I stood in line for the opening of Frank Gaglio’s 23^rd Street Armory Show, where many of my colleagues displayed booths filled with fresh to the market finds.

Next, at the Philadelphia Antiques Show, I wandered through the broad aisles of the beautiful new venue at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The Antiques Dealers Association hosts their Award of Merit dinner at the show each year. This year, the award went to The American Folk Art Society. It was great to hear the stories of the award recipients.

Finally, I visited Freeman’s Auction for their annual sale of Americana. I really liked the historic flag presentation on the first floor. This concise collection of enormous handmade flags took my breath away. The late collector, H. Richard Dietrich Jr. had a variety of interests that included American naval artifacts. This portion of his collection on sale at Freemans revealed his deep knowledge of maritime history. The colors on display here once flew proudly from the warship U.S.S Constitution, aka ‘Old Ironsides.’ George Washington named this frigate. Its initial launch occurred in 1797, two years before Washington died. This year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812 when the U.S.S. Constitution saw most action on the high seas. The U.S.S. Constitution will be the highlight of the celebration at Boston’s Charlestown Navy Yard.

Two members, Jeffrey Pressman and Elizabeth Warren, spoke at length about their tenures as members of the Society. President Tracy Whitehead received the award on behalf of the Society. ADA President Judith Loto presented the award. Pat Bell and Ed Hild of Olde Hope Antqiues served as Masters of Ceremonies and provided some great anecdotes regarding their history with Society members.

Brace-backs were more common in New England, but quite unusual for Philadelphia. Go to our furniture gallery to read the rest of the story.



Her 2 volume encyclopedic set “Girlhood Embroidery”  is an authority on the subject. The set is her life work, investigating and bringing to light the early teachers and female pupils associated with the practical study of needlework.

The highlight of the auction at Sothebys was the Mary Antrim Burlington County sampler, dated 1807. Sothebys gave a high estimate of $120,000. To the astonishment of the hushed room, this remarkable piece of presentation needlework easily soared past the estimate to a total of $890,000. plus 25% commission. However, this wasn't a record price. That happened in 1996 at Sothebys when the Hannah Otis over mantel canvas-work sampler sold for $1,200,000.

Joseph Tomlinson was not a part of the original group from Ireland. He arrived soon afterward to fulfill an apprenticeship to an uncle who was already living in Newton. After completing his duties in 1690, Joseph Tomlinson left Newton and purchased 117 acres of land on the east side of Gravelly Run in Gloucester Township, a distance from the Newton settlement. The source of Gravelly Run begins west of Pine Hill and joins the North Branch of Timber Creek, which flows from Laurel Lake. Timber Creek along with Newton Creek and the Cooper River were key arteries in supplying Philadelphia with lumber so necessary for early coopers and shipbuilders. At one time, Gravelly Run and nearby Laurel Lake, both surrounded by dense forest, were home to a large tribe of Native Americans. Tomlinson’s purchase was ten miles away from the fledgling Newton settlement and two miles from the Timber Creek, a necessary water highway to the Delaware River providing access to Philadelphia, Salem, and Burlington, NJ. What would compel an educated and well-connected man, who eventually became Sheriff and King’s Attorney in 1696 to locate his family in a remote region so far from the settlement of Newton? My small collection of arrowheads and relics from this area could provide a clue.

 Native Americans often chose to place their camps close to natural springs. The Native Americans knew three springs fed Laurel Lake. One is a Lithia spring located at the end of what is now Tomlinson Avenue, in Laurel Springs, New Jersey. Another is a sulphur spring close to a nearby dam. The third is Crystal Spring at the end of what are now Lakeview and Elm Streets. The medicinal properties of the three springs used by many generations of Native Americans were a source of natural healing. Joseph Tomlinson wisely chose to embrace the Native American choices and lifestyle for his own benefit and adapted to a new way of living. Unlike his Newton counterparts, Joseph Tomlinson chose to locate his farm close to the Native American camp. He had pure drinking water at his disposal and access to the healthy properties of mineral springs.

Another benefit of the land was the sandy soil. Glass was a valuable commodity during early times. Glass factories quickly became essential components of the early economic system. The small rock collection I had in my possession contained two curious specimens. One was a piece of glass slag, possibly a remnant from a glass factory on the Tomlinson property. My client assured me that the entire collection was originally discovered on Tomlinson land. The other piece of rock had curious crystals, probably due to exposure to extreme heat that caused it to crystallize on the heated surface. Two local archeologists confirmed the intense heating process could be the result of extreme heat of an early forge.

What is certain is that Joseph Tomlinson’s daughter Elizabeth married Bartholomew Wyatt. Their daughter, Elizabeth Wyatt married Richard Wistar. Richard Wistar was the son of Caspar Wistar, button maker of Philadelphia. Caspar Wistar traveled to Salem to sell his buttons. He recognized the possibilities of the sandy soil and built a glass factory on the nearby Alloways Creek in 1738. His son, Richard Wistar continued the thriving operation from 1752 to 1782. Wistarburg, the name of the factory, was one of the leading glass producers of the new world. Scientific glass vessels made specifically at Benjamin Franklin’s request were produced at Wistarburg.  Eventually, the enterprise ceased due to a lack of firewood.

The discovery of a small yet sentimental collection spurred an investigation that brings to light local history in a new way.

The third quilt originates from Philadelphia. Students of the Aimwell School presented it to their teacher Susan D. Powell in 1847. The Aimwell School was a Quaker school begun in Philadelphia in 1796 for poor Quaker girls. The intent of the school was to give these less privileged girls a proper education.

Below are some photos from the show. Included are a few signatures from the Quaker quilts along with close-ups of fabric swatches from the quilts. The quilt on display behind me is owned privately. It was made in Pottsgrove, PA where I spent my childhood.

Edward Harris, Sr. purchased the house in 1798. His son, Edward Jr. inherited the house and entertained his good friend John James Audubon there. Audubon named the Harris Sparrow for Edward Harris. He and Audubon discovered the sparrow on one of Audubon’s painting expeditions to the mid west. Edward Harris, Jr. introduced the Percheron Horse to this country. He observed it in France and decided it would be an excellent farm horse.

Highlights of the Smith Cadbury Museum, pictured below, include a Peter Stretch clock from Philadelphia, a Morgan Hollingshead clock from Moorestown, and a William McElroy Windsor chair made in Moorestown. The Mansion also holds one of the earliest schoolgirl samplers made at the Westtown School.

The Historical Society of Moorestown offers free tours of the Smith Cadbury Mansion on Sundays from 1-4 PM and Tuesdays from 2-3 PM. The library is open from 1-4PM on Tuesdays. As President of the Historical Society, I invite you to come to Moorestown and make an afternoon of it. Enjoy our beautiful tree lined streets and a variety of cafes within walking distance of the Mansion.

We were in the folk art building at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont during this event and did not feel a thing. We found out via a text—the miracles of our modern age. Below are pictures of some of our favorite pieces from the folk are and carriage buildings.