Archive for July 11th, 2007
Living Green, global themes
The Sands Expo will house temporary and global exhibits of the summer Las Vegas Market, market officials said last week. The Expo adjoins the Venetian Hotel and is near the permanent showrooms at World Market Center.
The eight branded show sections are Furniture; Design & Living, featuring Living Green, an area for sustainable furniture; Home Collection; Light; Sleep; Vegas Accessory & Gift; Interior Lifestyle and Resource.
The environment at the Sands Expo is tailored for the convenience of buyers and to maximize efficiency, according to Michelle Monteferrante, director of trade show operations for World Market Center.
“We have worked closely with buyers to understand how they shop and how we can design our market to best fit their needs,” said Monteferrante. “Grouping our exhibitors into meaningful segments allows them to be readily discovered by the relevant buyer. At the same tine, we want to ensure the show floor design fosters cross-sales opportunities across the categories.”
The Sands will house a satellite, 4,000-square-foot Retail Resource Center in addition to the Western Home Furnishings Association’s 6,500-square-foot Retail Resource Center on the 16th floor of World Market Center’s building B.
The Sands will also feature more than 120 international companies from 15 countries, including Italy, Japan, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom and Australia
The Las Vegas Market will take place July 30–Aug. 3 at World Market Center’s Buildings A and B, the Pavilions; the temporaries will be featured at Sands Expo & Convention Center opening on July 31.
July 11th, 2007
Awaiting permanent space in World Market Center
LAS VEGAS — Upholstery resource Berkline/BenchCraft has confirmed it will show its products in a hotel here during this month’s Las Vegas Market.
An assortment of products, including upholstery from BenchCraft and recliners, motion upholstery and home theater seating pieces from Berkline, will be exhibited in the Turnberry Room of the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. The companies also showed there in January.
Berkline/BenchCraft is showing outside the World Market Center sites as it awaits the opening of its new showroom in the WMC’s Building C, set to open in summer 2008, said Randy Bowman, vice president of advertising and retail marketing for Berkline.
July 11th, 2007
BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE
Wanted: Good home for antique furniture.
Such is the case for Richard and Margaret Logan of Rockaway who are trying to unload a circa 1900 antique loveseat Sette bench for $175, simply because it does not meet their present needs.
“Our present preferred decor is contemporary,” he said. “We like it because of its simplicity and straight lines. Although we like some antiques, the items we presently have for sale do not fit in our present lifestyle.”
With no vested emotional interest, the Logans’ antique may pose as a future heirloom for its next owner. From Aunt Ethel’s dining room table to Uncle Fred’s graduation ring, heirlooms generally have a connection to family, said Herb Stocknoff, owner of Heirloom Restorations.
“The narrow definition of heirloom generally refers to something handed down in the family and is purely sentimental,” he said.
Buying back time is the phrase Ken Urban applies to heirlooms.
“Heirlooms are generational,” said Urban, owner of Pegasus Antiques in Chester. “You want to buy back memories. The things you grew up with that interest you are different from the things your parents grew up with.”
Or not.
Self-proclaimed contemporary furniture enthusiasts, the Logans inherited the unwanted antique bench from Rich’s grandmother.
But what’s an antique anyway? And what about a collectible?
“You can go into 100 antique shops and find only 10 antiques,” said Stocknoff, who professionally restores antiques and heirlooms with his son Mike. “There could be lots of 100-year-old furniture that was mass produced or reproduced. Does it have value? Yes. Is it collectible? Yes.”
Crafted before 1860
Using historical periods as a guideline, Stocknoff defines antiques as furniture crafted — keyword crafted — prior to the 1860s.
“This is pre-furniture store, pre-manufacturers,” he said. “From the late 1800s on virtually everything was made in a factory or factory-like setting. This is not to say a red oak pedestal table from the 1890s has no value.”
While all antiques are collectibles, not all collectibles are antiques.
Highly collectible period pieces, for example, tend to cycle, said Karen Gunzel, a vendor at Iron Carriage Antique Center in Dover.
“The 20 and 30somethings are leaning toward the ’70s with the avocado greens and the oranges.”
Gunzel, a purveyor of eclectic furniture, costume jewelry and “everything in between,” caters to a varied customer base, many seeking that perfect accent piece to a period-themed room.
