A Day in the Life ..

Recently, I asked a friend, Sterling Swann, to staff the antiques and art gallery I share with Pierre Boulee, Boulay Antiques, in Hudson, NY. He had an experience of some interest. We thank him for his forebearance!



Tending an antique shop is a unique experience in human dealings. The novice would think that the sitter would do just that: sit and wait for the customers to stroll in, make their selections, swap a few words of pleasantries and collect the proceeds. Sometimes that's the scenario. Not always.

Saturday afternoon, I am sitting in shop in Hudson New York. The day is brutally hot, punctuated by the drone of the air conditioner struggling to keep the inside temperature lower than the sweltering outsides. A gentle mix of customers passing through. Some have questions, most "just strolling".

One particular customer came in with a party of three other adults and a youngster, maybe age 7. I serve up the usual greeting and encourage them to take their time and look around. They spend time looking at many objects throughout the eclectic collection of glassware, furniture, collectibles textiles and much more. Finally, the group stall in the art books section and spends considerable time glancing through pages while having a muted discussion on the offerings. I can faintly hear an ongoing discussion on one particular title. It seems that one of the browsers has an interest in the book. Finally, the well heeled browser approaches the desk where I am sitting. I look up from my own edition of the NY Times. "Excuse me, sir. What is the price of this book?' He's clutching the fabric covered hardback publication to his chest. I reach out, and take the book which he seems reluctant to hand over. The price label is in plain sight. "Thirty dollars", I echoed the price on the label. "Well, can you do any better," came the immediate response.

Me: Maybe some better.

The book was a handsome volume. The cover intact, in new like condition.

He: I want it but I don't want to pay thirty dollars for it.

Me: Well, what do you want to pay for it.

He: Twenty dollars. I want it for twenty dollars.

Me: I can't do it for twenty dollars.

He looked crest fallen.

He: But that's what I want to pay for it.

Me: Why don't we meet in the middle. I will sell it for twenty five dollars.

I felt that a five dollar discount was a fair discount on a thirty dollar item. After all, there are expenses. The air conditioner continued its incessant drone.

He reached for the book and clutched it again near his chest, like a prized possession. Finally, he reached for his wallet.

He: I have twenty two dollars.

A twenty and two ones appeared.

The youngster was telling him that he had some money and would be willing to lend him enough to get the book until later.

Me: The price is twenty five.

Back to the NY Times.

He: Well, I am not sure that I really want this book. I thought I would get it for the right price. It might not be of any use to me.

Me: Well, sir: That is something you have to decide for yourself. But the price is twenty five dollars.

He: But it might not be of use to me.

Me: Twenty five dollars. Not bothering to look up from the NY Times.

My attention went to the Michael Vick, gambling and dog fighting. The air conditioner labored on. Peripherally, I could see the group of browsers huddled in the book section. Circling the wagons?

"Excuse me sir, came the lilting voice. What is the best price you can do on this book?."

The youngster was standing before me holding the same book as the previous adult. His innocent eyes punctuated his question. The other adults remained in the circle with all eyes on the younger.

Me: Twenty five dollars.

Younger: (Sweetly, only as a child could say it.) I mean what is the rock bottom price for this book.

Me: The same as it was ten minutes ago, twenty five dollars.

The younger clutched the book and rejoined the circle.

"He wouldn't budge", one of the adult voices waffled from the huddle.

Finally after some chatter in the group the original browser came to the desk. I look up and smiled. Sweetly.

"I'll take it he said"

Me: That's great.

He went through the ritual of extracting a twenty and five ones from his designer leather wallet. I held the and looked at the money on the desk. Frozen, not moving. Waiting.

"Oh, can I have it without paying taxes"?

The air conditioner droned, the huddle watched from a safe distance.

"Why sure! Enjoy".

Sometimes, it is better to accept a compromised victory.

"Please come again", I said as the entourage moved towards the door , led by the browser clutching his new purchase to his chest.

NEIGHBOR HIGHLIGHTED IN THE NY TIMES

In the July 5 issue of the New York Times, a new neighbor in the village of Catskill is featured. Variegated is a new home furnishings shop located at 377 Main Street. Owners Jim Deskevich and Corbett Marshall are graphic and textile designers with a unique eye and style. Catskill is easily accessible from Exit #21 of the NYS Thruway. To see the special offerings of Variegated, visit: variegatedinc.com

For more information, call 518 943-1313.

ON-SITE COUNTRY AUCTION

On Saturday, July 21, at 10:30, the well-regarded Carlsen Gallery of Freehold,NY, will hold an old-fashioned antiques auction at 5 County Route 403 in Westerlo, NY.

The auction site is in very southern Albany County, a few miles north of Greenville, which is easily accessible from Exit 21B of the NYS Thruway, via Route 9W to Route 81 West, turning onto Route 32 North in Greenville. Route 32 will take you to Route 403.

The Carlsens were chosen to sell the contents of the home of the late Audrey Lee, and items from the Sullivan/Bowdoin family of Massachusetts, in addition to other new-to-the-market antiques moved to this on-site auction.

