Wine, Sun & Shopping

EAST HAMPTON — The East Hampton Antiques Show is only in its second year, but its benefit preview last weekend suggested that it is poised for success. Presented by the East Hampton Historical Society, the show included 60 dealers selected for their understanding of East End tastes.

"We chose dealers who are based out here or who have a lot of clients here," the society's executive director, Richard Barons, said. "It's not Americana. We wanted something different. It had to be worth the trouble of coming out on a Saturday in traffic when there are a lot of other fairs."

Organized by the firm of Ferguson and D'Arruda, the East Hampton Antiques Show indeed has its own (and clearly Hamptons) flavor. As guests strolled through the open-air tents with glasses of wine, the grassy lawn of Mulford Farm made the evening feel as laid-back as an elegant summer barbecue. Even so, guests were quick to make their purchases.

At the stall operated by East Hampton residents Joan and Harvey Wenz, a bit of New York subway history was for sale. Hanging on the booth's walls were long, framed canvases that had been silk-screened with the names of subway stops. Before the days of electronic notices — and even before metal signage — these signs were rolled into place to tell passengers where the subway train was headed.

Mid-century Modern furniture was in strong supply. Bridges Over Time of Walden, N.Y., had a Paul Laszlo bench that could be shifted for use in multiple ways — as a bench, couch, or seats with table. But James Butterworth of Nashua, N.H., balanced things out with plenty of wicker furniture and objects from the turn of the 20th century. One piece attracting much attention was a wicker tote designed to carry five bottles of champagne and 10 glasses. Priced at more than $2,000, the tote led one passerby to quip: "Should come with a bottle of Pétrus!" Manchester Antiques of Londonderry, N.H., had reproductions of photographs, many of New York, from the 1940s. A Chelsea ship's clock and a large ship's wheel added some nautical flair.

Fashion accessories and jewelry were available at several booths. Nula Thanhauser of Bridgehampton had a covetable assortment of vintage handbags — many which were Chanel. Bakelite bracelets and pins greeted visitors to the booth of Michele Fox of Grandview, N.Y., who specializes in linens and textiles.

Guests could also buy limited-edition T-shirts designed by Polo Ralph Lauren, which is underwriting the restoration of the barns and landscape at Mulford Farm, an intact Colonial farmstead run by the East Hampton Historical Society. The Ralph Lauren-designed T-shirt — 100% of the proceeds of which go toward the farm's restoration — depicts a whale to honor the area's history as part of the whaling industry.

Also a highlight for many guests was the presence of the show's honorary chairwoman, food writer Ina Garten. The Barefoot Contessa happily took a break from her work to mingle with shoppers. "I've been cooking all day. I've been working on fleur de sel caramels for my new cookbook," she said with a sigh. "It's a tough life."