The British Are Coming...To Americana Week?

NEW YORK CITY

:While one of the new shows announced for the 2007 version of Americana Week will not come to fruition, another show has stepped in and added its name to the fray. The British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA) has announced that it is scheduling a new fair that will take place from January 17 through 21.

The fair, to be conducted on one of the floors at Sotheby's that is typically used for auction previews, will be limited to approximately 50 booths. Exhibitor space at the fair will be open exclusively to active BADA members.

Following a number of requests from BADA members, this fair, under the directorship of Gillian Craig, has been launched to provide a new trading platform in New York. The BADA show will reportedly be promoted to Sotheby's regular clients as well as to an "affluent New York society."

The BADA show has been planned to coincide with the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, USA, and will celebrate the trading and commercial ties between England and the United States.

Apparently timed to lead off the myriad of antiques shows opening that week, the fair will feature British antiques with an emphasis placed on both English furniture and accessories. It will open with a charity benefit preview on Tuesday, January 16, the same night as Caskey and Lees opens its preview for The New York Ceramics Fair at The National Academy Museum.

"We don't foresee any problems," stated Caskey and Lees publicist Walt Borton, "In fact, it might actually help. I find the concept of a cluster of shows in the same time frame to be very healthy."

TAAS, The American Folk Art Museum's show, and The Winter Antiques Show will maintain their regular time slots for openings with previews scheduled for Wednesday January 17, and Thursday, January 18, respectively.

A show previously announced to take place during Americana Week, promoted by Sanford Smith and Associates, has run into a scheduling problem. "We just can't get the dates for this year," commented Sandy Smith, "and I don't have anyplace else to hold it."

A Bar Mitzvah has reportedly been booked for the night of what Smith commented would have been set-up for the show in the Puck Building, "so we will hold off for a year and try and get on the schedule for 2008. I have been held up by a lot of things in my life, but never by a Bar Mitzvah," stated the promoter.