The Connecticut Spring Antiques Show was founded in 1973 by the late Frances Walker Phipps and Betty Forbes who were responsible for establishing it as one of the country’s most important venues of authentic early American furniture.   A long time Higganum resident, Miss Phipps wrote about antiques for The Hartford Times and New York Times and published many important works including “The Collector’s Complete Dictionary of American Antiques” and “Colonial Kitchens, Their Furnishings and Gardens.” Miss Phipps was also a founding member of the Haddam Historical Society and was instrumental in the restoration of the Thankful Arnold House Museum.

 Miss Phipps chaired the show from its inception in 1974 until her death in 1986. When she started the show she stipulated that furniture shown must be American made prior to the year 1840 (prior to the age of mass production).  It was said she had sole and absolute right to decide who could exhibit, and what and how, which at times generated controversy. However, it was her sharp-eyed supervision that kept the show unparalleled.

For the first 19 years, the show was housed at the Connecticut State Armory in Hartford. Between 1993 and 1996 the Armory underwent an extensive restoration and the show was moved to the University of Hartford. In 1997 the show returned to the Armory for a five- year stay, however following the events of September 11, 2001, the Armory was closed to public events for security reasons. Since 2002 the show has been held at the Expo Center just north of downtown Hartford.

The show continues to have exacting standards and is recognized as one of the finest exhibitions of early American made furniture and accessories

Photographs from the 2007 Show