Marburger Farm Antique Show High Fun in Round Top

Only the Wind was Wailing

4.14.09--ROUND TOP, Texas -----A lighthearted June bride shopped for her wedding decorations. A designer from Hawaii gleefully mailed home box loads of antiques every day. Twenty moms from a Houston elementary school arrived by chartered bus. “These ladies are like kids on a field trip,” said the driver. “They are having a ball.”

Not wind, nor rain, nor economy could prevent the shoppers at the Marburger Farm Antique Show from turning a 43 acre cow pasture into a five-day party. “People were so happy to be here,” said show co-owner Rick McConn. “Opening day started with a little thunder and ended with a record crowd. Shoppers came from all over America and just wanted to have fun again. The news from Wall Street was good. And, in terms of the economy, the only wailing that I heard was done by the wind.”

And wail the wind did. “It’s wonderful that we upgraded to the new structure tents,” said co-owner Ashley Ferguson of the new steel-frame football field size tents. “The show was safe and pleasant and the fun never stopped.”

On March 31- April 4, the Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas brought together nearly 400 top exhibitors from 35 states and several countries with a whopping mix of quality merchandise. While Mary Jackson of Colorado Springs sold Italian furniture, Native American beadwork and early cowgirl photos, Bill Howard of Houston’s Flashback Funtiques sold advertising, vintage jukeboxes and five cent coke machines.

“There were lots of decorators shopping,” reported Howard. “One designer saw my seven foot fiberglass Sinclair dinosaur from her car on the road on opening day. She jumped out of the car and blazed a trail to my booth, yelling, ‘I’ve got to have it!’ It’s a cool, hip crowd that comes to Marburger Farm,” continues Howard. “They’re on the cutting edge of decorating and design. Whether commercial or residential, Marburger Farm shoppers are trendsetters.”

And you heard it here first: America is trending up.

“The shoppers were up for buying and we had a really good show. We were surprised.” reported exhibitor Linda Cropper of Seaford, England. Likewise, Burr Oak, Michigan dealers Michael and Lynn Worden found that “the customers were spending money. They seemed so happy to be here,” said Lynn Worden. “Of course, the Texas bluebonnets were gorgeous and the quality and the mix of antiques were superb. But we were really surprised by how young the buyers were and by how many new shoppers came. Almost 90% of our sales went to new buyers.”

Worden’s booth won a “Green Ribbon” from author Sue Whitney, as one of the 15 best booths among the show’s nine giant tents and 12 historic buildings. Whitney signed copies of her new book, Junk Beautiful – Outdoor Edition (Taunton Press 2009) and created an outdoor room setting of antiques from Marburger vendors, with sale proceeds going to Houston Habitat for Humanity. “I love Texas and Marburger Farm,” said Whitney. “They get it that antiques are meant to be fun.” After the show, Whitney recommended Marburger Farm to a national audience as a guest on “The Today Show.”

Apparently, part of the fun at Marburger Farm is dressing to shop. Men and women seem to have planned their outfits well in advance. Boots and bolos, hats and heels, layers of linen and piles of pearls decked out the exuberant crowd. Music and a live radio broadcast from the show grounds added to the upbeat atmosphere by day. Then the festivities continued into the late hours with more parties at local venues such as the famed Royer’s Cafe in Round Top.

Brian Kelley of Atlanta “had an excellent show. Marburger Farm is best show in the United States that I have participated in,” said Kelley. “Plus, I got to see baby longhorns every day.” Kelley sold an extra large chandelier from Paris in the shape of a ship, as well as an Italian Portofino chandelier, a 19^th c. Swedish sofa, 18^th c. Swedish chairs and a pair of large 18^th c. Wedgwood tureens.

“Texas is large,” said Waynesboro, VA exhibitor Patricia Huestis on her first visit to the Lone Star state. Huestis sold a Black Forest carved wood humidor, an English mercury barometer and antique corkscrews. “The show was very good. It’s a lot of driving, but we’re definitely coming back.” The long trip was also well worth it for New Hampshire dealer Dennis Berard of Dennis and Dad Antiques. “We had the biggest show we’ve ever had in Texas,” reported Berard. He sold antique transfer ware plates, platters and tureens in red, brown, blue and other colors.

“If you bring good things to Marburger Farm, they will sell,” says Texas dealer, Judy Hill of Kilgore, Texas. “Knowing how the economy is, I prepared by bringing lots of small things and it worked. I had my best show at Marburger Farm ever.” Selling American cottage furnishings in whites and neutral colors, Hill states, “So far, the Texas economy is in good shape and I’m going to enjoy it. I may be working harder, but I’m not going to whine about the economy.” Hill filled her booth with flowers from the live plant sale offered at the show by Agnes Strauss of Wilde Weedz & Antiques.

Ender Tasci of Elephant Walk Interiors and Antiques in Orlando had also prepared for the show based on the national economy. “As we bought and as we loaded the truck, we selected only the antiques that we could offer at the most competitive price. Anything else, we left behind. People were price-conscious, but reasonably-priced items were selling fast and the total number of sales was incredible,” said Tasci. “I want to thank Marburger Farm for the marketing that they have done. They did their part and brought in people who were ready to buy. We in the business need to open our eyes, offer our best prices and turn our sails to the wind. It was a strong wind, but it brought lots of money and prosperity. I’m going to work twice as hard for the next Marburger Farm Antique Show.”

And that next Marburger Farm Antique Show runs Tuesday September 29 through Saturday October 3, 2009. You can be there!