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2021 Annual Meeting

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1PM to 3PM EDT each day

Please save the dates of October 15th and 16th for the TCC’s 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting. With our membership spread across the globe, there is only a limited period each day when most members are up and about at the same time – approximately 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight time in the US. Spreading the meeting over two days will allow us to include a variety of virtual tours and presentations within this window of time that is workable for most members.

Members, please check your email later this month for the Zoom link to these lecture. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15TH AGENDA

Transferware in Historic Maine Houses

Dow Farm CollectionWe will take a look at transferware collections in two historic Maine Houses, the Dow Farm in Standish and the Whitten House in Topsham. The Donald Essman/Dow Farm Collection resides in a 1760’s farmhouse with 19th century additions which has received a museum-quality restoration over the past 45+ years. Don Essman and his husband Mike Bendzela have partnered with Dow family descendants to restore the farm and along the way a collection of British transferware pieces in a variety of patterns has been assembled for display and use in the house. Some of the patterns are documented to have been in the house historically and others chosen because they are appropriate to the restored period rooms. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see British transferware displayed in restored rooms as it was seen and used in the United States in the mid-19th century.

Whitten HouseWhitten House was home to the family of a woolen mill owner for two generations, from 1830 to 1941. It then spent 60 years as the local public library before being purchased by TCC president Scott Hanson in 2003. While restoring the house, Scott unearthed numerous transferware shards under and around the house. He will show us what was found and then tell us of his efforts to identify the patterns and collect pieces in those patterns, returning the Whitten’s China to their house – while adding a few new themes of his own.

A Visit to Dennis & Dad Antiques

Berard DealerAlso on the agenda is a visit to the remarkable shop of long-time transferware dealers Dennis and Ann Berard. The TCC Annual Meeting has always included a transferware sale, with a number of dealer members offering a wide range of items for attendees to purchase. It is not practical to hold a sale with the online virtual Annual Meeting, but we can have a conversation with Dennis about his 50+ years as an antique dealer specializing in transferware. We will get a look at the astounding variety of transferware pieces in their stock and also see the Berard’s personal collection of 500 transferware children’s cups.


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16TH AGENDA

The Gestler Collection

Gestler CollectionWe will visit the Pittsburg, PA area to see and hear about the wonderful and extensive Eleanor and David Gestler Collection. Dave and his late wife Eleanor built the collection over decades with annual trips to the UK to seek out additional pieces. The collection is notable for its breadth of themes, colors, shapes, and patterns. There is something for everyone to love in this collection! We will talk with Dave and daughters Kim and Carol, all TCC members and regular attendees at the Annual Meeting, about Eleanor and the collection. We will also get a glimpse of Dave’s extensive Early American Pressed Glass collection! A live Q&A session with the Gestlers will follow the video presentation.

Annual Business Meeting

We will conclude our Annual Meeting with a business meeting to vote on new and renewing TCC Board members, hear reports on the club’s activities and status over the past year, and learn about several changes coming in the year ahead. Please join us! Check your email for Zoom link.