“Say they have a ’50s and ’60s living room and they want that accent piece — the cocktail table or vase to fill that corner,” she said. “Sometimes customers will come in for an accent piece, a missing dish from a set that grandma and grandma left them.”
Ellen S. Wilkowe can be reached at (973) 428-6662 or ewilkowe@gannett.com.
July 11th, 2007
By Tom O’Hara
Jesse-James Antiques, Bristol, R.I.
Bristol, R.I.:The Mount Hope Garden and Antiques Fair, a new fundraiser for The Mount Hope Farm, attracted 50-some dealers June 15–17. The inaugural show was managed by Ferguson & D’Arruda.
John Paul Smith, director of marketing for Mount Hope, reported being “very pleased with the results for the weekend.” The show brought new publicity to the museum and inn and “acquainted more people with our facilities and services,” he said.
Mount Hope Farm was established as a nonprofit enterprise in 1999 with private funds and money from the town of Bristol, at which time it was given “a mission of architectural preservation of the buildings, conservation of the couple hundred acres of land and open space and also education of the visiting public,” Smith said.
Promoter Ferguson & D’Arruda was equally pleased. Tom D’Arruda said, “For a first-time show, we had great offerings in both general line antiques and vintage garden inventories. With nearly 2,000 visitors over the three days of the show, the sales were generally good.”
Antiques offered were late in garden styles, with Art Deco furniture and accessories to early Georgian and American Country furniture. The small items included articles from America, Europe and Asia.
Wilmert-Newell from Gray, Maine, was at one of the main entrances to the one massive tent that housed the show. Its offerings for the weekend included an attractive set of wicker furniture, a sofa and two armchairs in Art Deco style and excellent condition, priced at $1,695.
English furniture was the focus of a collection displayed by The Center Chimney Antiques here in its hometown. There was a shawl back William IV upholstered side chair, a late Georgian chest of drawers, a wing back chair in light blue, a mahogany drop leaf dining table and all the accessories for a formal living or dining room.
Americana, or perhaps Colonial period, was the best descriptive for the items of Sport Hill Antiques from Redding, Conn. A centerpiece was a very early New Hampshire-found tap table with stretcher base and turned maple legs. Rick and Candy Pirozzoli have been doing shows for many years. Other offerings included a second tap table, a Hepplewhite chest in maple and cherry woods, with the bow front in very good condition, and a selection of early textiles.
Asian antiques were visible at several stands, but Olde China Trader was virtually all Chinese antiques, both big and small. There was a great bench, approximately 2 feet wide and 6 feet long, in early hardwood with pagoda cutouts on the ends, several stands, an early chair and even a one-wheeled pushcart. The furniture was covered with small objects, such as wooden tea baskets, wicker picnic baskets and a small collection of early pottery and porcelain.
Three continents were represented in the inventory from Holly Lane Antiques of nearby Little Compton, R.I. Owners Marie and Tom Maguire collect and trade in early dishes and glass, so their collection was a large variety of ironstone pitchers from England, Haviland place settings from France, export porcelain and stoneware from China, and blown glass from New England.
Jan and John Maggs were there with early furniture and accessories, including an early William and Mary-style highboy, and a painted church bench with paint decorations stenciled on it. In the mood for gardening, this Conway, Mass., dealer also brought several early English watering cans.
The show was also billed as a garden show with all kinds of decorative articles for planters and items to complement any home garden area. Manchester Antiques, Londonderry, N.H., was offering a very unusual pair of planters at the front of its exhibit. The planters were growing very large leaves, made of tin. Owner-dealer John Dahlfred also had several other large planters, including one that might have even been a birdbath at one time.
There was great variety at this show with Beverly Bernson of Waban, Mass., offering art pottery; Buik Fardin, Fairfield, Conn., offering Oriental rugs; and Diane Kane showing a large variety of linens and textiles. Kane, trading as Linge de Berry of Boston, shops in France and England for most of her collection.
Some of the collections included novelties or unusual pieces that would be attention-getters in someone’s home. Thomas Thompson from New Hampshire but now living in Venice, Fla., had a large highly detailed dollhouse available.
Robert Girvin, Rowfant Antiques of Charlestown, Mass., had a rare fox sculpture from Japan made a few hundred years ago and priced at $1,000. According to Girvin, its use was as a symbol for expectant mothers, and, “When they were ready, they went to the place with the fox outside for help.” From Topsfield, Mass., Irma and Emily Lampert offered a child-sized wicker picnic table and chairs.
