Interior designers, treasure hunters and area collectors flocked to the Community House of Winnetka Thursday for the preview party of the Antiques + Modernism 2022 Show, and a first peek at the show’s long-awaited return.
Showcasing 50 of the country’s finest dealers of antiques and modern pieces, with styles ranging from classic to modern, the show featured exquisite home furnishings and accessories, artwork, clothing, jewelry and more.
According to event co-chair, Kim Ronan, the Antiques + Modernism Show celebrated its 50th anniversary this fall, and has become the primary Community House fundraiser, presented by the Woman’s Board of Winnetka’s Community House.
“While the spirit and the general structure of the show has remained the same for decades, this year we’ve added several new dealers and a new twist to our speaker programs; featuring a floral design element, a docent tour of the show, and a young new designer featured on HGTV,” Ronan said.
“Our goal has been to retain all of the tradition, while also reaching new audiences,” Ronan said.
The show opened Thursday, with a preview party from 6:30 to 9 p.m., followed by a three-day show weekend from Friday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, November 6, with special guest speaker presentations, both Friday and Saturday mornings.
“We are so excited to finally have A+M back again, it’s been a long wait since before COVID-19 in 2019,” said Cindy Monnig, Woman’s Board member, Community House Winnetka. “This event creates such an inspiring transformation and really shows off the very best of the Community House has to offer.”
Billy Cook, a dealer in fine antique furniture from Hungerford, England, participated in the show.
Cook’s booth featured a pair of chairs that were used at the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. For the coronation, these chairs and stools were especially commissioned from three of the country’s leading cabinet making firms and all were covered in the same blue velvet with yellow braid trim.
Laura Eckebrecht of River Grove, talk with antique furniture dealer, Billy Cook, from Hungerford, England, who participated in the A+M show. Cook’s booth featured a pair of chairs that were used at the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
“By an act of Parliament, those who had attended the coronation were allowed to purchase the chair they sat in, so these chairs are often passed down through the original family line of descendants who attended the coronation in 1953,” Cook said.
In addition to the show, events included Shop the Show with Antiques Roadshow dealer and appraiser, J. Michael Flanigan, and featured presentations by HGTV designer, Meg Caswell on livable luxury and another by Laura Dowling, author and chief floral designer at the White House from 2009 through 2015, on flowers in the French style.
All proceeds from the event will go to benefit Winnetka’s Community House — a local 501(c) 3 organization that provides educational, cultural, social, and recreational opportunities for people of all ages.
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Rene Eckebrecht of Libertyville attended the show with friends and family.
“We like to come every year the show is held, everything is one of kind, and we can do our preholiday shopping for things we can’t find anywhere else,” Eckebrecht said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
