Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: LAURAB

Quick Words:

Armory

Full Text:

New York Armory Antiques Show September 15-19

w/cuts

NEW YORK CITY -- The antiques season marked its official start in New York on

September 15 when the New York Armory Antiques Show opened its doors. The

homecoming brought together dealers and their decorating clients, for whom the

summer represents relaxed days out of doors and projects put on hold. It also

reunited Wendy Management's exhibitors, eager for both commerce and the

special fellowship these shows represent.

More friendship was displayed when promoter Diane Wendy generously

relinquished the Armory on Sunday, September 20, so that the start of Rosh

Hashanah could be observed in the makeshift hall by members of Central

Synagogue, which recently burned. For the Wendys, it meant redrafting

advertising at the last moment and mailing thousands of date-change cards to

customers. Generously, exhibitors sacrificed a day of weekend selling.

At setup and on Tuesday's opening, all were happy to see Murray and Joel

Woldman back in their usual spot to the right of the entrance. Earlier this

year, Joel battled cancer. With the help of family and friends, he has

recovered and is back on his feet.

The Alexandria, Va., dealers in American Classical furniture and decorations

pulled out all the stops with a booth that included, appropriately, several

pairs. Most noteworthy were twin pier tables from Boston. Crafted in the

Egyptian style, they matched carvings of anthemions, palmettes, and lotus

blossoms with melon-reeded bun feet and black and gold veined marble tops.

It is always a treat seeing Charles and Rebekah Clark, dealers in American

Classical design. As knowledgeable as they are gracious, the Clarks have

developed a substantial following for themselves at their new location in

Woodbury, Conn. For this show, they displayed parian porcelain figures with a

striking elliptic front chest of drawers marked "E.O. Baker/ 124

Newbury/Boston." The bird's-eye maple and mahoganized cherry piece was $8,200.

A different take on classicism was provided by Lou Marotta, a New York City

dealer who moved his shop to East 60th Street eight months ago. The lively

neighborhood of dealers and decorators has welcomed Marotta, whose elegant but

eclectic style suits many tastes and interiors.

Knollwood of Lovell Village, Me., has also taken a place on 60th Street, and

commerce has been brisk. "Our interior design business is almost entirely in

New York and Westchester," explained Richard LaVigne. "We just did a house in

Maine, but even those clients were from New York." LaVigne was pleased to

report the sale of 17 pieces of furniture in the opening two hours of the

show.

Bruce and Barbara Johnson of Kennebunk, Me., offered formal American and

English fare, including a handsome sideboard acquired at Ron Bourgeault's

August sale in Manchester. "It cleaned up nicely," Bruce said happily of the

inlaid mahogany serving piece.

Another Americanist, Sally Case of Deacon's Horse, Darien, Conn., started

strong with the sale of two secretaries. "It was a nice feeling," sighed Case.

"This time, I brought smaller-scaled furniture, and it seems to have worked."

Gallagher & Zager of North Norwich, N.Y., were back to business after taking a

month off to garden and spend time with their grandchildren. They exhibit in

only two summer shows, Wilton and Farmington, their rich formal furniture,

oriental rugs, and fire equipment being better suited to indoor shows.

John and Patricia Snead of McClean, Va., had also benefited from time away

from the show circuit. Twice in the past six months, they made it to Cornwall,

England, a favorite retreat. Consequently, their stand was freshly stocked

with long case clocks and Art Deco china, two specialities. Delightful Shelley

luncheon and tea wares included a charming set of "Garden Urn," each plate

printed and hand-enameled with a different view. Meanwhile, a clock collector

had fallen under the spell of a George III long case signed Roberts, Kingston,

$14,000.

Whitehall at The Villa, a reliable source of unusual furnishings and

accessories, turned up a three-piece set of bamboo and rattan furniture that

would have been perfect for a garden room or conservatory. The suite, $1,800,

was grouped with a Colonial Revival game table with a needlepoint top

depicting a card game, $1,800.

Silver spanned the gamut from traditional to modern at Marsh & Ackerman.

Swansea, Mass., dealer Laurie-Ann Ackerman is pictured on these pages with a

1960s tea service by John Prip, a Dane who opened a studio in Rochester, N.Y.,

in the 1940s. A pair of Swedish two-branch candelabra by Lingren for Kay

Anderson, 1949, was $3,950. "Tons of silver and some furniture" sold at

Spencer-Marks of East Walpole, Mass.

Beautiful ceramics included Old Paris porcelain at The Cobbs, Peterborough,

N.H. Gilt-edged and decorated with flowers, the 40-piece set was $4,900.

In honor of Asia Week in New York, Richard Brockway of Ancient Arts

International, Middleboro, Mass., brought several of his best pieces of

Chinese sculpture. They included a Han Dynasty dancing lady, terra cotta and

dating to 100 BC to AD 200; a Tang Dynasty horse and rider; and a large Han

tower dating to the First to Second Century AD. "The auctions are today and

tomorrow, and it's the start of the season, so the Armory is a good place to

be," said Brockway.

Shoppers had the opportunity to meet Nick Lamb in the booth of Michael

Spindel, a noted dealer in antique and contemporary netsuke. Among the English

carver's newest creations was "Flora," a voluptuous nude tucked inside of a

peony blossom about the size of Spindel's palm.

More transcontinental flair was supplied by Nicole Sultan of Les Temps Passes.

With addresses in Paris and Miami, the dealer in Art Deco furniture and

accessories offered a walnut cabinet by Albert Guenot, 1922, and a Jules Leleu

vanity with gazelle legs. The piece made of sycamore and parchment was $9,900.

The New York Armory Antiques Show routinely attracts stars and celebrities, so

it wasn't surprising to see famous faces lining the power wall at the

Nineteenth Century Shop. Displayed in the Baltimore dealers' booth were signed

photographs of and manuscripts by Einstein, Darwin, Victor Hugo and Herman

Melville.

Though a passing heat wave and the last minute date change disrupted traffic

patterns, exhibitors were pleased with attendance and sales. "Many decorators

came opening night and were back the next morning," Ruth Zager reported.

"Still more came the second day." Added Sally Case, "Considering the weather,

it was fantastic."