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Presidents' Day Weekend • February 15-19, 2008
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Peter Tillou of Peter Tillou Fine Art & Antiques shows Neil Kozokoff and Luiza Wasielewska a painting at the Opening Night Private Preview Party.
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The 2008 Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show once again featured an outstanding array of top level inventory offered by over two hundred of the most highly regarded international dealers. Now in its fifth year, the quality and variety of the fine and decorative art and jewelry on display, combined with extraordinary attendance, has resulted in a not-to-be-missed event, at which premium examples of artwork, furniture, glass, ceramics, jewels, and watches are bought, sold, and admired. Palm Beach Show Group partners, Kris R. Charamonde, Scott Diament, and Rob Samuels, through vision and tireless effort have succeeded in creating what is the largest show of its kind in the United States and a magnificent cultural experience.
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Tiffany Trumpet Creeper Table Lamp, circa 1905. Courtesy of Lillian Nassau, LLC, New York.
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Serving as the venue for the show, the Palm Beach County Convention Center's architecture maintains a careful balance of capacity and elegance that is well suited to host quality dealers and show goers on a grand scale. Here on the evening of the preview party, benefiting the Historical Society of Palm Beach County's educational programs, valets rushed to keep pace with the seemingly never ending stream of vehicles whose passengers emptied to be greeted with Champagne, live music, and first opportunity to acquire stunning pieces brought to the show from around the world.
Over the course of the show more than 50,000 local and international visitors to the area walked the show's aisles frequently pausing to take in, and often take home, the very best. As in years past, the 2008 show's overwhelming attendance was the result of an intensive promotional campaign for which the Palm Beach Show Group has become well known. In addition to allocating an advertising budget in excess of $1 million on print media at levels ranging from local to national, radio spots, direct mail, banners, and billboards the partners distributed invitations to the show via exhibiting dealers and local hotels.
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Among the exhibitors new to the show who contributed to its success were Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts, LLC, New York, Calderwood Gallery, Philadelphia, Erik Thomsen, New York, James Infante, New York, Lawrence Steigrad, New York and Linda Hyman Fine Arts, New York.
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Pair of massive George IV silver flagons made in London by William Bateman in 1829. Measuring just under 14" tall. Courtesy of Robert Lloyd, New York
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Several returning dealers showed significant American paintings that elicited wide appreciation including those brought by Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Among the works hanging in their booth were examples by Arthur B. Carles, Alfred Maurer, Willard Leroy Metcalf, Jane Peterson, and Harry Aiken Vincent. Director Nicole Amoroso mentioned that the gallery enjoyed "very strong sales" which included the Vincent, a Rockport, Massachusetts scene and the Peterson, a view of Gloucester Harbor. Mark Brock of Brock & Co., Carlisle, Massachusetts, brought to the show a selection of American paintings priced from $10,000 to $500,000 that caught the attention of many attendees. Mr. Brock said he "enjoyed excellent sales and was very pleased by the efforts of the promoters and their ability to attract a great gate with quality buyers." Godel & Co., Fine Art Inc., New York, mounted an impressive display of 19th- and early 20th-century American art including examples of work by The Eight and The Ten. By the close of the show all the catalogs they brought for distribution were taken and Director Katherine W. Baumgartner expressed that the show improves every year and was pleased with the interest displayed by the knowledgeable crowd. From New York, Questroyal Fine Art, LLC brought examples by artists including Albert Bierstadt, Alexander Calder, Jasper Francis Cropsey, John Frederick Kensett, and Hayley Lever as well as a work by the French painter Antoine Bouvard. Sales went well for the gallery and they were very pleased with the outcome. Other European paintings that sold included Austrian artist Carl Frosch's Charming Young Girl with Rabbit, brought by Peter Tillou Fine Art and Antiques, Litchfield, Connecticut. Surrounded by a carved and gilt 19th-century frame, the asking price was $36,000. Mr. Tillou also sold several other pieces including decorative paintings and bronze items throughout the show.
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Marie Danforth Page (1869-1940), Binding a Book, 1906. Courtesy of Godel & Co., New York.
