Meet the Exhibitors
With so many excellent items to choose from at the AVENUE Antiques & Art at the Armory Show, we wanted to highlight a few of the participating exhibitors and find out what to expect. Here’s a quick look at what collectors want and the prized items the exhibitors will have available.
Sri Lankan sapphire from Camilla Dietz Bergeron.
Camilla Dietz Bergeron of Camilla Dietz Bergeron
What do you see as trends in collecting within your area of specialty?
We’ve seen in the last year a lot of interest in what I call “big and bold and gold.” We see a lot of interest in the ’40s look. We happen to like Aldo Cipullo a lot, and we have a number of his pieces—the ’60s gold look.
How is the New York-area market different from other markets?
It’s just a lot more people who buy jewelry, and there are a lot more occasions to wear it here. People aren’t afraid to wear it, I mean they really put it on and wear it, as opposed to other people who are afraid to wear it out—not so much as far as safety—but they just don’t boss their jewelry, they let it boss them. Here people boss it. And they put it on with casual clothes. They don’t just wear it when they get dressed up.
Any specific items you are bringing to the show that you’d like to mention?
We have beautiful stuff. I don’t know if I could choose just one piece, but we’ve got a really pretty sapphire ring with diamonds around it, à la Princess Diana/Kate Middleton. It’s a lighter sapphire, but it is Sri Lankan.
Edo Ophir of Ophir Gallery
Tiffany Studios lamp from Ophir Gallery.
What do you see as trends in collecting within your area of specialty?
I tend to see my clients being drawn more towards the higher end of decorative arts, and more towards investments in quality—the buyers are buying at the high-end because this is what they understand as “investment value.” Instead of keeping their money in the banks and earning the low interest they might earn, or risking it in the stock market, they’re drawn to decorative arts, antiquities and jewelry. People are looking to invest into the better qualities of arts and antiques, knowing that they will ultimately see some sort of return later down the road, and that, worst case scenario, they’ll be breaking even. There’s no loss in the general investment as long as it’s a well-known artist.
How is the New York-area market different from other markets?
New York is the epicenter in the United States of the liveliness of the business that I’m in. When you think about New York, you think about a melting pot of culture. You think of a mixture of all walks of life. New York has always, in history, been the epicenter of cultural arts, antiquities, decorative arts, dance, Broadway. When we think of New York, we think of arts. We have the best museums in this country. When it comes to antiquities or decorative arts, the hub is Manhattan. Look at where the major auction houses are located—their headquarters are here in New York, not Texas, not Arizona, not California. It is New. York. City.
Any specific items you are bringing to the show that you’d like to mention?
I’m going to be bringing four lamps that were created by Tiffany studios at the turn of the century. The dates are roughly 1904 to 1910. The four lamps we’ll be unveiling haven’t been offered on the market for some time now. One is a turtleback tile lamp, which has an integrated turtleback tile lamp base—that’s how it was originally purchased from the studios, I would say around 1904. We’ll also be bringing our typical line of decorative arts that cover the Art Nouveau period. We have some Art Nouveau furniture, as well as other decorative arts that complement the period.
Gavin Spanierman of Gavin Spanierman, Ltd.
Willard Metcalf’s “The Golden Screen.”
What do you see as trends in collecting within your area of specialty?
Quality really rules the day. People are really more focused on buying things of really significant quality, as opposed to just, kind of, “stuff.” People are more concerned with making sure they’ve invested their money wisely. They’re much more careful these days.
How is the New York-area market different from other markets?
It’s a lot broader, and it’s a lot more sophisticated. People here have more varied interests, and people from all over the world are in New York, so they have a broader understanding of culture in general.
Any specific items you are bringing to the show that you’d like to mention?
I’m bring a beautiful Mary Cassatt drawing, mother and child, and I’m bringing an incredibly important and inspiring Willard Metcalf called “The Golden Screen,” from 1906, which was modeled at the International Exposition in Buenos Aires in 1910 and won a gold medal. I’m also bringing a wonderful Childe Hassam from 1897, of Cos Cob.
Michael Pashby of Michael Pashby Antiques
Chinese lacquer table from Michael Pashby Antiques.
What do you see as trends in collecting within your area of specialty?
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve seen more activity, particularly at the top end, where people really are looking for, and are prepared to buy pieces as long as they are really top quality. The problem for dealers at the moment is finding enough things of good quality, and because dealers in particular are trying to stock up on good quality things, it’s forcing prices up at auction.
How is the New York-area market different from other markets?
The New York market is very much a decorator-driven market, whereas outside of New York, you tend to come into contact with the clients far more often. One of the great things about having a fair is that it is an opportunity to meet the clients directly. A client can go to the fair, see a range of dealers at that fair, and get an idea of what is popular in the marketplace right now.
Any specific items you are bringing to the show that you’d like to mention?
I’ve got a fabulous set of eight dining chairs, with brass inlay, probably by John Gee, from 1800 to 1805, and a set of period Chippendale chairs, of absolutely top quality. And a fabulous Chinese lacquer table, with very striking dragon’s feet, from the early 19th century. And tons of other stuff!
Evan Lobel, owner of Lobel Modern
What do you see as trends in collecting within your area of specialty?
We really focus on unique pieces. Things that require a lot of handwork and a lot of skill—not pieces that have been mass-produced. We also go for very exotic. We have a goatskin table that’s different than anything. It’s different than leather. It’s like 100 times stronger than polyurethane. A nuclear bomb wouldn’t hurt it!
Goatskin table from Lobel Modern.
How is this market different from other markets and how will the experience at the show be different than your shop?
I think people want expensive things, exotic things. It’s the same reason why women love Hermès bags. The pieces we will display at the show will be highly edited. We have things in the shop for a varied number of tastes, but the space is more confined at the show and so it will be a different, curated environment.
Any specific items you are bringing to the show that you’d like to mention?
We have a great Italian liquor cabinet. We also have a pair of crystal sconces that were designed by Hans Harald Rathand that hung in The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City until the renovation in the late 1960s.
To see the entire list of exhibitors, please visit AVENUE Antiques & Art at the Armory Show
