The 36th annual Houston Museum Antiques Show and Sale opens today in Warehouse Row with about two dozen exhibitors, more than half of them new to the show.
Show favorite Elva Needles of Kansas City, Mo., is returning after an absence of several years. Needles specializes in American antiques crafted before the 1830s.
“I’m really excited about her return,” said Amy Frierson, Houston executive director. “She has a following and has been sorely missed because her American pieces are so fine.”
Needles joked during a telephone interview this week that making her comeback during a recession was better than the boredom she experienced being off the circuit.
“After my husband’s death, I thought I would get out of the business, but I found I preferred to do business while it’s bad rather than play bridge. … I enjoy my customers and getting to know people who are interested in our country’s history,” she said.
While Needles made no secret of the fact the recession has severely hurt dealers’ business, she said there still is a market, and those who are doing business have learned to rethink their sales tactics. For example, she said she isn’t hauling large, expensive pieces of furniture to the Houston show but will fill her booth with smaller tables and chairs, early American sandwich glass, American silver and a number of paintings.
She said of particular interest to shoppers will be a pair of bowback Windsor armchairs.
“You have to have the right thing for the right person at the right time in the right place,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter what the stock market does; sales are just very erratic. But the people who had funds are suddenly realizing they still have funds, and they are buying.”
Richard and Jeanne Kroeger of Angel Wing Antiques in Canton, Ga., carry designer-signed costume jewelry. Even with a recession, he said sales have remained steady because jewelry is a year-round passion of women.
His wares will range from Lea Stein animal pins made in the 1960s in Paris to a collection of about 400 Christmas tree pins, the majority made in the mid-1940s.
“I have pin converters, which I invented, that convert a pin into a pendant. They slip over pearls or a chain so the pin can be worn as a necklace. They sell for $5,” he said.
Mr. Kroeger also repairs costume jewelry. Shoppers may bring pieces needing repair. Many he can repair on-site; those he can’t he will take and mail back.
The Houston show will offer English and French furniture, Victorian glass, European painted porcelain, silver, antique walking sticks, Staffordshire pieces, estate jewelry, antique maps, fine damask and lace table linens, rare books, antique clocks and musical instruments.
All proceeds from the show benefit the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts.
If You Go
* What: 36th annual Houston Museum Antiques Show.
* When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
* Where: Warehouse Row, 1110 Market St.
* Admission: $15 (good all three days).
* Web site: www.thehoustonmuseum.com.
APPRAISAL FAIR
* Appraisal hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday inside the show venue.
* Appraisal fee: $5 per item in addition to purchase of show ticket.
* Limitations: Jewelry will not be appraised. There is no limit on the number of pieces shoppers may bring to have appraised, but they must be able to carry all pieces by themselves.
* Appraisers: Joe Rosson and Rick Crane, both of Knoxville, and Lucinda Wyeth of Chattanooga.
Exhibitors
* Andrews Antiques of Rushville, Ill.
* Angel Wing Antiques of Canton, Ga.
* Apropos Inc. of Richmond, Va.
* Antiques, Art ‘n’ Treasures of Scottsville, Ky.
* Aubrey Robinson Antiques of McDonough, Ga.
* Collectanea of Memphis
* Dogwood Antiques of Marietta, Ohio
* Egner Antiques of Cincinnati
* Elva Needles Antiques of Kansas City, Mo.
* Gold Leaf of Atlanta
* Heritage Antique Maps of Rome, Ga.
* Heritage Jewelry of Germantown, Tenn.
* Lady Di’s Antiques of China Grove, N.C.
* Len Harmon Antiques of Vilas, N.C.
* LeRoque of Atlanta
* The Linen Diva of St. Louis, Mo.
* M&M Oriental Rugs of Atlanta
* The Ridge Books of Calhoun, Ga.
* Sherry’s Estate Jewelry Inc. of Port St. Lucie, Fla.
* Shiloh’s Antiques of Waynesboro, Ga.
* Status Symbol of Lynchburg, Va.
* Sue Robinette Antiques and Silver of Monticello, Ky.
* Time Treasures of West Jefferson, N.C.