Stratford Antique Show
October 17-18, 2009
Stratford Rotary Complex
Stratford, Ontario
Ontario’s best dealers set up in the city’s new Stratford Rotary Complex. This show has become western Ontario’s number one show for both quality and variety.
Well worth the drive! Start your day with a great antique show. Then enjoy the many attractions and events that make up Stratford Heritage Weekend. See details below. And of course, enjoy excellent local restaurants and cafes, plus great shopping, all in one of Ontario’s prettiest small cities.
Hours: Saturday, 10am til 5pm; Sunday, 11am til 5pm
Admission: adults $6.00, children under 13 free
New this year! Stratford Heritage Weekend - October 17 & 18, 2009
The city will be abuzz with activities and attractions - all focused on the heritage of Stratford and area. The antique show, featuring 40 top Ontario dealers, will be a weekend-long attraction. In addition, visitors can enjoy all of the following:
Vintage auto show
The Quilt: demonstrations and Support for People Living with Cancer
Antiques Roadshow at the antique show venue
Interactive workshops and talks on vintage jewellery, old home restoration, introduction to geneology, collecting Canadian pressed glass, features of 19th century Ontario furniture, and more.
A wide variety of Heritage District tours, including:
Notable Homes of Stratford
Notable area churches
Cemetery tours
Evening Heritage Ghost tour
Stratford Festival’s Costume warehouse
St Marys Museum and tour of Stonetown
Stratford-Perth Museum self guided tour
Fryfogel, Brocksden School and Castle Kilbride tours
The first annual Stratford Heritage Weekend - an exceptional opportunity to observe, learn and enjoy!
Stratford Heritage Weekend detailed information is available at this site:
2009 Show Preview:
Land and Ross Antiques, from nearby Shakespeare have been big supporters of this new show. They operate two antique shops in Shakespeare and do a number of shows. Peter and Wayne sell a lot of refinished country furniture, including dining tables, chests of drawers, large and small cupboards, and all kinds of accessories. Mostly found in western Ontario, their furniture is usually of pine, cherry, maple or walnut.
Antiques in Time, Stratford, John Shantz has been in business in Stratford for years, and has developed an excellent business buying and selling antique clocks and watches. He will be at the show with a great assortment of wall and mantel clocks, plus long case clocks and perhaps some antique pocket watches.
Caroline Byfield Antiques – Caroline and Bill, from Kitchener, have also played a large role in getting this show underway. Almost all of their stock comes from estates in and around Kitchener. They have a wide range of interests, so collectors will find many categories – furniture, books, ephemera, vintage toys, advertising, linens, quilts, china, glass and much more. Always lots of fresh stock, fairly priced, and in top condition.
Tim and Tracy Saunders, from Blyth, are successful pickers. Their business, Three Squirrels Antiques, reflects their eclectic and wide ranging tastes. They have a very good eye for quality. At the recent Christie Antique Show, they had a historically important advertising piece in the form of a large glass whisky dispenser, inscribed with the name of the business. They also displayed one of the finest pieces of folk art at the show, a carved horse’s head match holder entitled ‘Old Dobbin’. Check out Three Squirrels for unusual western Ontario artifacts.
50 Dealer experts in all, including:
- David Stewart, The Brooklin Antiquarian - David always has a few large cupboards on hand, and often a long harvest table - everything refinished and ready to use.
- Jon Clark, London – pressed glass historian and dealer
- Larry Foster, Belleville -advertising, textiles, country furnishings
- Sean George, Arthur – pressed glass, Canadian and American
- Maureen and Clark Fryday, Font Hill – folk art and as found furniture
- Richard Fulton, Toronto – estate jewellery
- Cathy and David Learn, Aylmer – advertising, toys, ephemera
- Valerie and Bill Hammond, Kitchener - Great costume jewellery, lots of Sherman, plus ceramics and glass.
- Lyle Elder, Kingston - excellent folk art, much of it from Quebec, but also Maritimes carvers
- Greg Williams, London - very good nostalgia, early advertising and Ontario pottery
- Judith Mureika, Hamilton - always has great linens and quilts and specializes in sewing collectibles.
- Pollikers,Greenwood – country pine and folk art
- Pat McKaig, Bayfield – country decorating
- Judith Mureika, Hamilton – vintage fashions, collectible items
- Fred Loucks, St. Catharines – good silver and objet d’art
- Ken Riehl, Woodstock – old and antiquarian books
You’re invited!
Sit in on these Interactive Workshops at the show.
These informative sessions take place at the Rotary Complex as outlined below.
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Join Valerie Hammond, author of ‘All that Glitters’, at an informal, fun and information-packed workshop on Sunday, October 18 at 10:15am. The interactive discussion will cover vintage jewellery buying ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’, care and storage of your vintage treasures, and will highlight some of the designers who ‘made the stars shine’ in Hollywood’s Silver Screen era.
Bring your questions, or come to listen, then at 11 am the show opens and you’ll be able to practice what you’ve learned as you browse the antique show.
Canadian Pressed Glass - an expert’s tour
Sean George, one of Canada’s foremost glass dealers, brings examples from his vast inventory to acquaint collectors with some of the finer points of buying pressed glass. Yes, the repros are out there, and Sean will show you examples and give you tips to sort out the real from the fake. Pressed glass is fun to collect, being both very functional and at the same time affordable. Meet with Sean at the Stratford Antique Show, Saturday, October 17 at 1:00 pm and on Sunday, October 18 at 12 noon.
Ontario antique furniture
Ontario was settled by the Irish, English, Scottish, French, Germans and many more cultures. Each group brought to new world furniture making, their own styles and cabinet making traditions. Peter Land, of Land & Ross Antiques, Shakespeare, Ontario, shows examples of how these influences show up in old Ontario furniture. He’s here to answer your questions and offer information for prospective buyers and collectors. Meet Peter at the show Saturday, October 17 at 11:30.
The Antiques Roadshow
This popular event will run from 12 noon until 3pm both days at the antique show. Staffed by experienced and knowledgable antique dealers, this event gives you a chance to learn whether that relic in the attic is treasure or trash.
How it works:
1. Bring your items for appraisal
2. When you arrive at the show, go directly to the appraisal tables and take a number. From this number, you can get an idea of your appointment time. Then, go and enjoy browsing and shopping around the show.
3. At your appointed time, meet with the expert and show him or her your treasures.
4. Fee: $10 per item, maximum 3 items. All proceeds are being donated to the fund to retore historic Fryfogel Inn.
Where is the show?
The Stratford Rotary Complex
353 McCarthy Road
Stratford, ON N5A 7Z7
Three minutes from downtown Stratford. Take Waterloo Street north over the river, then 2 minutes north on Mornington. Left onto McCarthy. The complex is straight ahead at the end of the street.
