New this year!
Diversity and quality are the foundation of this juried, indoor 37th annual show of an impressive range of antiques: 19th and 20th century furniture, fine porcelain and glass, stoneware & pottery, quilts & textiles, estate jewelry, folk art, primitives & Americana, smalls & accessories.
Friday, Aug. 26, 2011
5:30–9 p.m. (Opening Night Reception)
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, this year’s special exhibit is “Weapons Through Time, 1740-1860s”- our American heritage expressed through a pristine collection of weaponry on loan from a private collection.
Held at Geringer Social Hall, 213 N Main St, Muncy, PA 17756, directions to the air-conditioned facility are: I-180 to Muncy exit 13A, Rte 405 to traffic light, turn right on North Main Street, go five blocks to Geringer Social Hall on the right, Muncy, Pa.
Diversity, along with an emphasis on national history, enables Muncy to host a fine-quality Americana show. The show offers an impressive range of antiques and visitors can find a selection of 19th and 20th century American and English furniture, fine early porcelain and glass, stoneware and pottery, quilts and vintage textiles, estate jewelry, folk art, primitives and Americana, military memorabilia and more.
The society initiated an antiques show as a fund raiser to support its preservation initiatives. Show admission proceeds will be used to help defray costs associated with its multi-year Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail project.
Bill Poulton, show manager, also is the executive director of the Muncy Historical Society. He serves as the spokesperson and fund-raising chairperson for many of the society’s special projects and events.
“One of the great things about our antiques show is that we focus on quality and product diversity,” Poulton said. “Also, we do not emphasize one antique over another but look to offer our guests as much variety as possible so that our show has broad-based appeal to a spectrum of antiques collectors, other antique dealers and the general public,” Poulton said.
Participation in the Muncy show is by invitation only. To take part in this juried show, dealer merchandise must conform to the antiques (at least 100 years old) and collectibles (at least 50 years old) guidelines. Sale of newer collectibles, craft items and reproductions is not allowed. Each item must be labeled or ticketed with an indication of the item’s timeframe or authenticity and the item’s price. If an item is post-1950 but considered among collectors as rare and/or highly desirable, the item must be labeled with the time frame and authenticity.
Before the show opens, each booth is juried by knowledgeable antiques professionals who screen entries for quality and compliance with the show guidelines. Exhibitors must remove all items deemed objectionable by the jurors and show manager.
“Because we are a juried show, our customers can feel comfortable knowing that the jurors are hand selected because they are particularly knowledgeable about a variety of antiques, have a reputation of fairness and honesty and are considered by their peers to be leaders in their profession,” Poulton said.
According to Poulton, there are a number of reasons why people should plan to attend the show.
“Our guests have every opportunity to see all the antiques and to talk with our dealers. Dealer booths are much larger than one normally finds at shows of this caliber and the wide-aisled show is filled with a variety of interesting smalls and accessories for the beginning and experienced collector. We purposely keep the show small while offering our guests great variety, diversity and exceptional quality,” he said.
Washington Stove
Dealers Dave and Nancy McClellan, Boiling Springs, PA have developed solid relationships with their customers and each year look for unique antiques to bring to the Muncy show. This year, the McClellans are showcasing two items, both of which are rare and unusual finds and in wonderful condition. The Washington Four O’clock Stove, manufactured by the S.H. Ransom Company of Albany, N.Y., is a larger version of the regular SH Ransom Four O’clock Stove with a couple of added design details. This solid cast iron antique heating stove is nearly three feet tall and three feet wide. The stove features an almost identical design motif as the SH Ransome. The centerpiece of the design is an urn filled with flowers. Like the SH Ransome, an enchanting face is found below the urn. In addition, an enchanting face tops both pillars that frame the urn. The name of the stove company is located on the heart near the ash clean-out area. Wood is loaded from a side door and a removable cook-lid rests on top. Just like the SH Ransome, the Washington Four O’clock Stove is lovely, lavish and can fill a room with a luxurious warmth.
Since the historical society promotes the show as an educational venue, dealers are attuned to spending time with their customers to educate, explain and share information.
Poulton said it is exhilarating that the show has grown from a one-day event at the local elementary school with limited exhibit space and no parking into a two-day show with expanded exhibit space and free parking.
“What makes this special for the historical society are the relationships that have come with the show’s longevity. Our dealers and guests have become friends and have many good things to say about their experiences. Our dealers have told us that this is the only show that they attend where customers stay for hours and thoroughly enjoy themselves,” Poulton said.
Directions to the 37th Antiques Show are: I-180 to Muncy exit 13A, Rte 405 to traffic light, turn right on North Main Street, go five blocks to Geringer Social Hall on the right, Muncy, Pa. More information and detailed directions and a map to the air-conditioned social hall are available on the society’s web site: www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org, or by calling the Muncy Historical Society at (570) 546-5917.
