A Last Winter Cruise for Antiques at New York's Piers Show

NEW YORK CITY

: Many were no doubt hoping that this might be the last outing for awhile requiring long overcoats and gloves as the Pier Antiques Show got off to a bright, sunny start on March 19.

On the cusp of spring, with temperatures in the 40s, crowds lined up to again cruise the Passenger Ship Terminal piers for rare treasures. Stella Mgmt Show Co. had assembled approximately 400 exhibitors on Pier 90 and Pier 92 for another weekend devoted to formal, modern and American antiques and collectibles. That the show was shoehorned into two piers rather than the normal three - and obviously short some 200 dealers as a result - seemed moot to most folks, in fact, it was refreshing to be able to see modern and traditional Americana displayed cheek by jowl due to the loss of Pier 88.

The show attracted its usual crowd of enthusiastic collectors, dealers and celebrities. Even Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank was seen strolling the aisles looking for that "million dollar" rarity.

Thirty seconds after the show opened on Saturday, Mark and Marie Kaplan of M&M Antiques, Long Beach, N.Y., made their first major sale - a pair of Murano lamps to a high-end New York City dealer. "Immediately after that, an attractive couple walked into my booth and purchased 11 lamp bases, a pair of sconces and a pair of retro lamp tables," recalled Mr Kaplan. "It was a great way to start the day." While Saturday was a brisk sales day, Sunday was mostly a retail day, he added. "Couples purchased everything from sconces to lamps and 1950s brass and iron planters to be used in a movie set.

"Your Grandma Had It" is a phrase Paula Cohen has heard most frequently over the years when parents accompanied by their children see her collection of vintage kitchenalia and other domestic collectibles. Thus was born the name of her Westhampton and Brooklyn, N.Y.-based business. "As usual, I had my collectors come to my booth and find those special pieces," the dealer reported. "I sold every piece of matte white pottery I had, especially the 1930s matte white McCoy vases. I also sold a wonderful large green wireware plant stand with terrific shape and design. The coffee grinders and enamelware draw a lot of attention. I'd say my sales were diversified and steady."

"I think what I found most interesting about the show is that I had two sales to Texans," said Joan Bogart, Rockville Centre, N.Y., whose "svelte" booth space on Pier 90 caused her burgeoning display of garden antiques to spill out nearly into the show aisles. "One Dallas decorator I know went through the show like a vacuum cleaner and was buying from many dealers, she bought so much that she had her own trucker there to pick up.'

Once the larger items Ms Bogart sold on Saturday were removed from the booth on Sunday, she assembled an ornate cast iron and brass bed for Sunday's crowd. "A woman whom I did not remember from Saturday walked up and her mouth dropped," said the dealer. She said, "I came back to show my husband the bed and was worried about not seeing it together, and now you have it assembled. How wonderful! I love it and I will take it!"

Ms Bogart, who normally can be seen in a larger space on Pier 92, said the response to seeing her on Pier 90 was "amusing." She said, "We did so well there, I think we will stay with Pier 90."

Pier 92 dealers, however, were kept busy, too. "The show was great for me, having a large variety of Art Deco accessories from statues to lamps to vintage watches," said Doug Ramsey, known in the trade as Deco Doug. "The crowd was very knowledgeable, they made selling a pleasure," said the Royal Oak, Mich., dealer. "I still think people want to see and touch the item they are buying. I hardly had time to sit down in the two-day show. The people I met were from all over the world, with the same interest in the love of Art Deco." Hot items for this particular show seemed to be vintage microphones from the 1940s and 1950s. "I sold a rare Amperite for more than $2,000," said Mr Ramsey. He also sold a Jaeger-LeCoultre 1930s gold watch for $3,500.

Fine art dealer Arlene Berman, New York City, said, "The show went just okay for me." Three days after the show, however, she got two calls from people who were in her booth. Each was interested in a different piece, and called to say they would like to buy them. "The only problem for one of them is that the painting he liked I sold an hour after he left my booth," said Ms Berman. "But he is coming over to see if there is something else he likes and could buy. So, all in all, I will have done fairly well."

"The Pier Show was a solid selling show for us," said Lynell Schwartz of The Curiosity Shop, Cheshire, Conn. "We had a busy two days and with many of our repeat customers, along with some new ones both from the United States and beyond. We sold a variety of unusual things, including a unique enameled mesh purse by Whiting and Davis with a powder compact incorporated into the frame, similar to one found in the book, Purse Masterpieces, a ladies' compact from Spain in the shape of a guitar with a leather body and brass fittings and a great selection of vintage Miriam Haskell costume jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, brooches and bracelets. On Sunday, a lovely collection of Appenzell figural linens were sold, as well as some more wonderful vintage costume and estate jewelry."

"The show was very successful for me," said Emmanuel L. Jenkins of E. Jenkins - L.I. Collectibles, who specializes in American and European art glass and lighting. "It was also unusual in the following ways - first, the Europeans and Japanese were back; second, customers were looking for quality and/or very highly collectible items. For example, a prominent New York City attorney, a sophisticated New York collector and another one from Westchester bought only top quality pieces - Tiffany, Galle, Daum, Decorchemont, Goupy, etc. Third, customers are more knowledgeable. The Antiques Roadshow has had a lot of influence."

Triple Pier returns November 5-6 and 12-13 with 600 dealers each weekend. In the meantime, Stella will bring more than 100 American and European antiques exhibitors to the Garden Antiques & Garden Fair at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Ill., on April 15-17, and Antiques in the Hamptons, will feature 60 exhibitors in tents and the Bridgehampton Historical Society Corwith House, June 25-26 and July 30-31. For information, 212-255-0020 or www.stellashows.com.