Luxe and Lovely, Newport Antiques Preview Party Draws Collectors and Connoisseurs

Dorrance Hamilton, Susan Gubelmann &

Kate Leonard

The Newport Antiques Show opened four years ago, a clear tier above anything that Newport had presented before. Now it is an established event in the northeastern show “circuit”, and founders Anne F. Hamilton and show manager Diana Bittel again brought dealers of superior furniture, paintings, collectibles and fine art to the ice rink of St. George’s School, transformed into a series of elegant small shops and salons, for a weekend in August.

Raising $200,000 for its long-time charitable beneficiaries, the Newport Historical Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, the show opened with an exclusive party, and honored New England’s historical roots with a special emphasis on scrimshaw (object made from whale bone or baleen), and New England antique furniture. Drawing such prestigious vendors as Imperial Fine Books of New York, Oriental Rugs of Old Lyme, and Three Golden Apples, this year the addition of New York’s Hirschl Adler, dealers from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and San Francisco, and Newport’s own galleries added a special “frisson” to the discreet, selective shopping for fine jewelry, collectibles, furniture, art and other objects of desire.

Jennifer Robinson in period dress and bonnet

All this was paired with lovely music, delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, and a serving table with various dinner-style entrees. Spotted were Show Director Anne Hamilton, Elizabeth Sulock, Dodo Hamilton, Susan and Kate Gubelmann. Betty "Boop" Blake, Matt and Debbie Hamilton, Ruth Taylor, Ron Fleming, Sharon Persson, Brian McKenna, William Wetmore, and Diane and Sylvia Brown.

The show was sponsored by William Vareika Fine Arts and Brown Brothers Harriman sponsored the Prevew Party, All will be featured in Antiques & Fine Arts and Design magazines. The 2010 Newport Antiques Show was both elegant and historically important.