from the KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 281 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 295-6616 Fax: 295-6649
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The Fort East Martello Museum & Gardens will be the site of the first annual Key West Antiques Show and Sale on February 25th & 26th, with a Gala Preview Party to be held the evening of Thursday, February 24th from 7:00pm to 10:00 pm. More than two dozen antique dealers from Maine to Florida will be displaying and selling a wide variety of antiques. Those attending the Gala Preview Party will be the first to view and have the opportunity to purchase antiques from around the U.S. while enjoying sumptuous hors d'oeuvres, open bar and festive music. This is the first antique show to be held in the Florida Keys and Fort East Martello Museum & Gardens on A1A adjacent to the Key West airport is an ideal venue. Setting up shop in a battery space amid Civil War cannons will create additional interest in the show. Dealer wares will vary from jewelry, folk art, garden furniture and statuary, collegiate memorabilia, funky to fine art, majolica earthen ceramics & tableware, old Key West items, country and formal furniture, textiles, baskets and so much more. Antique dealers have come to their trade via circuitous routes. In the words of Charles Washburne, a majolica specialist, "I was a CPA who primarily was involved in various industrial and auditing for 14 years prior to becoming an antiques dealer. I started as a general line dealer and refinished my share of cottage pine and cherry furniture prior to being introduced to majolica by one of my pickers from New Hampshire. He said I would sell it (majolica) if I tried it and he was right!" Techniques used to create majolica were developed from third century Middle Eastern glazes, forms from eighth century Spain and then united by the maiolica of Renaissance Italy. The Victorian majolica to which Mr. Washbourne specializes in was made during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Herbert Minton, a true visionary and astute merchant, saw the opportunity to introduce a new commodity to the English home. After decades of use of white ironstone, blue and white china, and other everyday drab stoneware, Minton recognized the need for a new ceramic. The time was ripe - the Industrial Revolution was providing more disposable income. Minton correctly judged that in his Stoke-on-Trent location in Staffordshire, England, he had the facilities necessary for the production of majolica. "The piece which really got me going was a three piece English strawberry server which was covered thick with dirt. I had only to wash this to make it salable, much less labor intensive than refinishing furniture. When I offered this piece for sale, customers literally fought over it. In July 1983, I made the first of 93 buying trips to England and the continent in the pursuit of Victorian Majolica", Washburne concluded. Such is the tale of one dealer. Others come from backgrounds as diverse as music, art, education, science, restaurant ownership, retail, etc. Antique dealers realize they can be their own bosses and lead an interesting and varied life style. They are always on the go, always looking, and never knowing where their next "big one" is going to show up. Most dealers learn their business by self education; reading, asking many questions and making a big mistake or two. Dealers are knowledgeable and are willing to share their enthusiasm with the public. It is through this dialogue, that the public learns, becomes interested and will get the "bug" somewhere along the line. Also, for an additional fee, attendees may bring items to be appraised by Carolyn Remmey from the Antiques Road Show and Remmey Antiques and Fine Art Appraisers, Auctioneers, & Advisors. The show will be open from 10 am to 7 pm on Friday, February 25 and 10 am to 4 pm on the 26th. General Admission is $5.00. Tickets for the Gala Preview Party are $75.00 and may be purchased online here, at Fort East Martello Museum, or by calling 305-295-6616 ext. 12 or 29.