July marks the peak of the summer season on the East Coast and it’s especially festive in the picturesque towns that populate the seaboard from New England to Virginia. It’s a beloved time of boating, barbecues, fresh seafood and long days at the beach. It’s also the high season for fine art and antique shows in the region. One of the most anticipated events is The Newport Show, which returns to charming Aquidneck Island in Middletown, Rhode Island, July 29 and 30 with a gala preview party on the evening of July 28.
Show Chair Anne Hamilton speaks with famed “Downton Abbey” and “The Gilded Age” creator Lord Julian Fellowes. Photo: Andrea Hansen Photography.
The Newport Show brings approximately 40 English and American dealers of vintage and antique fine art, fashion, jewelry and furniture together in a collector’s dream—and one that benefits a good cause. As the largest annual fundraising event for the Newport Historical Society and Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, The Newport Show and has raised more than $3 million to date from proceeds and sponsorships.
George and Elizabeth show their purchase. Photo: Andrea Hansen Photography.
In addition to preeminent exhibitors such as David Brooker Fine Art, Gladwell Patterson, Glen A. Leroux, Rehs Galleries, Inc., Lawrence Steigrad Fine Art and Trinity House Paintings who will bring their finest historical art to the show, Diana H. Bittel Arts & Antiques and Paul Vandekar of Knightsbridge Antiques will present a unique exhibit of 19th-century British sailor woolworks.
Made while on board their ships, these pictorial weavings were created from readily available materials including small metal parts to represent guns, threads for rigging, cotton backing to show puffed sails, and easily portable wool thread. They provide an interesting glimpse into the experiences of sailors at the time, depicting their ships, ports they visited and flags from various countries, as well as insight into how they spent their leisure time.
Paul Vandekar became interested in the genre, affectionately called “Woolies”, when he had a booth neighboring Bittel’s, and began dealing in them too. For The Newport Show, the two decided to curate a whole booth of the maritime works and give talks about the art form to interested parties.
Gray Hamilton and Eleanor Trepte browse antique prints. Photo: Andrea Hansen Photography.
Exhibitors Diana H. Bittel Arts & Antiques and Paul Vandekar of Knightsbridge Antiques will present a unique exhibit of 19th-century British sailor woolworks.
Bittel co-founded The Newport Show with show chair and avid collector Anne Hamilton 17 years ago. Now show manager, Bittel says, “There are not a whole lot of summer shows of the quality and presentation that Newport offers. It is more decorative-leaning than the shows in New Hampshire a couple of weeks later, which are geared to long standing Americana collectors. We have a wonderful mix of English and American dealers, a wide range of paintings from the 16th century to contemporary, print dealers, garden accessories, wonderful and outstanding jewelry, silver and oriental rugs. We have tried to have something of quality for everyone’s varied tastes and look forward to seeing everyone at the end of July.”
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