Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top Offers Alternative Universe

Re-assurance for Buyers and Sellers  – “America is a Wonderful Place”

ROUND TOP, TX 10.10.08---Would anyone come? In the worst week in the American economy in generations.... With many Houston customers still without power from Hurricane Ike.... Would anyone come to the Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas?

“I stood there Tuesday morning and watched the cars and trucks and SUVS backed up along Highway 237,” said Rick McConn, one of the show’s owners. “And here they came! In spite of everything, people came to have fun, to see beautiful antiques and to take home a treasure. It was re-assurance that some things are still right with the world.”

Neither hurricane, nor war, nor election, nor Wall Street could keep them away.

According to exhibitor James Herron of Palm Beach, FL, “We were all worried because of the hurricane and the stock market crash, but I worked every sale, I sold every day and I came out happy. Marburger Farm brings in the clientele that dealers are happy with and everyone who did Marburger is grateful. When you look at the whole economic picture, it’s good that we have a show like Marburger Farm to do.” Herron sold 19th century French furniture, faux bois garden items, an English bamboo collection and iron windows from Belgium, re-made as mirrors.

Exhibitor Ruth Davis, of the new Houston store “Found,” admitted that “It’s been kind of hectic around here. We didn’t have power in Houston for a week. We were concerned about flooding, so we moved the entire first floor of the store to the second floor.” And she still made it to Marburger Farm. Davis sold items ranging from 18th century serious antiques to industrial lighting. A San Antonio architect bought a large scoop from a grain mill to display as art. A designer from Miami bought 19th century French pillows and a set of American Victorian wire garden chairs. Monroe noted a youthful demographic among buyers who were eager to buy antiques for decorating their homes, as well as long-time antiques collectors.

American antiques reigned in the booth of Gary and Connie Petty of Keokuk, Iowa. The Pettys sold an eight foot tall walnut hall mirror from the 1890s, a set of Herman Miller bar stools, an early Mission game table and a 1930s chrome couch and chair. “It was gloom and doom before the show opened,” said Connie Petty. “But traffic was good for us. We were well-pleased.”

“Here’s the deal,” said sterling specialist Carol O’Steen of Tallahassee, FL. “I send out about 650 personal letters to my Marburger customers, telling what I have found that they collect. Tuesday was still our big day, but many people contacted us, some even by Blackberry, because they had no power. They said they would be there later in the week and to hold the items. Considering the circumstances, we had a good show.”

First-time Marburger vendor Pat Monroe of Austin goes further: “It was really fabulous. In Tent D, we had crowds down the aisles. I think we all did well. The show owners make the show so much fun and the dealers are so supportive of one another.” Monroe sold Italian, Swedish, English and French antiques, including a large framed 18th century map of Paris that identified all streets, buildings and trees of the day. She also sold a signed c. 1900 metal sculpture from France of a boy angel kissing a young girl---and she sold it to a Frenchman.

“There were a lot of designers at the show,” said dealer Alan Hoops of Findlay, OH. Hoops sold a large 1850s gilt-framed needlepoint of King David as a shepherd to a Dallas designer. Japanese designers walked away with an American painted dry sink and three step-back cupboards. “It was one of the easiest and most pleasant Marburger Farm shows that we’ve done,” Hoops reflected. “People were laid back, not making rash decisions. But at the end of the day, they bought and we were really happy. It far exceeded our expectations.”

Ashley Ferguson, co-owner of the show, has created a Marburger Farm outreach program to interior designers. “One aspect of the economy,” said Ferguson, “is that more unusual antiques are now coming on the market for our dealers to choose from. That’s really what designers want---to be able to buy the most amazing pieces in the shortest amount of time possible. And that’s what Marburger Farm provides.”

Designer Dixie Stark came with two other interior designers from Seattle. “We came to look for items for projects that no one else has—the interesting and old pieces that we just can’t get at home. And we came to get inspired---to see how Marburger dealers accessorize and set up their booths. Seeing how things are framed and put together gives us a different way of looking at things.” Stark bought prints, lighting, textiles, furniture and gifts to give clients when projects are completed. “Your shipper, Roll’en Hills, is great,” she said. “We’re having it all shipped back.”

Having already driven back home, fine art dealer Barry Strohm reported, “Marburger Farm is the only place to be in Round Top. Marburger gets people who can step up and buy major art. Investment grade art has increased in value at about 9% in the last ten years. When the stock  market goes down, people put their cash into art.” At Marburger, Strohm sold a watercolor by Swedish immigrant Birger Sandzen for a strong five-figure sum to a couple who had missed it at auction and were glad to find it again on a cow pasture in Texas. After his long drive from that sunny pasture to his Park City, Utah home, Strohm stood on his porch watching an 18 inch snow-storm. “America is a wonderful place,” he laughed. “There is nowhere like it.”

Hold that thought. And make plans to visit the spring edition of the Marburger Farm Antique Show on Tuesday, March 31 through Saturday April 4, 2009. See information on vendors, travel, maps, lodging, shipping, bus trips and special events at www.roundtop-marburger.com or call Rick McConn at 800-999-2148 or Ashley Ferguson at 800-947-5799.