|
The
Alameda Point Antiques and collectibles Fair, is held the first
Sunday of every month, at the Alameda Point Naval Air Station in
Alameda California. The huge property is no longer used as an
active air defense station, and the fair is held outdoors on the
airstrip. In a lot of ways it's an ideal spot to stage an
outdoor antiques fair. The fair even has a good view of the San
Francisco skyline and bay from it's vantage.
I've
been attending the Alameda Fair since it first opened in 1998.
It doesn't seem that long though. The show is owned by two
couples, Jerry and Betsy Goldman, and Saundra and Allen Michaan.
Betsy and Jerry used to have an antiques store in San Anselmo
California called the Antiques Habitat, in which they sold
lighting and furniture. They met Saundra and Allen while they
were set up at the Hillsborough Antiques Show. Betsy told me it
was Allen that originally came up with the idea of starting the
Alameda Fair. She told me it was an attempt to fill the vacuum
left in the San Francisco bay area, by the closing of the Marin
City Flea Market in 1995.
You
have your good days and your bad when you go antiquing, and to
be straight up, it was weak that day, even for starting at 11:00AM.
The best way to find things at an antiques show is to come early,
like with a flashlight early. But I'd neglected attending church
too many Sunday's recently. So Alameda had to wait till I got
out of a nearby one.
I got to the fair around 11:00AM. The show opens to the public
for early entry at 6:00AM, and closes at 3:00PM, so I got there
about half way thru. The
attendance looked way up. I only recall once or maybe twice
seeing the parking lot full all the way to the street where you
enter.
As
mentioned it wasn't my day for finds,
but I took photos of about 25 things that stood out as I combed
the isles. The first thing that caught my eye was a practical
item, not an antique per se. A butcher
block, 33 1/2" tall by 24" by 24" square,
$80.00, offered by Tim Pool of Watsonville. Looked like a
commercial one not a cutesy Macy's Cellar deal. You don't
see them too often,
and usually they're at least in the $200-$300 range. Next was a book
on San Quentin offered by Bruce Barton of San Francisco for
$10.00. Everyone should have a copy of this classic in their
library! I've seen Bruce
around the San Francisco Bay Area antiques scene for about the
last nineteen years I've been collecting. He was a fixture at
the old Marin City Flea.
CLICK
PHOTO TO ENLARGE
|
. |
Booth
of Dagny Lux-Hanson - Has been setting up at Alameda since
first opened in 1998. Prior to that, set up at the Marin City
Flea 10 years
Next
was a nice little c1940 color cowboy
print 18 3/4" wide x 12 3/4" tall offered
by Eric Rollins of Clovis Ca. Just as I was about to pick it up
to look at it someone else picked
it up, but didn't
buy it.
Eric
is a full time dealer that sets up every month at Alameda, and
likes it a lot. He also does the Rose Bowl Flea down in Pasadena
once a month too. He was pleasant, and it was nice to hear
he really liked what he did. That was the second regular I spoke
with that spoke well of doing Alameda. Dagny Lux-Hanson who also
sets up every month also felt the same. Unfortunately,
with all the talk I forgot to record how much the cowboy
print was, but it was something reasonable.
Next
William Wilson of San Francisco had a huge Victorian era display
case 82" wide by 44" tall by 23" deep,
$600.00. Had some kind of metal architectural molding in front
of it, that blocked how nice it was.
As
I was walking I saw a couple, George and Sue Rapoza from
Sonora Ca., carrying a very large and interesting looking sign
of some sort, that looked horseracing related.  It
looked like it was from the 40's and was a chalkboard for
posting some kind of information. I asked him about it. They
weren't exactly clear on it's use, but believed as I did, that
it probably came from one of the bay area racetracks. They told
me they paid a whopping $40.00 for it. I speculate, to a
racehorse collector, it would probably sell for $300.00. I asked
George how long he'd been collecting. Thirty years he said.
Another collector having fun!
Next
was a large and nice rodeo
poster 58" tall by 41" wide, for $375.00
offered by Mike Lindsay of Arbuckle's Ca. Mike also had a nice
early John Wayne movie
poster for "The Lawless Frontier" for $$275.00. Mike
is another long time Alameda dealer. I can't recall an
Alameda fair he wasn't set up at. Always has nice things in good
condition in his booth. Mostly western stuff.
Mike
Lindsay's booth from Arbuckle Ca.,
offers
quality western memorabilia
This
next mention gets the "quirkiest
booth on a regular basis award". I'm speaking of
Alan Perry's corner. Actually he maintains three booths there.
Every show he has a fresh crop of eccentricities. And every show
there is a ton of traffic coming thru his booth. Along with all
sorts of...well, odd little stuff, he usually has a selection
of cast metal letters off of buildings and such. I didn't see
the usual letters this time though.
Next
piece was a cool plant
stand made of wood, probably about c1950, 30/3/4"
tall by 30 3/4" wide by 30" deep $300.00. It was
French, and painted that typical French bright blue. You see a
lot of French garden, and other decorative French antiques at
Alameda. This type of garden stuff is big at the Southern
California antique markets, especially the Santa Monica Airport
outdoor show.
Booth
of Classical Clocks and
Antiques,
Livermore Ca. right close in
Nile
Godfrey of Classical Clocks and Antiques of Livermore, Ca. was
set up, as he regularly does. His booth and clocks are always
tip top spotless condition, and his stock makes an important
contribution to the show. Nile assisted me in my research
of the 1876 Muller Baseball Clock that coincidently, you see
directly to the right. Nile is a retired Safeway Supermarket
manager.
Next
standout item was a c1900 Victorian shaving
stand with a decorative cast iron base. It was that classic
pale green, and had the original porcelain cup and brush. So to
was the archaic little mirror. 14 1/2" tall $225.00,
offered by Jacque Sanchez of Redwood City Ca.
Next
was a cool 50's
bar that already had a sold sign. Sold by Sannie Sollecito
of Monterey Ca. Next up was one of the better things I saw at
the show. A circa 1930's to 40's pair of bookends with a figure
of a golfer in knickers, 8 78" tall, $300.00, offered by
Jeff Turner of Corte Madera Ca. They were spelter casts. One of
the golfers was loose at the foot and appeared to just need
tightening. This was a pretty rare golf figural. I have never
seen these bookends. I have a similar
golfer on my table next to my easy chair. I'd actually have
to say they are one of the nicest golf bookends I've seen. They
looked more like a $500-600 pair. $300 was a good buy! see
below
Circa
1930 golfer bookends, 8 7/8" tall, $300.00,
offered
by Jeff Turner
And
then, right next door in Newell Snyder's booth was a not bad
pair of golfing prints 24" tall by 19 1/2" wide
framed, $250.00 for the pair. The one on the right you see
around, and generally isn't a real hot piece. But what I found
interesting is I'd never seen the one on the left, and they
appeared to be a matching pair. I mentioned to Newell I'd never
seen the left one, and he hadn't either. Then he told me
something that may notch them both up; Newell said he'd been
told they were advertising pieces produced by Pendleton to
advertise they're wool coats. All of a sudden they took on a
different light. I mentioned the matching frames looked newer
than the prints, and Newell agreed. I should have shot the frame
tag on the back, but I think they looked late 1960's. These
would be perfect for the golf collector just starting out, big,
and decorative....lotta bang for the buck! see
below
Golfing
prints 24" tall by 19 1/2" wide framed, $250.00 for
the pair, offered by Newell Snyder of San Francisco
click
here to continue to next page
this
is a two page story - you are currently on page 1
|
