FANTASTIC FINDS IN ‘ANTIQUE CITY’ FUN FAIR The 27th edition of the world’s largest collectors show, produced by Norman Schaut, has left the Atlantic City Convention Center and will be presented in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The 27th edition of the world’s largest collectors show, produced by Norman Schaut, has left the Atlantic City Convention Center and will be presented in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on April 9 and 10.
This spectacular Antique City Fun Fair features hundreds of dealers from 29 states, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy and Australia. Acres of fine antiques and quirky collectibles will be offered for sale.
Much like the Antiques Road Show, a group of experts, each with their own categories of knowledge, will provide free appraisals for Sunday ticket buyers from 1 pm to 4 pm.
As Norman Schaut points out, “Browsers and shoppers will discover everything from furniture to fine art, jewelry to jukeboxes, Mickey Mouse to Mickey Mantle, dolls and trains to ships and planes.
“This fair differs from the two other fine shows of Antiques Week in Philadelphia, Frank Gaglio’s Antiques at the Armory and the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Antique Show. Our event is over five times their size. It’s a lot of fun perusing those displays, learning from the world’s experts, schmoozing with other collectors, holding and examining that special treasure and haggling for the best price.
“Among the hundreds of booths, attendees will find the first Miss America crown from 1921, a medieval ‘Lock ‘em and Leave ‘em iron chastity belt and Charles Dickens’ inkwell complete with pen.
“During prohibition, folks went to great lengths to conceal demon rum on their person. Two of the most ingenious creations were the hollow Philadelphia Prohibition Pretzel that is filled with a tiny funnel. There’s also an ordinary looking flashlight with booze in the batteries.”
But it’s not all fun and games. Among the rarest pieces of furniture offered will be a tiny, late 18th century American cherry birdcage tilt top wine table only 18 inches tall and a matched set of six continuous arm Windsor chairs in flawless, original finish.
Along Jeweler’s Row, a Michigan dealer will offer diamond and deep rich green emerald earrings with a total weight of 10.00 cts, a double row eternity ring with princess cut diamonds of 14 cts and an 18K yellow gold Webb man’s belt buckle.
In every aisle there will be objects that push the nostalgia button. Visitors will recognize the tweed hat that Basil Rathbone wore in all of his Sherlock Holmes performances and famed clown Emmett Kelly’s dilapidated derby from “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
When Schaut’s extravaganza was held in the Atlantic City Convention Center beginning in 1986, THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that it attracted 50,000 fans every Spring and Fall. Among the offerings were the fabled Honus Wagner baseball card, Michael Jackson’s fedora and jacket, eight shrunken heads, Jackie Kennedy’s faux pearl necklace plus JFK’s wallet and gold St. Christopher money clip that he was carrying when assassinated.
The entire cast of original marionettes from the Howdy Doody show was there. Dilly Dally now resides in the producer’s Ocean City beach house.
