Triple Piers Continue To Draw Big Crowds

NEW YORK CITY

:Stella Show Mgmt Co. completed another Triple Pier Antiques show on St Patrick's weekend, March 18-19, with one of the most difficult obstacles yet for this skilled show promotion organization. Only eight weeks before the show was to take place, Stella was told a ship was going to use Pier 88 and it would only have two piers for the show. Leanne and Irene Stella, along with various staff members, reexamined their floor plans and, together with some additional space from renovated areas of Piers 90 and 92, they were able to accommodate all 530 dealers who had been booked to do what was to have been the three-pier show

This was seen as a benefit by many dealers, one of whom said, "The customers were able to see three piers worth of merchandise with only the walking of two." One of the dealers enjoyed the weekend, for on Saturday alone her sales exceeded $20,000, and her sales were not atypical. The common thread was that sales were much stronger in antiques and decorative arts from the later periods and styles of the Nineteenth Century and early Twentieth Century.

New York is clearly decorating with Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modern and folk art as dominant styles. Galena, Md., dealer Firehouse Antiques sold a bedroom set that had traditional lines but was covered in a form of tinfoil and paint. The dealer's decorations included wooden forms for cast iron machinery from the Nineteenth Century, early textiles and some early furniture.

From their shop on New York City's Upper East Side, Judith and James Milne brought a collection that covered many style and time periods. There was a pair of wrought iron arm chairs with padded seat and back cushions, matching side chairs and a stand, all for the garden; art, including some from the Nineteenth Century as well as an Impressionist piece; and there was a Victorian glass front bookcase. The Milnes were very busy over the weekend because they were also exhibiting at a Wilton, Conn., show with another load of furniture and home furnishings, as well as keeping their East 74th Street shop open.

Folk art was selling well for Erwinna, Penn., dealer Jim Hirscheimer. Well known for his collection of folk art, at this show he sold two signs from eyeglass shops, circa 1900, both of which were in the form of oversized spectacles. A set of knockdown dummies made and found in France found a new home, and a cast iron eagle that had been an architectural piece were among his sales.

A recent arrival on the show scene in the Northeast is Margaret Doyle of Charlotte, N.C., and Cumberland Foreside, Maine. Her inventory included a vinyl-covered chrome frame chair, a garden statue of what appeared to be a Greek god, electric lamps in Art Deco style and a stand with tapered sides and a swivel seat on top. This, plus some art and a great deal more inventory, led her to extremely good sales. Another Mainer, Nancy Wells from Portland, was offering a booth full of early Twentieth Century articles and some imports. There were several etageres that could be described as cast metal, cagelike units, about 5 feet tall to be used as shelves for books or audiovisual centers.

The lobby areas of the Piers were converted into sales areas for several dealers, including The Village Braider from Plymouth, Mass. Dealer Bruce Emond offered a collection of Modern furniture with a few accessories from the earlier periods.

Clifford Wallach, Greenwich, Conn., is a specialist with only early Gothic and Edwardian frames in his collection. Some are joinery made, but many are chip carved with the look of tramp art. Praiseworthy Antiques came in with a collection of very campy art and furniture. One prop appeared to be a fashion dummy made into a statue; there were molds of faces, six to each panel, which seemed to be exhibiting various emotional expressions.

French country furniture was offset with French folk art by Elsa Halfen from Paris. Great Neck, N.Y., is home for Mary Ross, who makes house calls there as well as teaching. While it keeps her busy, it also keeps her well stocked in antiques accessories. Here she featured a collection of small Chinese antiques, including a pair of cloisonné vases and some early porcelain. Marc Witus, Gladstone, N.J., had what he said was the heaviest workbench ever, which he sold over the weekend. The only problem might have been carrying it out, but the buyer rented a truck and picked it up Sunday.

Pottery from the early Twentieth Century was the only merchandise offered by Leslie Lee of Willow Antiques, Denver. Moorcroft, Roseville and Hull were filling several tables with vases, dishes and bowls and serving pieces. Erma and Emily Lampert spent a good part of their weekend rearranging their display as their business, Wenham Cross, kept selling the booth's centerpiece. First to go were a pair of leather chairs, then a table and eventually the round braided rug upon which they had sat. Chip carved frames and boxes were John Sholl's offerings. The tramp art is his collection from home in Norwood, N.Y.

The back of Pier 90 was all textile dealers with an emphasis on vintage clothing. This was called Fashion Alley, and in the past it was in Pier 88, but due to the renovations of the piers and ships schedules, it was mixed in with the other antiques. Some of the exhibits were overflowing with early fashions for the ladies, while others highlighted gowns and dresses on mannequins. Illisa of New York City was showing numerous special designer dresses in a temporary showroom.

In the past, Stella separated styles within in the three piers - Pier 88 as fashions and textiles, Pier 90 as traditional antiques and Americana and Pier 92 as Continental and jewelry. This was not possible with all the tightening of the space, so Pier 92 was also offering a mix. Irene Stella said, "People either loved it or hated it, nothing in-between. But with what is happening there in construction and renovation, together with the ships coming in, it will continue that way for a while."

Pier 92 had a New York City rug dealer, Mastour Gallery, in the front. Full House was across the aisle with an Eames chair and ottoman offered at $4,500. Tiffany lamps were in one of the next spaces from Harvey Weinstein Antiques of New York City.

Numerous art dealers were there as well, including Peter Winjum from Fairfield, Conn., and Giovannelli from New York City and Italy.

The latter had as his centerpiece oil on canvas from the Nineteenth Century of a Mediterranean village by Anagger for $9,500. New Jersey collector Joseph Topping had his walls filled with portrait miniatures, oil paintings small enough to fit into a gentleman's pocket or a lady's purse.

From Cadiz, Ohio, John Orban Antiques and Fine Art was offering his collection at the front of Pier 92. Orban and his son had several tall case clocks and Black Forest carvings along with other traditional furniture. Julie Harris, Kansas City, Mo., was in Pier 90 with her collection of sporting antiques and collectibles from the early Twentieth Century. Lisa and Steve Fisch sold an Australian version of a Hoosier cupboard, a kitchen piece with the special places and parts for flour, spices and cooking gear. Web and Jill Wilson, trading as LooLoo Design, were there from Portsmouth, R.I., with antique and vintage plumbing fixtures in restored or good original condition.

Most dealers interviewed said they were pleased to have been there, for the customers were also pleased to be there and were buying. And with extra advertising, including a full page in The New York Times, the customers did come in greater numbers than in past March Pier shows. While not giving out attendance figures, Leanne Stella did say "the gate was up over 2,000 from last March."

Their next shows are the Chicago Botanic Garden Show, April 21-23, and Waterloo, N.J., May 20-21. The Triple Pier Antiques show repeats in November and March, with Americana @ the Piers in January. For information, 212-255-0020 or www.stellashows.com.