The show was fun as well as a good shopping experience.
John Paul Smith and Tom D’Arruda were both pleased with the results for the show and while there is not yet a definite date set for next year, both men said they were looking forward to the next show.
For more information, 401-273-5550 or 401-254-1745.
Antiques and the Arts Editorial Content
July 11th, 2007
The flat-pack furniture giant Ikea is slashing 300 management jobs from its UK operation after poor performance across the industry, it emerged this evening.
The managers will be invited to accept demotions and the chance to return to the shopfloor where they will stack shelves and help tackle queues.
The Swedish group admitted the “challenging” market had left it needing to make cost cuts.
The news comes just two years after thousands of shoppers greeted the opening of a new branch of Ikea in Edmonton, north London, with a stampede. Five customers were taken to hospital after the crush, one suffering a stab wound, forcing the new shop to close minutes after its grand opening.
Last year the group announced a £1 billion plan to expand in the UK but the job losses confirmed today will come into force by January 2008.
“We wanted to slim down the organisation - we had become too management heavy and so we are taking a management level out,” said Peter Högsted, the chief executive of Ikea in the UK.
Mr Högsted denied that the job cuts were purely designed to make financial savings, suggesting that the company needed to make the changes to tackle customer concerns within the branches. “The customers are saying they want us to invest in more friendly staff and this way we can give them what they want,” he said.
The UK is Ikea’s third largest market, behind Germany and the United States, accounting for 11 per cent of worldwide sales and employing 9,000 staff.
The furniture industry has been struggling in the past few years, although Mr Högsted insists that Ikea are performing better than many competitors. The recent poor weather has seen a belated increase in sales as people turn their attention to the inside of their homes.
An Ikea spokeswoman admitted that continued poor performance in the furniture market had made an impact and that their branches did not always employ “a lean, simple and quick way of working”.
“In addition the home furnishing sector in which we operate has had a couple of challenging years,” she said.
“Indications from the market are that this will continue.Competition continues to strengthen, with many food retailers and global brands moving into the sector.”
July 11th, 2007
Expects 12 exhibitors in 25,000 square feet
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Furniture Show in the downtown Plaza Hotel ballroom here, held during the Las Vegas Market but not affiliated with the World Market Center, will have five new exhibitors this summer.
The event will open at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 29. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to about noon on Thursday, Aug. 2, according to Ben Nielsen, president of Cambridge of California and the main organizer of the event.
Triad Expositions, which organized the original Las Vegas Furniture Show at the Sands Expo in July 2005, is only minimally involved now, Nielsen said.
He said this summer’s show will occupy about 25,000 square feet in the Plaza’s ballroom.
Returning vendors from January include Cambridge of California, Albany Inds., Robert Michael Upholstery, Wickline Bedding, Meadowbrook, Images and Steve Silver, which will occupy a larger space this time.
New to the show are Davis International, Franklin Corp., Harmony Design Group, Embassy International and Baseline.
Besides importer Embassy International (bedroom), Steve Silver (casual dining) and Wickline (bedding), the lineup mainly includes upholstery companies.
“We’ve become an upholstery source. It’s an alternative to the market,” Nielsen said.
He said he and others sought the venue for upholstery exhibitors who often face higher costs because it takes so much space to show the product.
July 11th, 2007
RANDOLPH, N.J. — A U.S. bankruptcy court judge has approved the sale of most of Rockaway Bedding’s assets to Sleepy’s and Hudson Capital Partners.
Adam Blank, executive vice president and general counsel for 458-store Sleepy’s, confirmed today that the judge approved a $12 million deal to buy nearly all of Rockaway’s assets, including 134 store leases and a main warehouse, after no other bidders emerged. The price is adjustable based on Rockaway’s inventory levels, he said.
According to earlier court documents, Sleepy’s and Hudson bid “up to $12 million” for the assets — less than the $15 million to $20 million previously reported. A list of stores in the asset purchase agreement also had included a plan to liquidate about 65 stores, primarily in New Jersey and New York.
Blank declined to comment on Sleepy’s plans for the Rockaway stores.
William Katchen, an attorney representing Rockaway, told the Newark, N.J. Star-Ledger that Rockaway’s remaining stores not covered by the deal likely will be closed. Katchen could not be reached immediately for comment.
