The East Hampton Historical Society's Antiques and Design Show will return in full force this weekend at the Mulford Farm on James Lane. Saturday and Sunday's show will be supplemented by a preview cocktail party Friday and a design symposium on Sunday hosted by Marshall Watson, an interior designer of note and the show's honorary chairman.
After more than a year without antiques shows, the quantity and quality are said to be higher than ever. "You're going to want to be there opening night," Mr. Watson said. "You're going to see things that we've never seen before."
The historical society was unable to host the antiques show last year because of pandemic restrictions, opting instead for a virtual event. This year is a "grand reopening," said Cristoff Shay, the society's interim executive director. "We've worked really hard and are very excited to be able to offer an in-person event, which I feel will be bigger than ever."
"Really, it's a celebration of these shows that haven't [happened] for a year and a half," Mr. Watson said.
He has served on the antiques show's design committee since its creation, but this year his role goes further. In addition to serving as chairman, he will host a first "Point of View: Vintage to New" symposium. Sasha Bikoff, a fellow interior designer known for her maximalist designs and bold use of color, will join him at the lecture. Mr. Watson describes himself as offering the vintage perspective, while Ms. Bikoff -- who fashions "ravishing, exuberant" interiors, in his words -- represents the new. The two designers will talk restoration, sourcing, and the best use of vintage pieces in South Fork homes.
The show will feature 50 vendors selling pieces from the 17th century up until 2010. Vendors will take the "extraordinarily sophisticated audience" and geography of East Hampton into account, Mr. Watson said, in providing selections geared toward "lifestyles by the ocean."
Vintage pieces like those available at the show give a "truly more individual, interesting, sometimes eccentric but always unique contribution" to decoration, Mr. Watson said. "Americans are a mix of cultures, personal histories, so why do our interiors have to be all one thing?"
The show will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $10, or $8 for historical society members. Tickets to the preview cocktail party Friday night from 6 to 8:30 start at $175, and those for the design symposium are $50, or $40 for members. Tickets are available on the events page at easthamptonhistory.org.