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Many fine examples of decorative art and antiques also changed hands. William Cook of Wiltshire, England, who specializes in fine English and European furniture and objects, views the show as a good opportunity to increase his presence in the United States. Participating in the show for the fourth time, Mr. Cook said he was "Very pleased with the show, I always like the sheer attendance" and noted that he received a positive response from both old and new customers. His sales included a mid-19th-century, French Baccarat chandelier with a silver-bronze frame, a pair of large stone eagles that will be displayed on the gate posts of a residence, and an important mahogany Regency period center table by Trotter of Edinburgh. Hyland Granby Antiques, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts returned this year with a marvelous presentation of 18th-and 19th-century marine antiques. Impressed with the show, Mr. Alan Granby observed, that "The management has really figured it out and put the show on the map." and added that "Not only were there lots of people, but serious collectors."
Among the outstanding examples of English, Irish, and American silver brought to the show by Robert Lloyd, New York, was a pair of massive silver flagons made in London by William Bateman in 1829. Exhibiting at the show for the second time, Mr. Lloyd also reported good sales. Greg Nanamura, New York, specializing in 20th-century design, reported having a fantastic show, selling many objects. Lillian Nassau, LLC, New York, which focuses on the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Tiffany Studios including lamps, glass, metalwork, mosaics and paintings treated visitors to an exceptional display. Owner Arlie Sulka was enthusiastic about the show remarking "It's always a great show, love it, we saw a lot of people from up north who were there." Among their sales was a sculpture, La Frilleuse, by Malvina Hoffman and an Italian glass vase from the 1950s by Barbarini.
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Those seeking Asian works had a spectacular selection from which to choose and items from this category performed extremely well. From their display of early artifacts TK Asian Antiquities, Williamsburg, Virginia and New York, sold a pair of his and her solid gold crowns in a style unique to the Khitan people, rulers of the Liao Dynasty. Of superior workmanship and artistry, they brought $1,200,000. In addition to a $700,000 king's belt in gold and silver from the Liao Dynasty the gallery also found a new home for a collection of pure water vessels from the Korean Goryeo Dynasty that sold for $250,000. Andrew Chait of Ralph M. Chait Galleries of New York was "happy to see a lot of people with sincere interest at the show." Porcelain sold from their eye-catching collection of Chinese works of art that also included pottery and export silver. Asiantiques, Winter Park Florida, sold a pair of large Japanese sumi-e screens with black ink on gold leaf from the 18th century for $45,000, a $62,000 Huanghuali table from the late Ming Dynasty, and a large wood figure of Bodhisattva with remains of polychrome pigment from the 17th century for a "hefty 5-figure price."
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Jane Peterson (1876-1965), Gloucester Harbor. Courtesy of Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
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As in years past the show presented patrons with the opportunity to acquire world class jewelry and many of them eagerly responded. A. E. Betteridge, with locations in Greenwich, Connecticut, Palm Beach, Florida, Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado, found a buyer for an important Van Cleef and Arpels "tutti frutti" bracelet priced well into the six figures in addition to other items in the $40,000 to $70,000 range. Camilla Dietz Bergeron Ltd., New York, found that the more important pieces moved easily. Among other pieces they sold a Cartier citrine and diamond bracelet from the 1940s for $45,000; 3 Schlumberger enamel bracelets for $55,000; gold and diamond earrings from the 1960s for $20,000; and diamond Buccelati earrings for $65,000.
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Heightening the graceful nature of the show was the hardbound catalog containing informative articles and dealer information, the quality of which is rarely encountered at art and antique shows. The main sponsor for the 2008 show was UBS Financial Services who has supported the show since its first year. An eight part lecture series accompanied the show offering talks by leading experts in fields including modern painting, Art Nouveau glass, Chinese export silver, colored diamonds, and vintage watches.
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The Palm Beach Show Group presents the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antiques Show and the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show runs from August 28-31, 2008 at the Baltimore Convention Center and next year's Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antiques Show will be held on February 13-17, 2009 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. For more information call (561) 822-5440 or email service@palmbeachshow.com or info@baltimoresummerantiques.com.
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