I attended the fall antique show at Round Top, Texas last week in the 96 degree heat. I came home a day early. Yes, unheard of for me to be a quitter at an antique show. I got to the point where I was drained of energy and just couldn't focus on another booth of fabulous stuff. I guess I shopped until I dropped. Just too hot to shop after about 10:00 in the morning. On the second day of shopping it rained for all of five minutes and didn't even get the ground wet. Texas has a big struggle with livestock survival this year as the long-term intense heat dried up all the grazing land and ponds. Driving across Texas the land looked desolate. Even the Red Oak trees couldn't survive and the Live Oaks were struggling. Everything was brown. On the highways we noticed truck after truck hauling hay bales into Texas.
To see past posts I've done on the spring antique show at Marburger Farm, go HERE and HERE. Marburger Farm is just one venue at this event. There are more venues all up and down Hwy. 237 and in the small surrounding towns near Round Top. Mile after mile of antiques. I did notice that the former sign that said the population of Roundtop was 77 had been changed to 90. Now imagine 20,000 people showing up for a week of antique shopping. We certainly helped the local economy.
First, if you have never attended, I want to show you how big the tents are at Marburger Farm. They must be the length of a football field. There are three this big [below], another one this long but only half as wide and then another two that are almost this long and wide and three a little bit shorter and then two small tents. To get through the eight major tents and 11 wooden buildings on the promenade takes a full day if you move fast. I try to move through them at a moderate pace and take two days. Then I go down the road to The Red Barn [air conditioned!!!] for a half day. Sometimes I hit Bahia or go to Warrenton. You really can't see it all even if you stay a week.
Do you think this tent is 100 yards long? These tents are not air conditioned. See how brown the ground is - grass has all died. If I go back again, I think I'll only go to the spring show in April. I saw Leslie Sinclair outside one of the buildings under an awning selling her new book, Segreto. That's a dedicated but brutal way to sell your book. Also signs were along the road pointing to Rachel Ashwell's place but I decided not to go to her book signing party at her new ranch Tuesday evening.
Walk through the tents with me and I will point out the things I liked and the best booths. They claim to have 350 dealers on 43 acres, so I only photoed a few. My camera got very heavy in the heat so I didn't take as many pictures as I have in the past. I must say that they do have fabulous items - so many incredible things your head spins. I have never found a bargain here either. Mr. Swede calls it "high retail". The most I hope for is just a fair price. Much of it is out of my price range, such as a set of 8 Swedish small kitchen chairs for $16,000. Looking at the eye candy is inspiring and I find it uplifting and joyful.
This is the General Store. Inside are six dealers with fabulous china, glassware and other decorative treasures. On the porch is Maison de France of Leeds, AL. I never miss stopping by the porch for antiques brought over from France by Ginny. I purchased a metal floor candlestand here.
I like how the antiques are displayed. Mirrors stacked in front of mirrors, architectural salvage and big French chairs.
Designing with alter candlesticks is still going strong. Nice country fruitwood chest.
Sconces, neutral pale pottery, and big meat domes are plentiful. Gilt and silver leaf finishes always get my attention. I am seeing severly distressed objects being considered "perfect" condition. I like aged finishes but not distressing on purpose to create age.
Sunburst mirrors of all styles going strong. I loved the pattern on the frame of this silver mirror. I still see many lamp bases made of iron salvage. Those looks don't seem to have faded in popularity.
I don't think French chairs will ever go out of style. These Louis XIV chairs have been recovered in linen. Beige linen upholstery or white upholstery is still a great neutral choice.
Small tables and French mirrors of any size are always in demand. I always get my fill of eye candy at Ginny's booth.
Next building - Legler House on the promenade.
There are two wonderful dealers in this building, Designs by Grace and Kelley Zeleskey of Houston.
These dealers show repainted furniture in lovely shades of gray and white. Here you see some 1960's blue dining room chairs waiting for reupholstery. Do you remember this style? There were thousands of this style French chairs made in the 60's and 70's.
They do a great job of merchandising and display. They always have nice mirrors. I enjoy this very pleasing booth since I am a lover of white and neutral interiors.
Here are two cute white painted chairs and another look at the French cupboard which was probably brown wood before. Now it is sporting wire door panels.
Next, in big tent A, we have Willow Nest Farm from almost local Burton, Texas. It is a booth not to miss.
If you love white, romantic interiors or feminine style, don't miss this booth. Above you can see the beautiful white children's clothing.
The Aubusson flat weave rug and coverlet is in a soft shell pink color. Just beautiful!
Linda and Ludmil put together a stunning booth.
Linda's attention to detail of small objects is just total eye candy.
In Tent A, this is California dealer Machtolff's Mercantile. Linen and hemp fabrics are still going strong along with Belgian decor.
This is a wider shot of their booth.
