Fair Weather at The International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show

NEW YORK, NY.- Sixty-five of the world’s most influential art and antique dealers converged on the Park Avenue Armory, October 22-28, 2010 to participate in the 22nd annual International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show, a greatly anticipated event of the New York fall season. The prestigious “International Show” – which is the flagship fair organized by Anna and Brian Haughton – has retained its position as the premier showcase in America for top dealers from Europe and the United States for more than two decades. 

This year’s fair offered exciting panoply of collecting areas, from the Ancient World to the Contemporary, from East to West resulting in a rich multi-layered visual experience for the visitor. The fair opened to rave reviews and record crowd attended over its six day run and a sense of optimism prevailed among the dealers who brought their very best pieces to the fair. Highly coveted and historically important pieces sold to discerning collectors and institutions and audience response was extremely positive. 

While much business at the fair was concluded on the spot, many sales will continue after the fair’s close and in the months to come. Dealers reported strong sales to new and established clients alike with vigorous interest to an extremely well-educated collecting crowd. Museums were out in force with the major international museums sending directors and curators to visit the fair. Several important museum acquisitions were made and institutional representation was reportedly stronger than ever. 

A Sampling of Sold Highlights  
Exceptionally strong sales in the top end were seen in the category of twentieth-century design with Bernd Goeckler, Maison Gerard and the Paris Galerie Lefebvre parting with some of the major highlights of their stands. These included the much-coveted pair of Francois-Xavier Lalanne Oiseaux de marbre armchairs, 1974 for $380,000, similar to ones owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent (see illustration below), and a Jean Dupas final paper cartoon for the Chariot of Thetis wall mural for the S.S. Normandie, 1935, at $1 million (see illustration below) 

20th Century

Galerie Lefebvre, Paris 
Jean Dupas (1882 – 1964), Chariot of Thetis wall mural for the S.S. Normandie, exceptional and monumental charcoal drawing, with Indian ink and white gouache accents, circa 1934 in perfect condition, sold for $1 million at the fair. 

Dupas chooses to depict the following four subjects: The Rape of Europe, The Birth of Aphrodite, The Chariot of Thetis, and The Chariot of Poseidon. Together, the panels give an impression of extraordinary grandeur, in keeping with the spirit of the Normandie . 

Galerie Lefebvre, Paris 
Francois-Xavier Lalanne Oiseaux de marbre armchairs, 1974 sold for $380,000. They are similar to the ones owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent 

Maison Gerard, Ltd. 
Sold a fine black-lacquered wood cabinet on gilt-metal stand by Ramsay, France, circa 1940 sold for $68,000. Maison Gerard also sold a fine pair of lacquered cabinets by Maison Jansen. (1880-1972), France, circa 1950, $120,000 the pair 

Bernd Goeckler 
Four Bridge Chairs, André Sornay (1902-2000) France, Art Moderne, ca. 1936 and Games Table, Andre Sornay, 1940. Mahogany; the curved backs, studded with Sornay’s hallmark clouté technique and braced with four bolts, sit atop two struts, which form the back legs; with an upholstered seat and open armrests. Sold to Peter Marino for a client. 

Belgian dealer Axel Vervoordt sold a monumental painting by Kazuo Shiraga, “Kanyo” (Xianyang), 1980, oil on canvas. Shiraga founded the Zero-kai group in 1952 and became a member of the Gutai group in 1954. The Gutai artists were searching for a new art “never known until now” sold for $1.1 million. 

An important group of Paris Metro medallions by Hector Guimard designed for the entrances to the Paris Metro system circa 1900 was a much admired feature of Lillian Nassau’s stand at the fair and was sold as a group. Arlie Sulka, principal of Lillian Nassau commented “When I acquired the Hector Guimard Paris Metro medallions earlier this year, I envisioned them as being an integral part of our stand at the IFAADS, and I am thrilled that we were able to bring that idea to fruition. While many fair attendees were considering a purchase of an individual medallion with its accompanying balustrade elements, we ultimately sold them as a group that will be permanently displayed on public view. We are delighted that the group will remain together.” 

Mallett’s sold a stunning pair of Coalbrookdale steel consoles in the rococo style reportedly for a six figure sum, dating from 1860 along with a pair of Louis Philippe gilt rope stools and a set of 19th-century brass fireplace tools as well as five bronze leopard heads from an edition of 12 by Hamish Mackie, at $14,000 each. 

London dealer Ronald Phillips reported strong results, selling early in the fair a George II mahogany tripod table, English, circa 1745 for $389,000; a pair of George III mahogany stools at $387,000 and a George I gilt gesso lantern for $286,000. 

Asian Art enjoyed fantastic favour at the International Show with new exhibitor, Tai Gallery selling around 20 pieces from $1500 to $50,000 including pieces by Kajiwara Koho, Torii Ippo and Fujinuma Noboru whose work sells above 20k. 

New York based Japanese works of art dealer Erik Thomsen commented that “The value of this fair is that it is a fantastic place to meet new clients and re-connect with old clients. People feel freer here at the fair, much more so than coming into the gallery.” Erik Thomsen sold a pair of screens, Scenes from the Tales of Ise, 18th century, a great deal of Japanese gold lacquer pieces, from the 18th century through 2008, and Japanese baskets. 

The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center hosted its 22nd Annual Preview Party at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show on Thursday evening. The event Co-Chairs were Melinda Blinken, Libby Fitzgerald, Lisa McCarthy, Daisy Soros, and Michel Cox Witmer. The Associate Collector Chairs were Kate Allen, Claudia Overstrom, and Elizabeth Pyne. The Connoisseur Chairmen were Jamie Niven, Donna Rosen, and Kitty Sherrill. Over 1,000 guests and leaders from the art, design and fashion worlds mingled amongst the sensational art and antiques, raising over $660,000 to benefit The Society’s patient care, research, and education initiatives at MSKCC. 

Guests at the Preview Party included Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Sir Patrick Stewart, Tory Burch, Peter Marino (shown left with Marc Jacobs), Michael Boodro, Jamie Tisch, Betty Sherrill, Tom and Heather Leeds, Terry and Libby Fitzgerald, Brian and Lisa McCarthy, Chris and Grace Meigher, Shoshanna Gruss, Gunnar and Claudia Overstrom, Peter and Jamee Gregory, Eleanora Kennedy, Karen LeFrak, Liliana Cavendish, Julie and Alan Behr, Brian and Anna Haughton, Amy Fine Collins, Guy Regal, Tim and Helen Schifter, Barbara de Portago, Wilbur & Hilary Ross, Bruno Laguardia, Alessandro Valenti, Betsey Ruprecht, Ellen Scarborough, Carol Mack, Alexandra Kotur, Baraba and Peter Georgescu, Barbara and Donald Tober, CeCe and Lee Black, Brian Stewart, Stephanie Krieger, Melissa and Chappy Morris, Somers Farkas, Derek and Nicole Limbocker, Mark Gilbertson, Cynthia and Dan Lufkin, Lisa Selby, Alexandra Lind Rose, Peter and Leslie Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Gianluigi Vittadini, Bunny Williams, Nancy Corzine, Ernie de la Torre, Joanne de Guardiola, Hermes Mallea and Carey Maloney, Alex Papachristidis, Campion Platt, Liz Gardiner, Martha Glass and Beth Rudin deWoody. 

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5. Highlights of the Debut of Naples International Art and Antique Fair Announced