Expect to find antique country, Empire and oak furniture; country and fancy accessories; African objects; a doctor's buggy and sleigh; paintings and prints; Sterling silver and vintage silverplate; china and glass; quilts; clocks, and much more.

For a sneak preview of this quality onsite sale, visit: www.carlsengallery.com

Cedar Grove’s Fourth Annual Summer Party

Catskill, NY - The biggest event of the year at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is happening on Saturday, July 21, at 5 p.m., when hundreds of supportive party-goers will enjoy cocktails on the porch of the Federal-style Main House, home of the founder of the Hudson River School, followed by privately hosted dinners at spectacular nearby homes.

Flowers will again be donated and arranged by Douglas Koch, renowned florist whose accounts include Bloomingdales, the Helmsley Hotels, Peninsula Hotel, Plaza Athenee, Elizabeth Arden, Altria, JP Morgan Chase, Solomon Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, and many others.

The event is themed around Thomas Cole's 1846 painting entitled "The Pic-Nic", featuring Cole with his friends and family enjoying a beautiful summer day with wine, food and music. In the painting, Thomas Cole is seen playing an Italian guitar with special floral detailing, a work of art now on view at Cedar Grove. The guitar is on loan for the season from Alexander Gallery in New York City. The painting is reproduced in full color on the invitation, courtesy of Ruder Finn, Inc., with additional printing donated by Hillcrest Press. Catering is by Georgia Ray's Country Caterers and photography is by Brian Branigan.

Chair of the event is Lisa Fox Martin, assisted by the event committee of Pamela Belfor, Frank Cuthbert, Jackie Dunn, Ronnie McCue, and Amy Von Scholtz.

Dinners will be hosted by Jean and Richard Bassin, Pamela and Theodore Belfor, Rosalind Daly and Glenda Ruby, Lisa Fox Martin and Dick May, Friends of Beattie-Powers, Carrie and Nick Haddad, Howard Hall Farm and Stewart House, Peter O’Hara and John Garofalo, Purcell and Jim Palmer, Ray Pierce and Bob Gillis, Janeen Sarlin, Michele Saunders, Betsy and Alfred Scott, and Ethel and Ken Williams.

Tickets are $75 for members or $100 for not-yet-members. Early reservations are encouraged. Checks can be mailed and made payable to Thomas Cole Historic Site, P.O. Box 426, Catskill, NY 12414.

For more information, call (518) 943-7465, or visit: www.thomascole.org

NEWLY ARRIVED - AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS

Just aquired .. Stephen Ensko's 'American Silversmiths and Their Marks III', a privately printed book from 1948, very rare. A comprehensive review of hundreds of silversmiths and their maker marks in early America. No dust jacket, but in fine condition. Accompanied by maps of early New York and Pennsylvania. $45.

DESTINATION - ROCHESTER, NY

Worth the trip! Interstate 90 will take you to the Memorial Art Gallery, at State University of New York/Rochester.

On Thursday, June 28, from 5:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, enjoy an illustrated lecture by antiques appraiser Rupert Fennell, followed by a reception, 6:30 to 8:30 in Cutler Union. This is an opportunity to browse and buy ahead of the crowd expected for the annual Arts & Treasures Sale that will be open to the public taking the next day. Admission is $25 and includes the lecture, reception and sale.

Fennell spent 29 years with Sotheby¹s, retiring in 1998 as vice president and senior decorative arts appraiser. His primary focus is American, English and Continental decorative arts from the late 17th through the early 20th century. He remains active as an appraiser, consultant, lecturer and auctioneer.

The Art & Treasures Sale, in Cutler Union, is on Friday and Saturday, June 29 & 30. Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.
Friday¬Saturday, June 29-30

Don't miss the chance to buy great bargains in gently used furniture, antiques, jewelry, silver, crystal, china, rugs and (of course) fine art.

Memorial Art Gallery is located at 500 University Avenue, Rochester, New York. For information, call (585) 473-7720.

Spotlight Item: Julien Alberts

This Julien Alberts woodcut print is numbered 2/48. The artwork measures 13" x 17" and the frame measures 23" x 19". It dates ca. 1950. Alberts died in 1966, and his works from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's are exhibited in museums across the United States. This featured item is availaable at VersoFineArts.com.

Here's a link to some of his other works:

Julien Alberts

LANDSCAPES OF THE HUDSON VALLEY

Alyson and Patrick Milbourn have been friends of Verso over many years, arriving in Catskill two decades ago. Almost two years ago, Alyson and Patrick opened the M Gallery, a pre-eminent gallery in Catskill's emerging arts community. We highly recommend this dual-exhibition taking place from June 8 at their gallery, and at Beattie-Powers Place, an extraordinary historic house now owned by the Village of Catskill.

M Gallery’s Exhibition to Benefit Catskill’s Beattie Powers Historic House “Landscapes, Here and There”, Patrick Milbourn’s latest body of work, will be available for sale in an Exhibition Benefit for the Restoration Fund of Beattie Powers Place, an historic house bequeathed to the town of Catskill.

