Antique show benefits UPHS

Stenciled chairs, decorative sculpture, carved pocket watches and Native American weavings were just a few of the eloquent and ancient objects on display at the 37th annual Philadelphia Antiques Show this week. The show, which contained representations of American culture through the decades, is the largest fundraising event for the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. "Every piece has a little bit of history to it," said organizer Holly Luff. "Even if you're not a collector or buyer, it's a wonderful place to come to." Yesterday, the show completed a five-day run at the 103rd Armory on Drexel University's campus. Organizers expected 10,000 visitors and hoped to match last year's profit of $585,000. Admissions revenues from this year's show will benefit the Complex Aortic Surgery Program at the Medical Center, while actual sales of antiques go to the 56 dealers who came from around the country to display and sell their collections. Collectors must apply to participate in the event. "Our dealers are nationally recognized," Luff said. "We are able to pick the best of the best." Arthur Kaplan, a commemorative jewelry dealer from Maryland, was happy to explain his collection of bracelets, necklaces, and brooches. He extracted a gold ring from its display case and pointed out the lock of hair encapsulated in the ring's glass face. Reading the ring's inscription, "Ann Andrews, 22 November, 1814," he explained that Andrews had died on the inscribed date, at the age of 13. "Her mother or sister would have worn this after she died to commemorate her," Kaplan said. "Many people find [commemorative jewelry] morbid and upsetting. Others find it fascinating." This fascination with things of the past is what draws people to the highly-acclaimed show, though Luff said that "people in Philadelphia don't realize that we're considered one of the finest American antiques shows in the country." Indeed, organizers for the event transformed the gray warehouse on 33rd and Market streets into a lavish museum hall complete with carpeting and fresh flowers every 20 feet. Professional designers had arranged the spacious, wall-papered cubicles that showcased each dealer's antiques. And customers at gilded tables sipped lattes from the show's full-service cafe. While the cafe brings in some money for the annual exhibit, most of the revenue is made from admission tickets, which were $5 for students and $12 for others. The antiques show also held special events in the exhibition hall such as a Children's Workshop, a microbrewery event, a Champagne brunch, lectures and a sampler dinner of Philadelphia restaurants. An army of more than 300 volunteers, mostly women, organized this year's event. Luff stressed that the annual show is a year-round undertaking, adding that work for next year's exhibit will begin the day this show closes.