuvres. There were lamb chops, chicken and pesto on bruschetta, parmesan crisps, little cubes of watermelon, roast beef mini-sandwiches, French fries wrapped in prosciutto standing upright in little individual glasses with sauce, bacon and lettuce in hollowed-out grape tomatoes, little tidbits of honey and pear, and raw oysters (the latter by Doc Magrogan's in West Chester).
I saw a number of Unionville and Kennett friends who made the trek to the Phelps School in Malvern for the show, as well as some very old friends of my family who didn't have far at all to travel: they live just up the road from the school in Willistown.
There was one opening-night glitch: the generator that was supposed to provide lighting to the dealers' booths wasn't up to the job, so the booths on one side of the fieldhouse were dimly lit, which isn't good for sales: I saw a few patrons trying to examine paintings using penlights. A functional generator was brought in posthaste and the lighting was soon at full wattage.
And if reading this item has gotten you in the mood to see some antiques, the Brandywine River Museum's annual show will be May 24 through 26.