Beattie Powers Place, an 1839 house, offers seminars, plays, musical performances, and one of the best views of the Hudson River. Their 2nd Annual Fundraiser and Dinner on June 9 has a limited seating of 80 and sells out quickly. Original paintings by the award-winning painter, will be on display at Beattie Powers Place on Prospect Street and at M Gallery at 350 Main Street in Catskill, NY simultaneously.

M Gallery will donate 20% of all sales directly to the Restoration Fund. A portion of all sales is tax deductible. In addition to eight works at the Beattie Powers House during the Dinner, twelve paintings will be available at M Gallery starting June 1st. The exhibition will run through June 30, 2007. Two viewing receptions, which are free, are set for Friday, June 8 (from 4 – 8pm) and Saturday, June 9 (from 1- 8pm) at M Gallery, in conjunction with the fundraiser at Beattie Powers Place on Saturday.

Preview and pre-sale are encouraged by visiting the website, www.friendsofbeattiepowers.org or www.mgallery-online.com or by contacting the gallery directly.

M Gallery is located at 350 Main Street in Catskill, NY. Further information is available at 518-943-0380.

Today's Spotlight: Joseph Kaplan

This original Joseph Kaplan artwork features mixed media of gouache and acrylic, ca. 1970. It maesures 14.5" x 21.25" and the frame measures 31" x 24". Kaplan's work routinely sells well at auction, and this featured artwork from Verso Fine Arts is priced at $1500.

Born in 1900 in Minsk, Russia, he studied at the Educational Alliance Art School (founded in 1914), as well as the National Academy of Design, both in New York City.

He lived in Provincetown, Massachusetts and in New York City, curating several exhibitions for five Midwestern museums, the Philadelphia Art Alliance and the Cape Cod Art Association in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Kaplan was a member of several art organizations, including the Artists League of America, Audubon Artists. (From AskArt.com)

Kaplan is currently being shown at the Cape Cod Museum of Art exhibit, Provincetown: A Creative Colony.

Contact Verso Fine Arts about purchase information for the Kaplan work pictured above.

Open Letter from Roderic H. Blackburn

To our clients, colleagues and friends,

Here is the newest installment of The Real Estate Report. It is all about the issues of "location" which a buyer should be more aware of. Some issues are obvious, but others are sometimes unforeseen and can be devastating to value, comfort or ego. Sellers, of course, are all too aware of their own location issues after they have experienced feedback from would-be buyers.

For those of you who are new to this emailed Real Estate Report, do enjoy it as it is distributed gratis to those who we know or have recently met who have some relationship to the real estate market or home ownership. It has been issues nearly every month for the last two years. All back issues are easily accessed on our websites (rhblackburn.com or GreatPeriodHouses.com). If it is not relevant to your interests just let me know (blackburn@berk.com).

Our websites have been extensively changed to include new programs. We are just not gearing up to offer desirable seasonal rentals of high quality homes. Our region is becoming an attractive alternative to the crowded shores. For those with well maintained homes with swimming pools we encourage you to explore the financial rewards of offering your home for rent (week, month or season) for as much as $10,000 a month. We are also offering another related service, scouting desirable properties for commercial photo shoots, usually furnishings or fashion advertising. Ad agencies and merchandise corporations are actively looking for larger homes which are suitable for their ads and catalogs. For home owners, this is an opportunity to earn in one week what you pay in property taxes in one year. Again, look at our website for full details and examples of the many houses we represent.

Have a wonderful summer. We are so luck to live in one of the loveliest regions for summer activities. Best regards, Rod Blackburn

Download THE REAL ESTATE REPORT


Roderic H. Blackburn, Broker
R. H. Blackburn & Associates, Inc. Real Estate
Main Office 17 Broad Street Kinderhook NY 12106
518 758-1788 Fax 518 758-6211 blackburn@berk.com
www.rhblackburn.com www.GreatPeriodHouses.com

Branch offices at Hudson, Catskill and Athens

IMPORTANT AUCTION @ CARLSEN GALLERY

Freehold, NY - On Sunday, June 3, at 11 a.m., Carlsen Gallery will conduct an important Spring Antique Auction. Abby and Russ Carlsen for many years have held top-quality auctions at their gallery on Route 32, just north of Freehold, with easy access from the NYS Thruway via Route 23 west to Route 32 north, in Greene County.

Expect a large offering of fine American antiques, both traditional and country in style, fine art, porcelains, statuary, Native American rugs, and fine manuscripts. Of particular note are two volumnes of McKenny & Hall's History of Indian Tribes of North America, the 1838 edition - a fine documentation of Native American life, and highly prized.

Previews are taking place today, June 1, and tomorrow, Saturday, June 2. Also visit the Carlsen's website for a detailed listing - www.carlsengallery.com

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT: Staffordshire Pitcher

From the collection at Verso Fine Arts, this Staffordshire water pitcher dates to the year 1815 and is in remarkable condition. This item sold at auction in 1977 at Sotheby's for $100. It features beautiful colors of white, gold, and maroon.

Staffordshire pottery is still in production today by Spode, Royal Doulton, and the Wedgwood Group, and the industry of Staffordshire (today Stoke on Trent) began production in the 17th century.

Visit our Verso website or walk in at 358 Main Street in Catskill to view this special item.