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Bedford Antiques Show To Feature Martha Stewart

BEDFORD, N.Y. — Martha Stewart, a Bedford Historical Society member, will be the master of ceremonies Saturday at the society’s Antiques & Design Show. At an evening cocktail reception on the Bedford Village Green, Stewart will introduce interior designer and author Jeffrey Bilhuber, who will present his new book.

The event, which also includes a silent auction, caps off the first day of the show, which will feature an array of antiques Saturday and Sunday at Historical Hall.

While some might wonder about the connection between interior design and the Historical Society, Executive Director Evelyne Ryan sees the two fields as complements to each other.

“Jeffrey’s book is about the attachments people have to their family heirlooms, personal collections and histories,” Ryan said. The Historical Society’s mission is the same, Ryan said: preserving and appreciating one's own history.

Since 1916, the society has acquired and preserved seven buildings around the Bedford Village Green, including Historical Hall. The society also protects the 1787 Court House and the Bedford Oak.

Bilhuber, whose latest photo-rich book is called “The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty,” cites Thomas Jefferson and George Washington as “style icons” who helped define the unique perspective that is modern American design.

Bilhuber explained that both former presidents imported furniture, cuisine and designs to their homes in Monticello and Mount Vernon, Va., mixing ideas from all over the world with American objects and paintings.

Ultimately, Bilhuber said, “American style is a cross pollination and an expression of what appeals to us globally.”

At the weekend’s antique show, dealers such as Foley & Cox Home and Donald Rich Antiques will offer a selection of European and American antique furniture, and Bedford’s Clover Design will feature vintage and modern furniture and accessories.

“We’re very excited with the show’s new direction this year,” said Ryan, explaining that while dealers will display traditional items as usual, visitors will also find many unique contemporary items.

Tickets to the 6 p.m. presentation, book signing, silent auction and cocktail reception start at $125. Cost of admission to the antiques show is $10 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Historical Society’s Properties Fund. For full details, visit the Historical Society website.

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