Privately held Sleepy’s ranks No. 18 on Furniture/Today’s survey of Top 100 U.S. furniture stores with estimated sales last year of $455 million at 425 stores throughout the Northeast. Sales were up more than 15% from the previous year.
Randolph, N.J.-based Rockaway, another Top 100 company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection April 9, owing its top nine industry creditors more than $8.4 million. It said at the time it intended to reorganize by culling its weakest stores.
According to the Star-Ledger, the bankruptcy court judge and an attorney representing unsecured creditors said those creditors “will receive little or nothing in repayment from the Sleepy’s sale.”
Furniture/Today estimated Rockaway did about $143 million in sales at 185 stores last year in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
July 11th, 2007
Terry Potter new owner of company Pipefine Patio Furniture Company’s manufacturing facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was recently purchased and relocated to northeastern Florida, resulting in its adoption of new processes and technology, streamlining and creating more efficiency in the manufacturing and craftsmanship of its PVC furniture line.
“Pipefine’s successful 40-year track record was what initially attracted me to purchase the company,” said Terry Potter, the new owner of Pipefine. “In addition, the designs are very distinctive. Unique curved design elements set Pipefine apart from competitors and the use of UV-treated furniture-grade PVC, which is twice as thick as most manufacturers, enables Pipefine to offer a lifetime warranty.”
Potter plans to offer more design elements and options and to take the company to a new level in resort and leisure furniture. “Because our product range is not mass-produced but instead is built to customer specifications direct from the factory, we customize each order to suit individual decor or corporate image and colors,” Potter said. “Our extensive range of strap furniture products is ideally suited to hotels, spas, resorts, apartment complexes and condo environments where harsh treatment calls for durability and low maintenance.”
Pipefine has an extensive line of cushioned, strapped and sling furniture, including chairs, gliders, chaise loungers (single and double), recliners, rockers and swings, bar furniture and tables. In addition, Pipefine carries accessories such as matching umbrellas, outdoor lamps, shelving and serving carts, and offers more than 300 fabric choices for replacement cushions for all types of outdoor furniture. Most importantly, Potter said, the products come with a lifetime warranty against fading, chipping, rusting, cracking, staining, peeling or corroding, even in extreme desert or corrosive coastal environments.
For additional information contact Terry Potter at 386-437-0505 or visit www.pipefine.com and www.patiopads.com.
July 11th, 2007
Casual Living,
Resort and Mount Vernon collections recognized
Terra Furniture’s Resort and Mount Vernon collections received top honors from Design Journal’s 2007 ADEX (Award for Design Excellence) Awards.
The 2006-07 ADEX Awards brought a record 1,858 product entries. ADEX is the largest and most prestigious awards competition for product design of furnishings marketed through the design trade. Awards are judged on form and function.
ADEX Platinum honors went to Terra’s Resort Collection, which blends classic and modern effortlessly as it couples tubular and cast aluminum for a selection of lightweight outdoor dining furniture to grace any patio or garden. Resort chairs with optional hand-applied antique finishes on simulated rattan joints, and versatile glass, carved stone or fiberstone table tops are ideal for outdoor breakfasts or barbecue brunches.
Terra’s Mount Vernon Collection won the ADEX Gold Award for its elegant adaptations of historic furnishings found at the Virginia estate of George and Martha Washington. Mount Vernon, constructed of cast and extruded aluminum for outdoor use, is available in 20 designer finishes. Martha’s Garden, a custom fabric available in beige on off-white tapestry and terra cotta on off-white tapestry, is inspired by the interior wallpaper lining of a trunk found at Mount Vernon.
For more information about Terra Furniture, call 626-912-8523 or visit www.terrafurniture.com.
July 11th, 2007
Auction
Middle of Wells Village, Route 30, Wells, VT
We are pleased to offer one of our best sales for our annual 4th of July Weekend Auction. An excellent collection of estate furniture and accessories with truly something for everyone in the kind of condition you do not find anymore. Come and spend the day under the giant maple trees in a picture perfect setting.
NOTE: Real estate is for sale – Beautiful 2 story Colonial home on an oversize corner lot and frontage on the Wells Brook. Real estate broker will be at the auction.
