October 5 - 7, 2012: 26th Annual Antiques Show

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The 2012 Washington Connecticut Antiques Show will be held at the Washington Primary School this year, due to recent damage to the Bryan Memorial Town Hall. Festivities kick of with the traditional Friday evening Preview Night cocktail party. This is an opportunity for advance buying and browsing from an impressive assortment of exceptional antiques and contemporary collectibles. Enjoy live piano standards and autumn appetizers while mingling with old friends and new.

Reservations also are being taken for a second affair, new to the show this year — the Collectors Party, which will be held on Saturday, October 6th and will feature jazz vocalist Allegra Levy and her quartet from New York City. Come see and be seen while sipping a Hemingway Daiquiri in an alluring setting of curated treasures and modern curiosities from around the world.

Event Chair Susan Bednar Long, also a Gunn Memorial Trustee and interior designer, says, "Many of our show-goers work or live out of town, making attendance at the Friday evening Preview Night difficult. We decided to add the Saturday Collectors Party, a lively departure from Friday's event, to accommodate their schedules and to provide the opportunity for these people to get in on the fun of an evening party, though I already hear that many are planning to attend both evenings. These are parties you won't want to miss."

The Antiques Show is one of the primary annual fund-raisers for the town's public library and historical museum, which largely depend upon private contributions in addition to taxpayer dollars. Recent Connecticut statistics reveal that the Gunn Memorial Library boasts double the number of visits per capita of towns of its size and performs at the top of numerous library measures statewide. The Museum regularly garners accolades and was conferred three awards on both state and national levels for its 2011 Civil War exhibit.

Rod Pleasants, a Gunn Memorial Trustee and long-time former WCAS Chair, has graciously agreed to serve as this year's Honorary Chair. Recalling the show's many years of success, Rod says, "I am delighted to once again be a part of this event, which has evolved in so many ways. It has been my long-time pleasure to work on events that support the Library & Museum, and I have no doubt that this will be another sensational and profitable show."

Founded in 1985, the WCAS consistently draws dealers of the highest quality and offers diverse furnishings and decorative arts for both the period and modern home. Lending their talents to this year's décor are Chris Giftos, former floral master at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Chris Zaima, who is well-known for his artistic contributions to the Gunn Museum's awarded exhibits.

The show features 20 dealers from around the northeast, featuring larger furnishings, works of art, exquisite jewelry, intimate furniture and decorative accessories. A silent auction will be held in conjunction with both evening events. Also on deck for the weekend is our famous annual Book Sale at the Library.

Reservations for the Friday and Saturday evening parties are highly recommended. Both parties are $125 per person and up. Daytime show hours are Saturday, October 6, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 7, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Daily admission to the show is $10, payable at the door. For additional information, please contact the Gunn Memorial Library at 860-868-7586 or email gunndevelopment@biblio.org.

Browse the 2012 Dealer List

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