48th annual Delaware Antiques show underway

Thousands are expected to visit the Delaware Antiques Show this weekend at the Chase Center on the Wilmington Riverfront.

Fine antiques, furniture and a myriad of other pieces are available to view and purchase during the 48th annual show.  “Even if you’re not into the antique world, there’s so much here to see,” says director of museum affairs for Winterthur, which is presenting the show.  “It’s really like a museum except you can touch everything and it’s all for sale, and of course Delaware has tax-free shopping.”

More than 60 antique dealers are displaying furniture, paintings, rugs, ceramics, silver, jewelry and other items.  “18th Century furniture is very strong here,” says Dianna Biddle, the show’s dealer manager.  “Lots of Pennsylvania regional pieces are particularly strong because people know about them.  And they know these dealers are going to have the best quality here.”

The show also features honorary show chair P. Allen Smith, who hosts P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home and Garden to Table on WHYY’s Y-Arts channel.  “So much of what I’m talking about here at the Delaware antique show is what you see on my show on a weekly basis on WHYY,” says Smith.  “There are all sorts of, well, anything you might be interested in.”  Smith started the weekend show with a lecture this morning about the importance of antiques to his sense of design.  “What I have been all about is trying to bring nature into the garden and integrating it with some of the things you can find here.”

The show runs through 8 p.m. Friday night, and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  General admission is $15, children under 12 are free.  Winterthur members get in for $13.