FURNITURE: Early cherry graduated 4 drawer chest w/inlay; flaming birch graduated 4 drawer chest; great cherry large tilt top stand; step back pine 2 pc cupboard; nice size Empire mahogany secretary desk; set of 6 Windsor arrow back chairs w/nicely shaped plank seats; 4 dr chest w/glove box top; early child’s rocker & side chair; Shaker chair; 1 dr stand w/game board top; stenciled 1 dr washstand w/shaped backsplash; 2 early 6 board blanket boxes in old blue paint; quilt rack; large 1 dr stand w/turned legs; VICTORIAN & OAK: S roll oak rolltop desk; 3 door 5’ quartered oak bookcase in original finish; walnut 2 door bookcase w/fancy carved gallery; walnut marble top stand; walnut stand cut down to coffee table; nice Larkin bookcase desk; lady’s oak drop front desk; fancy quartered oak marble top commode w/backsplash; bird’s-eye maple princess dresser; walnut candlestand; oak 1 dr stand; fancy oak ball & stick stand; outstanding mahogany stand w/great carved pedestal base & claw feet; WICKER: Heywood Wakefield fancy armchair & sewing chest; wing back rocking armchair; wicker tea cart; child’s rocker; round table; MISSION OAK: Nice round oak lampstand; footstool; smoking stand; ONE OF A KIND fantastic item from the East Dorset schoolhouse – a school desk/table w/large cast iron pedestal base that supports 4 swivel chairs – mint condition; Vermont rocking cow; Rosewood stand w/enamel top; mint walnut Victorian hall stand w/mirror; fancy mahogany lampstand.
ACCESSORIES: Outstanding bronze figure “The Dancers: by Douglas Gebler, a very highly regarded artist from the US Southwest; turtle sculpture by “The Turtle Man” Randall Chitto, Santa Fe, NM; Sir Francis Drake falling ball clock; early sign; 2 early finger candleholders; large early wooden bowl; box of tin types; yellowware bowls; 2 nice lots of postcards; huge selection of stereoptic cards; blue transfer bowl; school bell; huge selection of crocks & jugs, Norton, Ft Edward blue decoration; nice Art Nouveau ashtray; early firkin; tin baby bathtub; early footstools; early metal hobby horse w/good paint; walnut gingerbread clock; big selection of baskets & oil lamps; linens & quilts; 3 excellent Roseville art pottery; McCoy “Aunt Jemima” cookie jar; French & Whiting & Davis beaded bags; large carnival glass bowl; Flow Blue pitcher; large Planters peanuts tin; early powder horn; box lot of Worlds Fair stuff; large cast iron cow & pig; cast iron dog doorstop; early flat iron; fancy walnut Victorian wall mirror w/glove box; 2 early gas light fixtures; fancy oak basket weave design mirror; cut & pattern glass selection; musical instruments to include – 2 6-string guitars, “Nicolo Salonte” accordion w/beautiful inlay; coronet & vintage violin in case; early kitchenware items; 7-Up adv sign; SPORTS: 1938 autographed Jack Dempsey photo; 3 Mickey Mantle framed adv posters 1953, 56 & 58; Super Bowl 25 ticket stub & player cards; Wallace Nutting “Sheltered Brook”; oil on board; 3 nice signed watercolors; Coalport teapot & underplate; large copper ladle; folio of Remington prints; 6-hole candle mold; fish decoy; Tiffany poster; large early brass bucket; excellent lot of early postcards;
COINS – PAPER MONEY – STERLING & JEWELRY: Small lot of Morgan silver dollars; 1941-47 Walking Liberty set (22 – 50¢); 20th Century coin set; $20 – 1906 large size gold note in excellent condition; $50 – 1862 large VA treasury note; 1893 American Waltham pocket watch; 1931 Hamilton pocket watch; 1899 Elgin pocket watch; 10K Victorian diamond ring; 14K garnet ring; 14K cameo ring; 6 Victorian bangles; 2 nice cameo pins; Native American sterling turq pins; early enameled locket; star Victorian pin; very large selection of sterling silver serving pcs; flatware; etc.
CARPETS: Room size Oriental rug; Oriental runners & scatter size incl several antique rugs; hooked rug.
MODERN: Snowshoes; carved bear; Trex bicycle; camping equipment; canoe ground carrier; large selection of classical CDs; Dartmouth College armchair.
AUCTION TERMS: Sale held outdoors under tents; bring chairs; refreshments available
TERMS: Cash or check w/proper ID – 10% Buyer’s Premium
Rudd Estate Country Auctions – Wells, Vermont
802-645-9139
July 11th, 2007