A couple dealers had these zinc baskets. None of them could nail down what they actually were used for. Machtolff's said they were to dip olives into a brine during harvest and were from France, others said they were from Turkey and others said they were to dip flowers into water during field harvest [don't think so]. I first saw them online at Atelier de Campagne HERE in California. I also got the popular zinc wire baskets from Machtolff's that dealers weren't sure what they were originally designed for. They reminded me of baskets to pick potatoes [but too tall] and one dealer said they were for harvesting mussels. Lifting those filled with mussels would ruin your back! I would guess they are from the 1960's. I think it is best to buy them only if you like them and not count on dealer information to be accurate. HERE are the wire baskets at Atelier de Campagne in California. It would not surprise me if some dealers purchased them there at the recent container sale to sell at Marburger Farm. Mine has a maker's mark on the handles that does look Belgian.
I bought two zinc baskets from Machtolff's to use for burgundy colored fall Mums for my front porch.
I saw prices all over the place on these -- from $65 with a lot of rust to $295 - that's crazy! You could use them like I am as cachepots for plants with internal pots such as ferns or any seasonal plant or for rolled bath towels at a beach house. Pretty much as versitile as a woven wicker basket. Mr. Swede loved buying wayyyyyy too many gourds and pumpkins in Burton at a roadside stand.
Louis Vuitton trunks are for sale outside the Gulf building.
Also in Tent A, I always stop at Antiques on Holiday's booth.
I'm always anxious to see what Ann and her husband brought back from France and Belgium. They have the best prices on glass demijohns. Ann always has things like bird cages, antique books, china, tables, chairs and this time a taxidermed blue peacock.
Here you can see the peacock.
Ann's shop is in Destin, Florida. She has a good eye for selecting merchandise.
Sconces, paintings and architectural elements like shutters and doors are still going strong. People are still faux painting in light paint these brown wood French buffets, chests and armoires. The two big books above are French dictionaries.
Another dealer not to miss in Tent D is Mitra of Houston's Art & Antique Hunter booth.
Mitra has fabulous trumeaus, chandeliers, tables, mirrors and chairs.
I believe she said she is a fourth generation importer of Italian and European antiques. My eye caught the coronas on the table. A wide variety of lovely things to choose from in this booth.
Next in Tent A is this eye candy booth which I think is East of LA. One thing I don't like about Marburger Farms is that the booths do not have the seller's logo prominently displayed so you know whose booth it is.
I love this gal's style. She does a great job of merchandising her wares. Gold leafed chairs and metal objects, white/light fabrics, great display pieces.
Maybe because I am attracted to white and light interiors, I found many booths at Marburger in this style. I don't think it is going away anytime soon.
Cute little French desk in the front. Lots of white pillows, slipcovers, etc.
White chest, white marble sculpture, white iron planter, etc.
Light wood chest and mirror with iron lamp bases.
Another light wood chest, metal lamp bases and painted metal box for flowers.
Every shade of gray is still going strong. Notice the salvaged wood used to back the sconces.
This painted white antique chair is ready for reupholsery and a better faux finish on the frame. Very unique and a true antique. If there were do-overs, I would have purchased this.
There was an unlimited supply of brown wood furniture painted light colors -- gray, white, beige and pale greens or blues.
Chairs reupholstered in white.
Chests and nightstands ready for a new life.
I am so glad the recycling of these pieces is popular. I can't imagine how much furniture went to the landfill before this style became chic. Sorry I don't know the name of this dealer.
Here is another dealer with a fabulous booth. Wonderful canape/settee.
Needlework pillows and a framed piece on the wall.
We do see some brown wood tables that were not repainted.
Old beds are always popular especially with white bedding. Lots of ruffles. I think this dealer is J. Hill Designs.
Very attractive look of the lace top on the dress form. Nice French cabinet also.
Clock faces in decor hasn't faded. This dealer was also selling Leslie Sinclair's new book, Segreto.
Silverplated meat and food domes are in the height of popularity. Very beautiful display.
Crackle painted old kitchen cabinet.
And, here is the latest style --typography used in interiors.
What do you think? Do you like subway style?
And the industrial look.
Another building not to miss is the Silver Dollar Saloon. The dealers in here sell excellent transferware, majolica and estate jewelry.
You can also find an English transferware dealer at Zieger House.
Christopher English and Dennis & Dad are the dealers here.
They have an extensive collection of transferware, earthenware and pottery. I have a platter very much like this one.
Some nice painted chairs here on the porch.
Note to Dealers: If I could not find you or your business card in your booth to identify you in my photos, I want to give you credit. Please send me an email and I will add your name. I don't want to leave you out but I couldn't be certain from the Howdy map who the owners of the booths were.
We came home to a cool 70 degree temperature. My flower garden is loving it -- and so are we!!
Hope you enjoyed your tour of Marburger Farm.
Summer
Photos: Swede
